Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-14

uSI uduSHLSE SpedkluS. t 7N.t..
Mrs Warren, pouring coffee at the
foot of the table. agreed to this.
YES" she declared, last winter when
you played a clown l could not have
recognized you as my daughter had
I not known beforehand that you were
to play that role. Your voice was
deep and almost masculine. And how
you did look in that ridiculous cos
tune! l never saw better disguise
in my life"
"Well. ! would have known Myrtle
anywhere declared Aunt Helen. Her
costume was of course very funny,
and she made most ridiculously
absured clown. But she did not hide
her identity from me. There were
her eyes-Myrtles eyes and no 9th
er's. And her voice-while the key
was changed-was Myrtle's voice"
"Well, l thought her disguise
great" 1t was Jack Warren. Myrtle's
twelve-year old brother, who made
this statement. I'D have thought her
sure-enough circus clown, just from
Barnum's big shows. She was the
real thing"
Then breakfast proceeded and the
subject of conversation changed to
something else After Mr.. Warren
had gone to his place of business down
in the city and Jack had gone to- his
own room to prepare for school, Myr-
tie ran out OF the dining room to her
mothers room. When Mrs. Warren
Joined her there. Myrtle said holding
up a finger of caution: 1--WE deep
laid scheme, mamma. But-Aunt
Helen must not be let into it. Where
is she?"
i" Looking after the silver" replied
Mrs. Warren, smiling. $50 we are
safe from interruption for few min
utes. Are you going to take me into
the dark secret?' And Mrs. Warren
laughed.
Its this mamma mine replied
Myrtle. 81 mean to show Aunt Helen
that she's not proof against certain
DISCUSSES of the person. I'll have to
take you and Jack into the scheme
as confederates, you see."
Certainly, Jack and shall take
pleasure in being conspirators." said
Mrs Warren, always taking part IN
her children's innocent little pranks.
81 speak for Jack, knowing him OF
old"
eyes, Jacks a good pal" said Myr-
tie. well talk it all over this even
ing after school, I'll also have to take
Sadie King into the conspiracy.
you'll see her at recess today" re-
marked Mrs. Warren. And now
pointing to the little clock on the
time for you to start 10
school,"
THAT day at school, Myrtle called
her friend Sadie aside at recess ana
explained to her the scheme"
Sadie clapped her hands and cried:
"Oh, that'll be great fun. And ~
not give you away-believe me. ~
act my part just like one born to It..
Two days went by, and the subject
of DISCUSSES was forgotten by the
Warrens-so far as outward signs
were concerned. If anyone thought
Of it, he or she did not mention 1t
at table-the meeting place of the
family three times day. But there
were many little secret meetings IN
Myrtle's or Jacks room, where Mrs.
Warren presided. And on the even
ing of the third day just as the fam
lily were seating themselves about the
dinner table, the telephone bell rang,
Jack sprang up, saying in a matter
of-fact way: "Ill see what it Is,
daddy"
"All right son." replied Mr.. War
rem, who who had half-risen to go TO
the phone.
''Hello!" called Jack. "Oh, it's Sa-
die King? Want Myrtle-No? m
do as well? All right, sing it out!
What's in the air? Oh, you want
Myrtle to spend the evening with you,
and will grant me the privilege OF
escorting her there and Of calling for
her later on? Oh. thanks! How
good you are All right, I'll tell Myr-
tie. She's at dinner, now. Yes,
mammals well. We're all in eating
condition-as you'o say if you could
see the dandy dinner that's waiting
for yours truly Oh, no. | didn't
mean for you to hurry. Yep, I'll fetch
Myrtle over at eight O'Clock. Ia Ia!
It was not necessary for Jack to
repeat his part of the telephone con-
versation since the phone hung "in
the half beside the dining room door,
which was open, and all that he said
had been distinctly overheard by
those at table.
"a party at the Kings?' asked Aunt
Helen, as Jack resumed his seat at
the table.
mo, Aunt Helen, only Myrtle and
are invited to spend the evening with
Sadie And Jack grinned knowingly
towards his mother when Aunt Helen
was not looking
Then the conversation became gen
eral. and Myrtle and Jack took time
for their meal, not acting in the least
bit excited or eXpectant. AS they all
rose from the table, Mrs. Warren
turned to her sister-in-law, saying:
Wont you join me in game OF
bridge, in the library, Helen?"
"Be glad to play you rubber"
laughed Miss Warren, following Mrs.
Warren into the library. AS they
were getting started with the game,
Mr.. Warren came in to read his even
ing paper. "Have the youngsters
gomez he asked, referring to Myrtle
and Jack
But just at the moment the two
came rushing down the stairs, and as
they passed the library door they
sang out: Good bye, all!' To which