Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-13

Notwithstanding the disturbing oc-
currences Of the day, for during the
evening Cherry had tactfully diverted
him from all mention of business,
trusts or canneries, much as a good
physical director, on the eve of con-
test, relieves the grinding monotony
of an athletes training. The brain,
after all, is but flesh and blood, and,
like the muscles, requires rest; ar I'M
broken intensity of contemplation
pessimism.
They had dined gaily, tete'a-tete,
while care fed before the girls exub'
Grant spirits. Contentment had deep
ened in the companionable enjoyment
of play. and later a little supper
party at which Big George and Alton
Clyde We're present, had completed
Boyd's mental refreshment, to Cher
rvs satisfaction.
True. it had required all her skill
to prevent the big fisherman from
Going forth upon the Issue uppe'most
in his mind; but his loyalty to her was
doglike. and once he found thai his
pet topic was tabooed, he lapsed into
a good-natured contemplation OF his
finger nails, which he polished indus
triously with, his napkin.
The girl had further demonstrated
her power over all sorts and conditions
of men by reducing the blase young
club-man to state of grinning adj
miration. "Fingerless" Fraser alone
had been missing from the coterle RE
had discovered them from a distance,
to be sure, and came over to exchange
greetings with Cherry, but the d1sas-
trous result Of the fellows garrulity
was still SO fresh in Boyd's mind that
he could not invite him to join them,
and Fraser, with singular modesty,
had quickly withdrawn. to Warder
for while, till sheer ennul
drove him to bed. His ,dejectlon
awakened little sympathy IN Boyd,
who felt happier for the removal OF
his irritating presence. E
In the morning Boyd was brought
sharply back to realization of his
difficult position BY letter from
Mildred Wayland.
Father and l had another scene
over you." wrote Mildred. ut vas
the first quarrel we ever had, and ! m m
half sick as result. simply cant
bear that sort of thing, and we have
agreed to drop the subject WHAT
reused him to such sudden fury I'm
sure l don't know"
BOYD knew, however and the knoWl'
edge did not add to his comfort.
It. seemed, indeed, as If the TRUSTS
enmity had marked him in the eyes
of the whole financial world; he was
again denied assistance at the banks,
and this time in manner to show
him the futility of argument or FUR
Their effort. The reasons given were as
final as they we're vague, and n1ght
found the young promoter half dazed
and desperately frightened at the COM
pleteness of the disaster which had
overwhelmed him in the brief space
of thirty-six hours. He could not blind
himself to the situation. Those Chl'
cago men who had backed him were
personal friends. and they had risked
their hard-earned dollars purely upon
the strength of his vivid assurances.
He had prevailed upon them to invest
more than they could afford, and
while ultimate failure might be for
given, it savored less Of indiscretion
than of criminal culpability to be left
at the very outset of the enterprise
with a shipload of useless machinery
ipon the docks at Seattle. Ruin was
close upon him.
In his perplexity he turned naturally
to Cherry who listened to his tale OF
repeated failure with furrowed brows,
wondering the matter as seriously as II
the responsibility had been her own.
"The battle has begun sooner than
expected" she said, at length. Il
never dreamed they could fix the
banks so quickly"
Somehow, l can't believe this is the
work of the Trust people: don't see
how they could accomplish so much in
so short time. Why, it came like
thunderclap.'
II hope am wrong she answered,
"but something unexpected must
have happened to change Mr.. Hill
liard's attitude. What could it be ex-
cept pressure from higher sources?'
'Has he dropped any hint before
your"
'Not hint. He wouldn't let go Of
anything. Why he is too close-fisted
to drop his RS"
80 I am told. He belongs to that
anomalous class who are as rigid IN
business methods as they are loose in
private morals"
Indeed" Cherry seemed curious.
But inssmuch as his extravaganza
begins at 10 p. m. and ends at 10 a.
M. it doesn't seem to affect his social
standing. However, we needn't discuss
his personal character; there's enough
to think Of without that. Will you take
dinner with me this evening so Tho
we can talk over any further develop
ments?"
81 am to dine with Mr.. Hilliard,"
said the girl.
oh" Boyd's tone Of disappoint-
ment seemed disproportionate to the
occasion. He endeavored to disguise
his feelings by saying Nightly: "You
are breaking into exclusive circles.
He lives in quite palace. am told"
Tin not dining at his home
Cherry hesitated, and Boyd flashed a
sharp glance at her. A faint color
flushed her cheeks, as she explained:
HE could not see me at the Office
today, so he arranged for me to take
dinner with him."
q y -