Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-13


women were more or less suspicious,
highly intuitive; still, he could not be-
lieve that this was all Willis Marsh's
doing. AS he unused he idly thumbed
the pages of magazine. He was about
to lay 1t down when his eye caught a
well-known face, and he started, then
glanced at the date Of issue. 1t was a
duplicate of that copy which had af-
fected him so deeply in Cherry's home
at Kalvik. He lifted his eyes to find
her scrutinizing him.
"No, you can't cut out that page, ="
she said, with slightly embarrassed
laugh.
Where did you run across this?'
II didn't run across it, she admit
ted; 81 secured the book-stalls for 1t
all the morning. Curiosity Is a fem
mime trait, you know"
Il don't quite understand"
THAT missing page has caused me
insomnia for months. But now I'm as
puzzled as ever, for there are two pic
lures, one on either side of the leaf,
and each has possibilities. Which Is it,
the society bud or the prima donna 2"
II don't know what you mean," he
answered, somewhat stiffly. His love
for Mildred Wayland had always been
so sacred and inviolable thing that
even Cherry's frank inquisitiveness
seemed an intrusion.
I'll call for you in time for the nine
o'clock boat" he added as he arose to
go. Meanwhile, If you get a.hint from
EJil1}or1 ,,ooxy 1,o ,,coF,,J
Left to his own devices, Boyd spent
the evening In gloomy solitude, vainly
seeking for some way out Of his diff
culties. But, despite his preoccupation
with his own affairs, vague feeling
of resentment at the thought of Cherry
and Hilliard kept forcing itself upon
his mind. Perhaps the girls indiscre-
ton was of no very serious nature;
yet he found it hard to excuse even a
small breach Of propriety upon her
part. Surely, she must understand the
imprudence Of dining alone with the
banker. His attentions to her could
have but one Interpretation. And she
was too nice girl to compromise her
self in the slightest degree. Although
he told himself that business reason
had prompted her, and reflected that
the business methods of women are
battling to the mind Of mere man,
his reasoning quite failed to reconcile
him to the situation. In the end he had
to acknowledge that he did not like
the look Of it in the least.
But in the morning he found 1t i'm
possible to maintain critical atti-
tude in Cherry's presence. She had fin
{eh OF r,yhn
and was awaiting him, clad in brown
velvet suit which set off her trim fig
ure with all the effectiveness of skill
full tailoring. Brown boots and gloves
to match, with dainty turban in
which lay the golden CLEAN of pleas
ants plumage, completed the picture.
She was as perfect to the eye as the
morning itself.
well, did Hilliard expose the hid
den mysteries Of the banking system? p
he questioned, as they walked down
toward the water front.
"He did. 1t is no mystery at all
now"
Then it was that newspaper story
that frightened him."
Indirectly, perhaps. He didn't men
ton It,"
What did he say?"
Nothing"
Nothing! Then how"
"He informed me that you are in
love with the society girl and not with
the actress He said you are engaged
to marry Miss Wayland."
eyes. But what did he say about the
loan?"
only what have told you. The rest
is easy Had you been less secretive,
would have known instantly whom
to blame for this trouble. Wayne Way.
land and Willis Marsh are working
double. and inasmuch as you are per.
soma non grata-"
who told you was persona non
grata?"
"You told me yourself without in.
tending to. Please give me credit for
some shrewdness. If you had been a
welcome sutton, you would have had
no difficulty in raising two hundred
thousand dollars in Chicago. Then
too, remember the story you told me
at Kalvi1, your mental attitude-many
things, in fact, Oh, 1t was very simple
well, what Of it? What has all that
got to do with my present dif1culty?'
Listen! You want to marry the
daughter of the greatest trust-builder
in the country, and he doesn't want
you for a son-in-law. You undertake an
enterprise which seriously threatens
his financial interests, and if success.
full in that, you could defy his opposi.
ton in the other matter. Now all goes
well until he learns Of your plans,
then he strikes with his own weapons.
A word here and there, hint to the
banks, and your fine castle comes
tumbling down about your ears.
thought you had more perception.
The girls voice was sharp. and she
wore that expression Of unyouthful
WEAKNESS that Boyd had noted before
He could not help wondering what bit
ter experience had taught her disillu
sion. what ~ Environment had
edged her w.. ~a7. -:.idfy wisdom
1--WE haven't figured Marsh In at
ALL" he said, tentatively.
"He figures, nevertheless, as intend
to show you today To begin with
please note that unobtrusfve man in
the gray suit-not now! Don't look
around for minute. You will see him
IL 0%% No ,$