Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-03
~ The. ~
By REX BEACH.
Copyright, 1909, By Harper 8 Brother,


Now I'm off for the trap Let me know
what the old man says"
Boyd returned to the cannery with
the old mood of self-disgust and bitter
ness heavy upon him. He realized that
Georges offer to commit murder had
not shocked him as much as upon it's
first mention. He knew that he had
thought Of shedding human blood with
as little conjunction as il the in
tended victim had been some noxious
animal. He felt, indeed, that If his love
for Mildred made him criminal, she,
too, would be soiled by his dishonor,
and for her sake he shrank from the
idea OF violence, yet he lacked the
energy at that time to putt from him.
Well, he would go to her father, hum
BILE himself, and beg for protection. II
he failed, then Marsh must look out
for himself. He could not find it in his
heart to spare his enemy.
At the plant he found Alton Clyde
tremendously excited at the arrival
of the yacht, and eager to visit his
friends. He sent him to the launch,
and, after hasty breakfast, Joined
him.
On their way out, Boyd felt re-
turn of that misgiving which had mas
tered him on his first meeting with
Mildred in Chicago. But the second
time he was bringing her failure in
stead of the promised victory. Now, as
then, she would find him in the bitter
ness of defeat, and he could not but
wonder how she would bear the disap-
pointment He had hoped at least that
she would understand his appeal to
her father; that she would see him,
not as suppliant begging for mercy.
but as a foemau worthy of respect. de.
handing his just dues. Surely he had
proved himself capable. Wayne Way
land could hardly make him contempt.
ible in Mildred's eyes. Yet feeling Of
disQuiet came over him as he drew
Hear The GranGe Dame.
Willis Marsh was ahead of him,
standing with MI Wayland at the rail.
Some one else was with them; Boyd's
heart leaped wildly as he recognized
her. He would have known that slim
figure anywherc-and Mildred saw
him too, pointing him out to her com
.panions.
With knees shaking under him he
came stumbling up the landing. ladder.
tall, gaunt figure of man in rough
clothing and boots stained with the
SCI. salt. He looked older by five years
thsr when the girl had last seen him !;
his cheeks were nollowed and his lips
cracked by the wind, but his eyes
were aflame with the old light, his
smile was for ner alone.
Ia y,n hn .y,,n1Y0n
greetings nor the looks the others gave
aim, for her soft, cool hands lay in his
hard, feverish palms, and she was slnil-
ing up at him.
Alton Clyde was at his heels, ana he
felt Mildred disengage her hand. He
tore his eyes away from her face long
enough to nod at Marsh, who gave him
menacing look, then turned to Wayne
Wayland The old man was saying
something, and Boyd answered him
unintelligibly, after which he took
Mildred's hands once more with such
an air Of unconscious proprietorship
that Willis Marsh grew pale to the lips
and turned his back. Other people,
whom Boyd had not noticed until now,
came down the deck-men and women
with field-glasses and cameras swung
over their shoulders. He found that he
was being introduced to them by Mil
dred, whose voice betrayed no tremor,
and whose manners were as collected
as If this were her own drawing-room,
and the man at her side a casual ac-
quaintance. The strangers mingled
with the little group, levelled their
glasses and made senseless remarks
after the manner Of tourists the world
over. Boyd gathered somehow that
they were officers of the Trust, or
heavy stockholders, and their wives.
They seemed to accept him as an unin-
teresting bit of local color. and he re-
garded them with equal indifference,
for his eyes were wholly occupied
with Mildred, his ears deaf to all but
her voice. At length he saw some OF
them going over the rail, and later
found himself alone with his sweet
heart. He led her to a deck-chair, and
seated himself beside her.
"At last" he breathed. "You are
here. Mildred. You really came, after
all?"
Eyes, Boyd
"And are you glad?"
Indeed am. The trip has been won
derful."
ut doesn't seem possible. can't be-
lieve that this is really you-that ! am
not dreaming as usual"
And you? How have you been?"
"I've been WE'LL guess have
haven't had time to think Of myself.
Oh, my Lady," His voice broke with
tenderness, and he laid his hand gen.
tly upon hers.
She withdrew it quickly.
Not here! Remember where you
are. You are not looking well, Boyd.
don't know that / ever saw you look
so badly. Perhaps it is your clothes"
II am tired" he confessed, feeling
anew the WEAKNESS of the past twen-
ty-four hours. He covertly stroked a
fold of her dress, murmuring. "You are
here, after all. And you love me, Mil
dred? You haven't changed. have
you?"
"Not at ALL Have you?"
His deep breath and the light that
famed into his face was her answer.
az want to be alone with you," he
cried huskily. "My arms ache for you.
Come away from here; this is torture.
I'm like man dying of thirst"
No urornan cou1d have heheld his