Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-12

with hat, parasol and belt to match.
Then, popping her head In at the
door Of her husbands den, she In
formed him that she was going for
walk. Having received an irritated
grunt by way Of response, she softly
closed the door and ran down the
stairs and out to the road.
I've just got to get a glimpse OF
that girl this very day, fair or not
fair" she murmured, defiantly. IF
l can get to Woodlawn before they
do. I'll hide In the old summer-house
and peek all please without any
body being the wiser
She took short cut through a field
and another through an orchard.
Gracious she painted, some min
utes later, as, tired and flushed from
her unwonted speed, she neared the
unoccupied frame house set among
stately old shade trees. "1t's a
spooky. lonely place! I'll wager this
lawn hasn't been mowd since the
owner went away, three years ago.
fuss about it, and If he wouldn't find
it out. Why couldn't he have taken
her to Woodlawn some other time?"
Suddenly Mrs. Trevelyn sprang to
her feet. mischievous sparkle In her
eyes. Whisking indoors, she ran
blithely upstairs and hurridely
changed her house dress for an out
grass to a rustic summer-house half
way between the house and the en-
trance gates. "He always did want
to get as near nature as possible.
seu,sa krecioake tishrJorMC
The summer house was overgrown
with vines and it's interior was far
from inviting: but there was a rustic
seat lust inside the door, and Mrs.
Trevelyn was very tired. With care
fully clutched skirts and fearful eyes
she entered the retreat and seated
herself on the messy bench.
The day was. unusually warm for
that time of year and Mrs. Trevelyn
was not accustomed to SO much ex-
erice.. Consequently. before she had
been seated in the cool place five
minutes, her eyes closed and she
slumbered peacefully
Fifteen minutes later she came to
herself with terrified start Some
thing snuous and horrible was glid-
ing away from her across the floor
of the old summer house and there
was a queer numb feeling in the fin
gers of her left hand With a gasp
Of terror she raised her hand and
stared at two round bricks on the tip
of her forefinger. With a muffled
cry, Mrs. Terevlyn sprang to her feet
and dashed from the summer house
just as two people cam up the walk
from the gates.
Ooh, thank goodness for some
body to- help mel" gasped Mrs.
Trevelyn, thinking. Of nothing save
her extremity. do something for
me, won't you please?" she walled,
appealingly holding out the wounded
finger to the wide-eyed newcomers.
"I'v been bitten by snake-ah, an
awful thing! | know I'm going to
die-my finger feels so queer! DO
something for me-"
"Ye gods and little fishes!" gulped
Burton, hopelessly patting her back
Grace, poor girl, how'd you do it:
You're sure it was g shaker
'Iet me see the bite, please" said
quiet, lov.toned voice from the
trinity clad young woman at Burtons
back. She stepped quickly forward
and took Mrs. Trevelyn's shaking nm
gers, "Ah, yes, see the two tiny
punctures quite plainly" she OBJ
served. after brief scrutiny OF the
injured finger. Her brows drew
together rs though something puzzled
her and she looked uncertainty
toward the summer house. SIS the
snake still in there?" she asked, ex
pectantly.
ooh, I suppose SOL" shnddred Mrs
Trevelyn, feeling cold and ILL., dc
you think it's q deadly bite? Will !
die Ooh, for goodness sake tell
me how long have to live!"
The girls lips twitched nervously
hut her voice was gravely reasurine
as she made response "Many years
/ trust" she said, gently. Then
turning to the equally concerned Bur
ton. she asked him to enter the sum
mer house and Sc if the snake was
still in there.
Burton grabbed stick and went
boldly within the retreat. After
few momnts of brisk rummaging ne
returned bearing on the point OF the
rod a shimmering length OF yellow
ribbon with two pins sticking In one
end. "This is the only snake can
find!" he declared, with much gray
ity. From appearances, I should
take it to be summer house serpent
of q nonpoisonous kind"
Grace stared at the ribbon while
the blood slowly returned to he1
cheeks and fingers. Gracious me!
so it was just my belt!" she twittered
io7fully. ''Well, I might have died
of fright if somebody hadn't thought
to find the thing. Burton, dear
aren't you going. to introduce my
rescurer?"
And Burton, with twinkling eyes
cheerfully complied.