Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-16

(CHAPTER I-Continued.)
"I-I-beg pardon began Emerson.
1--WE didn't intend to take forcible pos
session, but we're played out-We'ye
been denied shelter everywhere-we
felt desperate
you tried the canneries above?" In
terrupted the girl.
Eyes"
"And they referred you to the
priest? Quite so.'' She laughed softly,
her voice a mellow contralto. "The
Father has been gone for month;
he wouldn't have let you in II he'd
been there"
She addressed the Indian girl in
which the two natives retired Con-
stantine reluctantly, like a Watchdog
whose suspicious are not fully allayed.
Were glad of an opportunity 70
thank you for your timely service this
afternoon said Emerson. Had we
known you lived here, we certainly
should not have intruded in this man
ner." He found himself growing holly
uncomfortable as he began to realize
the nature of his position, but the
young woman spared him further apol-
ogies by answering carelessly:
"Oh, that was nothing. I've been ex-
pecting you hourly. You see, Constan-
tines little brother has the measles,
and had to get to him before the ma
tiyes give the poor little fellow Rus
sian bath and then stand him out IN
the snow. They have. only one treat
ment for all diseases. That's why l
didn't stop and give you more explicit
directions this morning
IF your-er-father-" The girl
shook her head.
"Then your husband-I should like
to arrange with him to hire lodgings
for few days The matter Of money
- EG
Again she came to his rescue.
II am the man of the house. I'm
boss here. This splendor is all mine"
She waved a slender white hand ma
jestically at the rough surroundings,
laughing in way that put Boyd En-
erson more at his ease. "You are
quite welcome to stay as long as you
wish. Constantine objects to my hos
pitality. and treats all strangers alike,
fearing they may be Company men.
When you didn't arrive at dark, |
thought perhaps he was right this
time, and that you had been taken IN
by one of the watchmen."
eve throwed Swede out on his
neck" declared Fraser, swelling with
conscious Importance, "and guess
he's Grabbed us with the other
squareheads.'
""Oh, no! They have instructions
not to harbor any travellers. It's as
much as his job is worth for any OF
them TO entertain you. Now, won't
you make yourselves at home while
Constantine attends to your dogs!
Dinner will soon be ready, and hope
you will do me the honor of dining
with me- she finished, with a grac-
iousness that threw Emerson into
fresh confusion.
He murmured gladly" and then
lost himself in wonder at this well
gowned girl living amid such sur
roundings. Undeniably pretty, grace
full in her movements, bearing herselI
with certainty and poise-who was
she? Where did she come from? And
what in the world was she doing
here?
He became aware that "Fingerless'
Fraser was making the introductions.
"This is Mr.. Emerson; my name is
French. I'm one of the Virginia
trenches, you know; perhaps yop
have heard of them. No? Well, they're
the real thing"
The girl bowed, but Emerson fore
stalled her acknowled gment by break
ing in roughly, with a threatening
scowl at the adventurer:
ellis name isn't French at all
Madam: it's Fraser-'Fingerless' Fra
ser He's an utterly worthless rogue,
and absolutely unreliable so far as
can learn. | picked him up on the ice
in Norton Sound, with a marshal at
his heels"
"That marshal wasn't after me-
stoutly denied Fraser, quite I'M
abashed. "Why, he's friend of mine
we're regular chums
knows that. He wanted to give me
some papers to take outside,
that's ALL
Boyd shrugged his shoulders in
differently:
.'Warrants!"
"Not at all! Not at all! airily.
Their hostess, greatly amused at
this remarkable turn OF the ceremony
prevented any further argument by
saying:
sWell, French or Fraser, which
ever it is, you are both welcome. How
ever, I should prefer to think OF you
as runaway rather than as an 1ntl-
mate friend of the marshal Of Nome;
/ happen to know him."
well, we amt what you'd exactly
call pals" Fraser hastily disclaimed.
II Just sort of bow to him"-he gave
en- imitation of slight, Indifferent
headshake-"that way!"
ct see," commented their hostess,
ouizzically; then recalling herself,
she continued: 81 should have made
myself known before; am Miss
Malotte."
Sch" began the crook, then shut
his lips abruptly, darling shrewd
glance at the girl Emerson saw
their eyes meet, and fancied that the
woman's smile sat trifle unnaturaily
~, bar lins while the delicate cOlOrinS