Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-20
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the dropping woman, with their arms
about her. Then the door closed, and
Lady stood alone upon the steps above
me. Her eyes were larger for the
shadows under Them but there was
no bloom upon her. and I wondered
why had thought her really beauti-
full
"rll take the car around and leave
It," said "Good-by.".
You're q strang man." she NUT
tered; then with her sudden smile,
Aren't you coming in to breakfast?
You've had an adventure, and you
ought to be hungry"
Her tone Jared Never mind"
said bitterly. II was to go this morn
ing, and I'm going. There's still
plenty Of time for my train. The
sooner it's over with, the better"
What do you mean?" she asked.
Mean? I mean what you told me
and one thing more, understand
now what you meant yesterday, be-
cause l found your marriage notice
In an old paper"
What marriage notice? I don't
understand"
yours; on the twenty-sixth Of May
three years ago, to Doctor Reid; That's
all. beg your pardon"
The color came back into her face;
and under the trouble Of her brOws
thought she almost smiled.
THAT was my sister," she said
quietly. my names Margaret;
thought you knew"
CHAPTER XII.
With that, all the strangeness of
the day, all the feeling of moving In
an unnatural world which had hung
about me since the dawn, blew away
like the shadow of smoke. 1t was Q
summer morning of breezcs and cool
lights, garrulous with innumerable
birds; and I was standing with my
feet upon solid earth, glad beyond
measure for the knowledge that was
a fool. The very idea Of it had been
absurd; and best of all, there were
still things to be done.
God be thanked" said to Lady.
She smiled down at me very sweet
ly. 80 much as that? It doesn't
sound as II you appreciated Walter,
Mr.. Crosby. I can easily imagine a
worse husband myself"
II don't mean that" said hastily
"At least"
AT least you may as well come in
to breakfast"
II should say he might" Mr.. Tabor
cried behind her. II have Sheila safe
~ slowed away, and now must make
sure of you" @,' 7 q
must have looked nearly as puz-
zled as felt -
you see. Mr.. Crosby, I owe you an
apology. You helped us out of tight
place last night, and we are deeply in
your debt; your Goals Of fire are upon
all our heads" ,A
But" l said, and hesitated.
But, but that's what say.
owe you an apology. We fired you out
the other night because we had to. We
had something going on here then
which we did not care to have a
stranger mixed up in. We had every
regard for you--but, after all, you
were an outsider, and we simply could
not risk you. So we threw you out.
You understand that am speaking to
you now in confidence, and because
take you to be gallant gentleman
Neither can explain or course, the
explanation did give you was sheer
bit OF bluff. know nothing against
you whatever; but you forced me into
saying something, and that was the
most effective thing I could think OF
to say to man OF your kind. Be-
lieve me, hated to do 1t. Will you
shake hands?"
y
BY that time I had got my breath
again. II will do more" said laugh
iEgly, Il will congratulate you. You
are one of the ablest and most con-
vincingly finished-a-"
Liars" he prompted.
THAT l ever had the privilege OF
meeting" I concluded unblushingly.
Mr.. Tabor clapped me on the shout
der. THANK you l am honored.
We shall get along very we'll, prom
ise you. Lady lead the way where
breakfast waits; this low fellow and
will follow"
So the three of us made very COM
Portable meal. Mrs. Tabor was not at
table, and I supposed her breakfast
ing In bed, If indeed she were awake;
and Doctor Reid, it appeared, was yet
busy with his patient. We told Mr..
Tabor our adventure, turn and turn
about. and found myself listening to
Lady's warm praise of what she was
pleased to call my resource, with a
tingling at the heart-strings. When
we had done, and Mr.. Tabor had list
ened very carefully, he sat frowning
before him for a while; and l thought
that he saw more in the recital than
did we ourselves.
Well" he said at last, II suppose
all's well that ends we'll; but do hope
that 1t has all ended. Are you quite
sure, Mr.. Crosby, that nobody got q
look at you or Lady or the car who
would be likely to have mind enough
to give the affair clearly to the news
papers?"
I'm pretty sure Of it, sir" l an.
swered. The only people who got a
look at anything were the little group
Of the usual slum roughs; and from
their general air and the hour of the
night. the probability Is that there
wasn't one Of them that was not pref
ty well befuddled.'
How about the police?"
"I didn't got a oood 1oo1,l -. ~