Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-06
CHAPTER xI--Continuedl

CHAPTER XI-Continued)
But you spoke moment ago OF
Tommy's official position. Is this ar
rangement matter of general knowl-
edge in North Carolina?,
mo; it is not. You and he and
are the only persons who know 1t.
Papa does not know 1t yet; and when
papa finds it out it may go hard with
him. You see, Mrs. Atchison"-and
Jerry leaned forward and rested an ell
bow on the tea-table and tucked her
little chin into the palm of her hand
"you see, papa is very absent-minded,
as great men often are, and he went
away and forgot to perform some
duties which the honor and dignity of
the state require to be performed i'm
mediately There are some wicked
men who have caused both North Caro-
lima and South Carolina great deal
of trouble, but they must not be pun
iished in this state, but in South Caro-
lima, which is just over there some
where. There are many reasons for
that which would be very tiresome
to tell you about, but the principal one
is that Barbara Osborne, the daughter
of the governor Of South Carolina, is
the simplest and stuckupest person
have ever known, and while your
brother and / are in charge of this
state have every intention OF annoy
ing her in every way l can. When Mr..
lArdmore has caught those wicked men
II spoke of, who really do not belong
lin this state at all, they will be march
ed straight into South Carolina and
then we shall see what Governor Us.
borne does about it; and we will show
Barbara Osborne. whose father never
had to paper his dining-room, after the
war between the states, with bonds OF
the Confederacy--we will show her
that there's a good deal Of difference
between the Dangerfields and the Os-
ibornes. and between the proud Old
North States and the state OF South
Carolina"
"And you have placed this business,
requiring courage and finesse, IN
Tommys hands,?
'That is exactly what l have DONE
Mrs. Atchison. Your brother is no
great distance from here, and we nave
exchanged kilograms today; Dut
when | told you moment ago that
did not know his whereabouts exactly
u spoke the truth. Your brothers ap-
pearance on the scene at the beginning
was most providential. The stage was
set. the curtain waited''-Jerry extend
ed her arms to indicate a breath OF
situation-"but there was no valiant
hero I needed leading man, and Mr.
Ardmore walked in like fairy prince
ready to take the part. And what l
shall saw to you further, as my chap
eron. will not, hope, cause you 10
think Ill OF me-"
~ love you more and more! You
may tell me anything you like without
fear of being misunderstood; but tell
me nothing that you prefer to keep to
yourself
f"If you were not Mr.. Ardmore's sis
ter | should not tell you this; and
shall never tell another soul. | was
coming home from visit in Baltimore
and the train stopped somewhere 10
let another train pass. The two trains
stood side by side for little while
and in the window of the sleeper op
posite me I saw a young man who
seemed very sad. l thought perhaps
he had buried all his friends, for he
3
bereayed. 1t has always seemed tc
me that we should do what we can &c
cheer the afflicted, and this gentle
man was staring out of his Wlnoo"
very sadly, as though he needed
friend, and as he caught my eye II
seemed to me that there was an ap
neal in it that it would have been I'M
womanly for me to ignore. So, just as
nv train started at the very last mo
ment that we looked at each other,
winked at that gentleman with,
think, my right eye"
Miss Geraldine Dangerfield touched
the offending member delicately Wltf
her handkerchief.
Mrs. Atchison bent forward and tool
both the girls hands.
"And that was Tommy-my brothe
Tommy"
THAT gentleman has proved to b.
Mr.. Thomas Ardmore. l had not thu
slightest idea that should ever in thu
world see him again. My only hop
was that he would go on his wa.
cheered and refreshed by my sign o
goodwill though he was either so dc
pressed or so surprised, that he mad
no response. I never expected to Sc
him again in this world; and when
had almost forgotten all about him h
coolly sent in his card to me at tn
executive mansion in Raleigh. And
was very harsh with him when
learned who he was; for you know tn
Ardmore estate owns lot of Mort
Carolina bonds that are due on tn
first of June, and Mr.. Billings has bee
chasing papa all over the country t
know whether they will be paid; and
supposed that Of course your brothe
was looking for papa, too, to ammo
him about some mere detail of tha
bond business, for the state treasure
who does not love papa, has gon
away fishing and Mr.. Billings is pc
fectly Wild
Delicious! exclaimed Mrs. Atcl
Ison. Perfectly delicious! And al
sure that when Tommy explained h
real sentiments toward Mr., Billing
YOU and he became friends at once"
..Not at once, for l came very nes
having him thrown out of the house