Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-08
} THE EVENING STORY 2
CHEWING THE HIGHER LAW.
BY WILLIAM H. HANDY.

airy Press.
Miss Ingle ceased clicking the type
writer for a moment and Strengthened
In her chair to rest the muscles of her
shoulders. The work of the Midland
Coal & Mineral Land company was
very heavy for one stenographer. The
grind grew more wearisome and nerve
raching every day But she was alone
in the city and this was the only EN-
ployment she was fitted for. And she
must have bread and fire.
What did jackson say about that
land in Glade county?" asked the
junior partner, looking UP from let
ter. Jackson was the company's coal
expert.
Said 1t was one of the finest out
looks he ever saw" replied Biker, the
senior partner "Worth at least a hum
dred and fifty an acre.
What is it worth for farming pur-
poses?"
ooh, notAmuch; It is poor, very poor;
say twenty Or twenty-five an acre
~About what shall we offer the
young hayseed%
Start him at thirty" replied Biker,
and toaother work.
The junfor brought the letter to the
saeuographer and began to dictate:
'Aatr. willard Ferris, Gladeville. Mo.
+ r. r. ID. No. 4.
Dear Skr-Ourt export reports your
fand absolutely worthless as a mining
proposition There is some coal, but
owing to the formation, location, etc,
|ftAwtils be&fnpo ssdhte, ever to mine it at
TO- profit. We can, perhaps. handle
Iyoars farm on OUT exchange list as ag-
tYfcuaSHEaIAfand and as such could pay
lyou.3 BDs ans acre&for 1t.
teVeFystruly,
The NTHdlan6 Coal & Min. l.. Co.
AaI the morning MISS Ingle kept
thinking of the young farmer, Willard
lF'srrfs. Heswas still in her mind when
}ghe started to luncheon. 1.-THE rascals,"
tBib1eFis the only thing we have to
|she said indignantly under her breath
And over and over, st do hope he
1wonttftake IT"
No4one in the office had ever seen
Ferris, but she had been interested In
thim from his very first letter about
Ithe land. All the correspondence
passed through her hands. She opened
all letters addressed to the company.
The first letter from Ferris had
been a jubi1ant announcement of the
discovery of coal on his land. In that
frank way which people unusued to
The ways of the world have Of mixing
personal affairs and business, he told
how long he had been hoping to find
something under his farm, as he never
could get it to grow much on top.
There had been some correspond
enee and in each letter young Ferris
haive1y revealed something OF his
home, his family, himself Biler and
the Junior made much sport over
these personal things in his letter, but
they were not funny to Miss Ingle. She
saw instead a frank generous young
man, struggling against odds to make
a living on the poor soil for his or
phaned younger brothers and sisters.
She could even see the weather-beat-
en-, implanted farm house and the
bleak, unproductive fields. She saw
The great tumult of excitement in the
little family when coal was found:
saw the flame OF hope leap up In the
young mans face-and now he was to
be cheated out Of 1t.
The reply came on Friday. The
stenogrspher's hands trembled as she
opened It. She was glad no one else
was in the Office. The letter said In
part:
.ors was powerfully disappointed by
your letter. / had hoped-but l guess
Ia fellow is always hoping things that
won't happen. I don't care much for
sruyselY, but was real anxious to send
All the ktds-there are four besides me
r-aRaysto school. guess II that is the
best: youFcan do, III have to take it. l
lowe twenty dollars an acre on it. and
tcan't FneverS make 1t farming it. Yours
kespt. Willard Ferris"
Miss rngle gulped down a lump in
her throat and reached for her hand
kerchtef Just as Biker came in.
+ sMr. Biker," she said, IT want to
resign this morning"
9tenogTaphers were easy to get and
he Let her go without question. She
Eook her coat-far too thin for the
raw February day-and hurried out.
Poor fellow, poor dear fellow" she
katd. What good brother he is. If
prllyrT had such brother to look out
1ur me. hope / won't be too late
!Hlpe went to the nearest telegraph Of
hlce and sent this message:
willard Ferris, Gladeville, Mo. =
B1n't accept offer for land 1t is
worth five t1nestthat figure.
IN. l."
Then she went to her bedroom and
Ersed. She had no scruples over
slrwarting the rascals in their deal
She knew it was against the law of
business to use the secrets of ones
Employer; but she was obeying high
kr law. And while she was willing to
expose the rascally deal, she was not
willing at the same time to continue
70 draw salary from them. She was
put of work, and employment at that
lime was hard to get.
Miss Ingle had returned to her din
gy, poorly heated room. Today, as for
many days, she had searched for work
and found none.
There was knock at the door She
ghrank back and hesitated to open it..
She owed for three weeks room and
board, and expected, every day, that
her landlady would tell her to leave.
Miss Ingle,'' the landlady called,
there is man downstairs to see
you"
CJt.