Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-13

the pet store with $50 in neatly folded
bills. please send him to Mr. Bur
ton West" she told the dealer, giving
the young mans address. BE sure
to have him there by o'clock"
That night Mr.. Comstock was some
what surprised and distinctly pleased
when his junior partner put In his
appearance shortly after dinner for
game Of cribbage. He never came
more than two evenings week and
Mr. Comstock had sometimes feared
that young West was growing weary
Of the older mans society.
Don't mean you are ready for an
other game" said Mr.. Comstock,
warming up with pleasure. well,
well. Burton, you can stand more
cribbage than any other man / ever
saw" ~
When they had settled down TO
their game and their cigars, Virginia
slipped, Into the room.
want to watch my hand daugll-
ter?' asked the father, who always
thought of Virginia as a child in spite
OF her nineteen years.
Virginia drew chair up to her
fathers side and cast an anxious look
at Burton. Burton winked reassur-
ingly when Mr.. ComstOck's eyes were
on his cards, and when suitable
pause came he said slowly and de.
liberately:
Il say, Mr. Comstock brought a
trifle for Virginia. 1t Is in basket
in the passage under the front porch.
Shall get it, Virginia, or do you
want to discover it for YOURSELF
Virginia dashed out of the room,
out the door, to embrace her pet. IN
the mean time, Burton with what. tact
he could command tried to explain and
make light Of the matter with Mr..
Comstock. But Mr. Comstock was
not to be appeased, and Burton was
more than relieved when their usual
number of hands were over and ne
was on his way home. In his hat on
the lat rack in the hall Burton FOUND
a little slip of note.
81 am SO happy. Thank you mil
lion times. Devotedly,
jimmy"
poor little GIRL said Burton 70
himself as he slipped the note into his
pocket.
The next day Burton did not see
Mr.. Comstock, and when he returned
from business he was surprised to
find the dog whining in his rooms.
There was no note accompanying
him, and no explanation had been left
by the Comstock servant who had de.
livered him.
The next day Mr. Comstock sum
moned the young man to his Office.
He looked at him with an expires.
sion that was expected to carry with
it utter scorn, but which, in spite OF
itself, showed grain of amusement
Then he cleared his threat and rose
See, here, young man." he began
solemnly, "Is this honest? Is 1t fair!
When have been entertaining you
in my house as gentleman, and have
cared for you as son"
Burton actually turned pale with
alarm for he was in a difficult posi-
ton and could think Of no means OF
escape.
"If you cared for the girl-mere
child like that-you should have
told me"
at was a mere trif1e," stammered
Burton. IT thought she might, care
for the dog"
"A. mere triae. indeed" broke in
Mr.. Comstock 81 guess l know the
value OF dog as well as any one else
That dog is thoroughbred, and
know 1t. Don't try to fool mel
Mr.. Comstock had worked himself
into such state OF indignation that
the grain of amusement had disap
peared. Any explanation on Burton's
part, had he had any to make, would
have been useless, and the young
man slipped out Of the room to think
over the unfortunate affair.
AS Burton thought the matter over
lit occurred to him that really the
most embarrassing problem he had te
solve was concerned with Virginia
and not with Mr.. Comstock. The dos
for which she had spent her boarded
birthday money was in his posses
sion. and she was in the meantime
without the dog and without money
AS he could not return the dog, hi
could return the money, and 1t was