Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-19
EVENING STORY
THE coNoUERoR OF cApleAN.


BY w. CRAWFORD SHERLOCK.
Copyright, 1911, by the Associated
Literary Press.)
'T think your Mr.. Larrimore Is the
most dreadful bore ever met"
yawned Edith Brent. "He talks about
nothing but flowers, trees and rocks,
and seems utterly Indifferent to every
thing else in the world. hate such
men,"
"He is not mine, Miss Edith" dis
claimed Jack Fenwick, stretching his
ample proportions on the grass at the
gether, but never in the same set. Lar
rimore was an awful duffer on ,ath-
letics. wonder why Mrs. Mervin In
vited him to her house party"
Goodness knows" returned Edith
languidly. Marian does some queer
things and this is one of them"
II don't think Mr.. Larrimore Is so
duly and uninteresting, Edith" inter-
posed Helen Waters, glancing up from
her book. "He has never mingled
much in society, but he is the best ed
ucated man I have ever met"
CNSIy DOuy I'd u1S lAhlA6, AoueASu
Miss Brent. casting a glance at Fen
wick that told plainly that he was
more to her taste than the subject OF
the conversation. Don't sing his
praises any more, Helen or he Will
hear you. Here he comes"
Amos Larrimore had turned from
the long driveway and was striding
across the lawn toward the little
group. His tall, gaunt figure stopped
as he passed beneath the overhanging
branches and this, with his shambling
gait, gave him a somewhat unprepos-
sessing appearance.
Several more of the house party had
joined the little group on the lawn.
and Larrimore, stretching his great
length somewhat awkwardly on the
grass by the side of Helen Waters.
showed her the specimens he had
found that morning.
81 am going away tomorrow, Miss
Helen" he observed, as he stuffed his
prizes into his pocket again.
What is that?" she asked In sur
prise. 81 thought you were going to
stay for month. You have been here
scarcely two weeks"
II think it best to Co." returned
Larrimore quietly. Mrs. Mervin In
sisted upon my coming or would
not have been here L find, however,
that it's not the place for me. I'm not
accustomed to this sort of thing and
the people here, with some exceptions,
are not the kind to make a fellow feel
comfortable"
Helens reply was checked by the
sudden appearance of Mrs. Mervin,
hurrying toward the little group on
the lawn and evidently in state OF
great excitement.
"What in the world is the matter,
Mariana" inquired Miss Brent.
Matter enough" gasped Mrs. Mer-
vim, sinking upon the chair Larrimore
had placed for her and tanning her
self vigorously. "Cardigan's on an
other spree and is coming up the road
with his gun on his shoulder. He's
hunting for his wife. The poor crea-
ture, after standing his abuse all last
night, came here this morning for
refuge She's been terribly beaten and
believes her husband will kill her II
he finds her"
"Who is Cardigan" asked Fen
wick, rising.
Hes an old soldier who lives down
the road in that little cabin near the
creek" replied Miss Brent. when
sober, he's as mild as lamb, but
when he's in his cups, which occurs
every quarter when he receives his
pension, he's the most desperate char
acter in the country. According to
report, he has shot two or three men
who attempted to stop him In his de-
bauch.'
what shall we do, Mr.. Fenwick?"
asked Mrs Mervin. Neither she nor
any one else OF the little party, unless
it was Helen Waters, thought of Lar
rimore doing anything to relieve the
situation. MRS. Cardigan will be
killed if that brute gets her. The
servants are frightened and are hid
ing"
Jack Fenwick was not coward in
the ordinary acceptance OF the word.
Had his own life been in jeopardy, or
that of any one for whom he cared, 1t
is more than probable he would have
made hard struggle. This was diff
ferent, however. The young man
valued his own life too highly to risk
| It under such circumstances and this
opinion was strengthened by an ap-
pealing glance from Edith Brent.
"Ill ride down on my wheel and get
the constable" he declared. This
Cardigan will not be here for some
time. You'd better stay out here
though, in case he should get here
first. He won't bother anybody but
his wife unless you interfere"
Fenwick had scarcely disappeared
from view behind the tall hedge on the
roadside when Cardigan came up.
The ex-soldier stopped for moment
to survey the party on the lawn, grasp
ing the branch of tree to steady
himself while he made his inspection.
Mrs. Mervin, Edith and Helen shrank
back in terror. Cardigan watched
them critically for a moment, then,
satisfied that the one he sought was
not in the group, strobe to the house,
muttering curses and brandishing his
gun menac;ng!y.
Many longing eyes were directed
towards the road along which Fen
wick had ridden, but there was no one