Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-02

Tie HyiuS views, ana SO 1dr DIS cONSi-
ent thought was concerned, he could
not put two ideas together. Without
understanding distinctly, he presently
did a more wise and wholesome thing;
which was to topple Imply over on the
cushions and fall fast asleep.
After long time he seemed to real
iZe rather hazily that the carriage-door
had been 'opened to admit somebody.
Its smart closing bang shocked him
awake. He sat up, blinking in con.
fusion, hardly conscious of more, to
begin with, than that the train had
paused and was again in full flight.
Then, his senses, clearing, he became
aware that his solitary companion, just
entered, was woman. She was seat
ed over across from him, her back 10
the engine, in an attitude which some
how suggested highly nonchalent
frame of mind She laughed and i'm
mediately her speaking voice was high
and sweet in his hearing.
Really, you know, Mr. Kirkwood, |
simply couldn't contain my impotence
another instant"
Kirkwood gasped and tried to re-col-
lect his wits.
beg pardon-Ive been asleep he
said stupidity
Eyes. I'm sorry to have disturbed
you, but, you know, you must make
allowances for a woman's nerves.
Beneath his breath the bewildered
man said: The deuce" and above
it, in stupefed tone: Mrs. Hallam!"
She nodded in not unfriendly fash
ion, smiling brightly Myself, MI.
Kirkwood. Really, our predestincd
paths are badly tangled, just now;
aren't they? Were you surprised to
find me in here with you? Come now,
confess you were!
He remarked the smooth girlish
freshness of her cheeks, the sense and
humor of her mouth the yelled CLEAN
of excitement in her eyes of the chang
dressed for travelling, sensibly but with
an air, and had brought small hand
bag with her
Surprised and delighted he replied
recovering with mendacity so inten
tional and obvious that the woman
laughed aloud.
81 knew you'd be! You see
I had the carriage ahead, the one you
didn't take. I was so disappointed
when you flung up to the door and
away again, You didn't see me hang
ing half out the window to watch
where you went, Gid you? That's how
I discovered that your discourtesy was
unintentional, that you hadn't recog-
nized me,-by the fact that you took
this compartment, right behind my
own
She paused invitingly, but Kirkwood
grown wary, contented himself with
picking up his pipe and carefully
knocking out the dottle on the WIN
dow-ledge.
Il was glad to see you" she affirmed;
"but only partly because you were you,
Mr. Kirkwood. The other and major
part was because sight Of you con
firmed my own secret intuition. You
see, I'm quite old enough and wise
enough to question even my own intui
tons"
"a woman wise enough for that is
an adult prodigy" he ventured eau
tiously.
Its experience and age insist
upon the age; the mother of a grown
up boy. So I deliberately ran after
you, changing when we stopped at
Newington You might've escaped me
if l had waited until we got to Queens
borough
Again she paused in open expect
ancy. Kirkwood, perplexed put his
pipe in his pocket, and assumed fac
titious look of resignation, regarding
her askance with that whimsical twist
Of his eyebrows
For you are going to Queensborough
aren't you, Mr. Kirkwood?"
"Queensborough? he echoed blank
follow her drift mo, Mrs Hallam
I'm not bound there
Her surprise was apparent; she
made no effort to conceal it. But, -
she faltered, '.if not there
"'Give you my word, Mrs. Hallam,
I have no intention whatever of going
to Queensborough,' kirkwoood pro
tested.
don't understand" The nervous
drumming of patent-leather covered
toe, visible beneath the hem of her
dress, alone betrayed rising tide Of
Impotence. Then my intuition was
at fault"
I'm this instance, if it was at all con-
cerned with my Insignificant affairs
yes-most decidedly at fault"
She shook her head regarding him
with grave suspicion. 81 hardly know;
whether to believe you. | think -
kirkwood's countenance displayed
an added shade of red After a mo-
ment, Il mean no discourtesy, ne
hapan StifHv "h,lt-r
But you don't care a farthing
whether | believe you or not?"
He caught her laughing eye, and
smiled, the flush subsiding.
Very we'll then! Now let us see /:
Where are you bound?"
Kirkwood looked out Of the window
I'm convinced it's a rendezvous
Kirkwood smiled patiently at the
landscape.
rs Dorothy Calendar so very, very