Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-20

clined to melancholfa for some time.
The air was thick with rumOrs Of diff
ferences with his partys the dust
cloud covered everything; pretty soon
1t would settle and hide the tracks OF
those who had hurried to cover under
| its protection.
Davidson left me at "a corner down.
town. He turned to give me q parting
admonition.
"Theres an old axiom IN the mills
around here, never sit down on piece
of metal until you spit on It, II it siz.
position just now, young man, is stand.
ing, with your hands over your head.
Confldentially, there amt anything
within expectorating distance just now
that amt pretty we'll het up"
He left me with that, and did not
see him again until the night at the
White Cat, when he helped put me
through the transom. Recently, how
ever, I have met him several times.
He invariably mentions the eight dol
lars and his intention OF repaying 1t.
Unfortunately. the desire and the abil.
1ty have not yet happened to coincide.
took the evening train to Bellwood.
and got there shortly after eight, In
the midst Of the Sunday evening calm,
and the calm of q place like BellwOod
lis the peace of death without the hope
of resurrection.
walked slowly up the main street.
which was lined with residences; the
1 town relegated its few shops to less
desirable neighborhoods. My first In
tentfon had been to see the Episcopal
minister, but the rectory was dark and
a burst Of organ music from the church
near reminded me again OF the Sunday
evening services.
Promiscuous inquiry was not advis-
able. So far, Miss JAMES disappearance
was known to very few, and Hunter
l>had advised caution..I wandered up the
street and turned at random to the
| right; a few doors ahead a newish red
brick proclaimed itself the post-office
and gave the only sign Of life in the
neighborhood. 1t occurred to me that
here inside was the one individual who.
theoretically at least, In small place.
always knows the idiosyncracies OF It's
people.
The door was partly open, for the
spring night was sultry. The pOstmas.
ter proved to be one-armed veteran
Of the civil war. and he was sorting
rapidly the contents Of mailbag,
emptied on the counter.
mo delivery tonight" he said short
ly. Sunday delivery, two to three"
IT suppose then, couldn't get dol
lars worth Of stamps" / regretted.
| He looked UP over his glasses.
I'VE don't sell stamps on Sunday
nights" he explained. more politely.
But II you're in hurry for them
| II am" lied. And after he had got
them out, counting them with q
wrinkled finger. and tearing them OF
the sheet with the elaboration OF age,
opened a general conversation.
II suppose you do good business
here?" asked. 1T seems like thriv-
ing place."
mot so bad; big mail here some.
times. First Of the quarter, when bills
are coming round, we have rush, and
holidays and Easter we've got to hire
an express wagon"
1t was when / asked him about his
empty sleeve, however, and he had
told me that he lost his arm at Chan
cellorsville, that we became really
friendly. When he said he had been
corporal in General Maitland's COM
mand, my path was one Of ease.
THE Maitland ladies'! should say
do" he said warmly. 1--WE been fight
ing with Letitia Maitland as long as l
can remember. That woman will scrap
with the angel Gabriel at the resurrec-
ton, il he wakes her up before she's
had her sleep out"
| (To be Continued.)
|