Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-04

emerson reached Ills uolcA, oiAo o>AA1o
too full Of his visit with Mildred 70
--,aep. he strolled through the LOBBY
and into the Pompeian Room. The the
Rter crowds had not dispersed. and the
place was a-glitter; for 1t was tne
grand opera season. The room was 80
we'll filled that he had difficulty IN nno-
Ing q seat, and he made his way SLOW
", meditattng gloomily upon the fact
that out Of all this concourse IN whlcn
he had once figured not single Ia
miliar. face greeted him. Finding no
unoccupied table, he was about TO re-
treat when he heard his name spoken
and felt vigorous slap upon the
back.
'.Boyd Emerson! BY Jove, I'm glad
70 see you!" He turned to face an
anaemic youth whose colorless. gas
bleached face was wrinkled into an ex-
pansive grin.
''TIello, Alton!"
They shook hands like old friends
while Alton Clyde continued to ex-
press his delight.
$50 you've been roughtng tt out IN
Nebraska, eh?"
Alaska"
"so. 1t was. I always get those places
mixed. Come over and have drink
I want, 10 talk to you. Funny tning'
ST INST met Klondiker myself this
evening, Great chap, too! want you
to know him. He's immense. only
watch out he don't get you full. He's
an awful spender. I'm half kippered
myself. His name is Froelich, but ne
isn't a Dutchman. Eyer met him up
there?"
Il think not"
"Come on, you'll like him"
CiydA led his companion toward a
table. chattering as they went
know. I'm democratic muself, and I'm
fond Of these rough fellows. I'd like TO
70 out to Nebraska
Alaska"
a-and punch cows and shoot pis'
tol and yell. I'm really tremendously
rough. Here he is! Mr.. Froelich, my
old friend, Mr. Emerson. We played
football together-qf, at least ne
played: was too light"
Mr.. Froelich shof fed back his chair
and turned, exposing the face OF I'm
verless,' Fraser. Quite expressionless
save for the left Syelid, which dropped
-mean4pgly.
".Froelich'!" said Boyd, angrily;
"oood heavens, Fraser. have you
nicked another? though you were
poinp TO stick to 'Frobisher.' >" Turn
Ing to Cylde, he observed: This
mans name Is Fraser. One Of his pc
c,,liarities is a dislike of proper names:
He has never found one that suited
him"
~ like .Froelich' pretty WELL OBJ.
served the imperturable fraser II
sounds distanguay, and ra
Don't believe anything ne Tolls
YOU" Boyd broke In, seating n1mse1.
s@He 10 the most circumstantial mar ~
the Northwest, and II you don't watcn
him every minute he WILL sell you
hydraulic mine, or q rubber plantation
or sponge fishery. Underneath MS
ecceptricities. however, he Is really
nretty decent fellow, and am IN
debtedsto him for my presence here TO-
Alton CLYDE made his establishment
evident by inquiring incredulously OF
fraser. "Then that scheme Of yours to
establish gas plant at Nome was
all"
Certainty" Emerson laughed. The
incand escent lamp travels about as
fast as the prospector. Nome IS
lighted by electricity and has been for
years" .,
as it,. demanded Fraser, with an
assumption Of the supremest surprise
aYou know as well as do"
"H'm. I'd forgotten. Just the same,
NV plan was a good one. Gas is
cheaper.. He reached for his glass,
81 which r;Iyde's eye fell upon his
missing fingers, and the young club
man exploded:
well! II that's the kind Of pill you
are. maybe you didn't lose your NIT
in the Boer War either"
Emerson answered for the adven-
turer: Hardly! He got blood-poison'
ing from hangnail."
Clyde began to laugh uncontrollably
Greatly! That's great! Oh, that's love-
"! Here I've been gobbling fairy tales
like a black bass at sunset. He! he! he
I must Introduce Mr.. Froel-Mr. Fra
Mr.. what's-his-name to the boys. He!
he! he!"
Il was evident that Fraser was not
: accustomed to this sort Of treatment;
III. injured pride took refuge In a
naughty silence, which further stirred
the risfbilities of Clyde until that
young mans thin shoulders shook. and
he doubled up, his hollow chest touch
ing his knees. He pounded the tiles
with his cane, stamped his patent
leather boots, and wept tears OF Joy.
..What's the joker" demanded the
rogue. "Anybody would think I was
the sucker.
"Where Is George?" questioned
BOYD, to change the subject.
.'In his trundle-bed, suppose said
Fraser, stiffly, along about nine
o clock he begins to yawn like a
trained seal. That's how I came to fall
IN with this" He indicated the gig
cling Clyde. II didn't have anything
better to do" ".
.Did you show George around as I
asked?"
"Sure! After that fairy.farrier, I
should say-f1nished his front feet, I
took him out and let him look at the
elevated railroad. Then he came back
and hunted up the janitor of the build
ing. He spent the evening in the base
ment with the engineer. oh, he's had