Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-23
Copyrighf-By Bobbs, Merrill Co.

v IL CiilllliF'i.j
Her glance wavered uneasily be-
tween the two, Mulready and her
father. The former, struggling to de-
clare his Indifference, turned his back
squarely upon them. She frowned.
tHe came out of Mrs. Halam's.
and got into the four-wheeler, saying
you had sent him to take your place
and would join us on the Alethea.
500! How about it, Mulready?'
The man swung back slowly. What
you. choose to think" he said ate:
a deliberate pause.
''Well, never mind! Well go over
the matter at our leisure on the Ale
thea
There was in the adventurer's tone
a menace, bitter and not to be ignor-
ed; which Mulready saw fit to chal-
lenge,
81 think not he declared; I
think not. I'm weary OF your addle-
pated suspicious. It'd be plain to any
body but a fool that l acted for. the
best interests of all concerned in the
matter. If you're not content to see it
In that light, I'm done"
ooh. if you want to put it that way,
I'm not content, MI Mulready," re.
torted Calendar dangerously.
please yourself I bid you good
by" The man took a step toward the
stairs.
Calendar dropped his right hand
into his top coat pocket. "Just a min
ute" he said sweetly, and Mulready
stopped. Abruptly the fat adventurer's
smoldering resentment leaped into
flame. "Thatll be about all, Mr.. Null
ready! Bout face. you hound, and get
into that boat! d you think I'll tenn
porize with you till Doomsday? Then
forget 1t. You're wrong, dead wrong
Your bluffs called. and" with an
evil chuckle- II hold a full house,
Mulready every chamber taken"
He lifted meaningly the hand in his
coat pocket. Nov, in with YOU
With grin and swagger Of pure
bravado, Mulready turned and obeyed
Unnoticed of any, save perhaps Cal
endar himself, the boat had drawn in
at the stage a moment earlier. Null
ready dropped into it and threw him
self sullenly upon the midships
thwart
Now, Dorothy, it's in you go, my
dear" continued Calendar, with self
satisfied wag Of his head.
Half dazed. to all seeming, she
moved toward the boat. With clumsy
and assertive gallantry her father
stepped before her, Offering his hand
his hand which she did not touch:
for. in the act of descending, she re,
membered and swung impulsively
back to Kirlswood.
Good night. Mr.. Kirkwood; good
night shan't forget
He took her hand and bowed above
It: but when his head was lifted, he
still retained her fingers in a lingering
clasp;
Good night he said reluctantly.
The Grass iDcongruity of her in that
setting smote him with renewed force
Young. beautiful, dainty brilliant and
graceful in her pretty eveneing gown
she figured strangely against the
gloomy background of the river. IN
those dull and mean surroundings o.
dank stone and rusted iron. She was
like Che thought eXtravagantly) 3
Whit of flower fragrance lost in the
miasmatic vapors of a slough.
The innocent appeal and allure OF
her face, upturned to his beneath the
gas light, wrought compassionately
upon his sensitive and generous heort
He was aware Of little surge of blind
rage against the conditions that had
brought her to that spot, and against
those whom he held responsible fol
those conditions.
In sudden flash of daring he turn
ed and nodded coolly to Calendar
with your permission" he said neg
ligently; and drew the girl aside Il
the angle of the stairway.
Miss Calendar" he began; but
was interrupted.
HERE say"
Calendar had started toward hin
angrily.
Kirkwood calmly waved him back
Il want word in private with YOU
daughter, Mr.. Calendar" he announc
ed with quiet dignity. II don't thinl
you'll deny me? I've saved you some
slight trouble tonight"
Disgruntled, the adventurer paused
"Oh-all right" he grumbled. 81 don l.
see what = F." He returned t
the boat.
Forgive me, Miss Calendar" con
MR kM H M HID islsIp 81 q