Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-05


q months rent-see, here is the re.
ceipt"
She drew a small purse from her
apron pocket and fourished strip
of paper in Jacks face. He bent over
it Just long enough to catch the name.
81. Lane" he exclaimed. That's
my name"
ITS my name. too" said the girl
quietly.
Jack bit his lip and knitted hls
brows. He felt very awkward standing
there and disputing possession OF
the room.
/ 81 am very sorry" she was saying
half apologetically. There surely
has been mistake: perhaps the
room you engaged Is on the floor
below. You see, wanted this room
because Of the light am an artist"
She blushed a little and caught her
breath as she said the last few words,
but there was light Of enthusiasm
in her eyes that, Jack recognized and
respected
He felt himself turning away
with murmured word of regret at
having troubled her, and then the
door closed and left him standing
there alone For brief instant he
surveyed his traps piled about him,
and then, drawing letter case from
| his pocket he extracted the receipt
/ he had taken from the agent of the
| building.
It was made ont In proper form for
the rental of the big room under the
skylight-No. TO.
He walkel slowly down the hall
and scanned the cards affixed to the
doors. Two architects and three art
lists were fortunate enough to find
refuge behind as many doors in the
corridor to the right. He looked hard
at No. 20. There was no card on the
door, which was slightly ajar. He
pushed it open and beheld the fac
smile OF his own room. Bare and clean
and smelling Of suds and Ann Moran!
| Miss J. Lane had made a mistake.
| This was her room. Nevertheless, he
decided to say nothing more, and
throwing off his hat and coat, tuged
and pulled and hammered and un.
packed to such good purpose that at
no o'clock that night he paused and
triumphantly surveyed the comfort.
able quarters. He had laid fire in
the board fireplace and drawn his
easiest chair in comfortable prox.
unity to the hearth.
! Tired and hungry. yet withal
happy. Jack removed the traces of his
labor, and, freshly attired, went out
for bit to eat and the evening paper.
A light shone through the transom OF
No. II, and as he no longer heard the
click of heels on the floor he decided
that J. Lane had also become settled
| in her new abode,
On his return he paused at the top
| of the stairs and looked inquisitively
at the transom above the dor. A
faint dust of smoke obscured the
light, and, as the transom was sud
denly lifted from within, the smoke
issued forth, bearing on its breath a
tell-tale odor.
To one who has supped heartily
and we'll the fragrance of a welsh
rabbit is not enticing. Jack mentally
lreproved his pretty neighbor for sup
ping so unwisely, and fell asleep.
In spite Of the fact that they were
close neighbors. they rarely met
When they did, she passed him with
a cool little nod that was all
One morning when he was painting
busily soft rap came upon his door
He was expecting a ragged Italian
urchin who often posed for him.
Come in" he shouted.
There was an intsant's silence and
then the door was slowly opened and
her face appeared above the paint
stained blue pinafore. The cheeks
were quite pink and the gray-green
eyes were very bright as they met