Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-06

Forrester's Righteousness was due
sudden jolt. 4s
"say, you, what are you doing in
that tree?"
Having a brain, my friend, and
what might be termed pair Of fairly
intelligent eyes. shall suggest that
you Sherlock Holmes your own prob.
lem"
Fresh, amt your" asked the
other. II want you to come down.
Sorry l can't oblige you" an
swered Forester. This is my busy
day"
The man below was a bulky fellow
heavy of face and huskily framed.
He wore scrubby mustache and APP
peared as he pushed back the SLOUGH
hat shading his dull ensemble Of fea-
lures, to be about forty-flve years OF
age.
You're on my job" he groaned,
land want you to get out OF here.
This Is the Collins bunch Of trees,
this is, and I'm here to grab down all
the graft"
you're little late" came sarcastic
cally from the younger man. 1--we been
WOTkluR several 1uOuIS, anu, as tOu
see, / am nearly DONE
That's nothing to me. I'm the one
who's got the contract for the job
1t was new sensation-this argu-,
ing for the paltry sum due the youth;
for tree doctoring. 1t amused him.
Cant we COMPROMISED" asked the
son of Battle" Forester, earnestly.
1--WE done everything. If, as you
say, the job is yours will you split
even. considering that the work is all
done?''
mo split" roared the other Justify.
"And by what hook or crook did you
get next to this and come here to
beat me out?"
"Mrs. Collins hired me-"
"You lie. Mr.. Collins hired me-"
The strong jaw of the youth showed
itself out 81 don't allow people to
tell me l lie
There was cold chill to the words
that brought a sense of the earnest
ness Of the other to the last arrival.
"Well, I'll say l don't know any
thing about that" he compromised.
"but do know that collect for this,
and / don't divvy blamed cent,
Mr. Fresh. If the missus put you on
the Job, then it's up to the missus to
pay you.'
Unseen by either. slim young fell
low In a neat, business suit had stop
ped to hear the argument.
whats the matter here?' he asked
authoritatively. He turned to the
scrubby mustache HAS some one dis
puted your job, Nankins?"
The one addressed whirled as on a
pivot. "Ah, Mr.. Collins" he triumphed.
Eyes, there's young swell in that tree
who claims to have been put on the
work by your wife"
Forester was now completely hid.
den in cluster Of leaves.
Come down." ordered Collins,
pushing straw hat back from his
forehead. "Come down, you man up
there. and we'll talk it over,
'I'll not came gruffly from the
boughs. "I'll stick up here until the
lady comes. I'm on the job now and
intend to stay on"
From Forresters point Of conceal
ment, he could not see, but the frou-
frou of approaching skirts reached his
ears distinctly.
whats the trouble. Toni ques.
toned a laughing voice. 'You have
the expectant look of successful
hunter who has freed valuable game"
Forester recognized the voice as
that of Mrs. Collins.
eve freed something" growled
her husband Here I've hired man
to prune these trees-a professional
forester, and some one else has beat
him to the job. Said some one else
also refuses to come down and arbi-
trate."
Glow absurd modulated another
richer, deeper and, withal.
younger than that of Mrs. Collins. A
little trill of laughter came up to the
youth in the trees.
"Pll come down now he called,
still assuming the gruff voice.
And he did.
"You!" came in surprise from a
very petite young person.
Gwen t., assured the disheveled
young man, meeting the scrubby
ones baleful glare with a |
bland srlile. Before we begin the
peace theaty, wish to assure this
probably very efficient workman that
| have no intention of collecting for
the Job.
The professional cast a keen eye
over the shipped limbs and the trees
above them.
'.Hum!" >he said grudgingly. mot q |
bad job at that, young un.
4"But-" began Mrs. Collins. 4,
"You can't deny it," assured Forces
ter. "You are responsible,
"But-but expected the forester,
and Tom called me UP and told me to
wait for /
''Lee Forester interrupted the
male Collins. Lee Forester, my dear,
not the forester Mr.. Forester is your
sisters most sedate and most engaged |
young man-her fiance. He and Flor !
ence came in from Fairtown on the
train. You evidently ran
across Flo as she was coming from I
that subtle trousseau excursion, but be-
fore that you" .
put a young millionaire to work |
mutilating trees!" gasped Mrs. Collins.
well, l never" !
Miss Florence Moreland. who had |
been separated from Forester for the
better part of three hours. gazed ad- !
at the youth