Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-03
'TMGANEMWTM CNulI


(CHAPTER VII-Contnued.)
He spent two hours in selecting an
irreproachable play and theater; a
task of some delicacy in this his "a
tive town. After which, he ate a
prefunctory dinner and went home to
dress. Stanton, whose overbearing
wilfulness spared no one, whose rough
tongue hurt his mechanician as often
as they met, would no more have
taken Floyd's sister to dine with him
in public restaurant without Floyd's
permission, than he would have stolen
his purse.
1t was dazzling Jessica whom he
found waiting for him, at the appoint
ed hour. Yet she was simply gowned
in delicate gray, with demure lace
collar that came UP to her chin, and
long sleeves. 1t was her vivid, express
sive face the bronze curls massed un-
der the wide gray hat, the splendid
glow and young vitality Of her. that
made people look and look again.
Stanton approved Of her unreservedly;
he had fixed masculine notions of
what women should wear in public
places.
On her left arm. over the trans
parent sleeve, she wore an antique
silver bracelet fully four inches in
breadth; a singular ornament. set
with dull turquoise matrix When
Stanton assisted her to remove her
cloak, at the theater, she suddenly
WINGED.
THE BRACELET caught my arm"
she explained before he could ques-
ton. 1T is too heavy, really, to
wear"
But nevertheless, she did not take
it off, and several times through the
evening touched her gloved finger to
the silver band as If to assure herself
that it was in place. A souvenir, per-
haps, Stanton idly reflected. He was
too much interested in the Wearer to
pay heed to the bracelet. Except for
the hours passed with Floyd, he had
never experienced anything like this
satisfying companionship.
The performance had ended, and
Stanton was carefully plotting his
charge through the slow-moving mass
of people, when he heard his own
name exclaimed. He glanced around,
and saw Valerie Carlisle coming down
the stairs from the boxes, her large,
amber eyes fixed upon him. Under
the strong light, in her elaborate pale.
green gown, her shoulders bare and
showing satin-white where her cloak
had slipped back, her blonde hair cir
cled with wreath of green enameled
and jeweled leaves, she was conspicu-
GUS enough to draw the glances of all
those passing, as we'll as that Of the
man she called Stantt bowed and
would have continued on his way, but
she called second time, adding a ges-
ture3 OF summons. Mr.. Stanton!"
Evidently she expected him to ex-
cise himself momentarily from his
companion, as she had moved few
steps from her father and the younger
gentleman who accompanied her. But
Stanton's eyes glinted cold resistance
OF the attempt at command He de-
liberately retained Jessica's hand up
on his arm and, since he must 60, led
her with him.
"You called me, Miss Carlisle?" he
questioned. Miss Floyd, let me intro
duce Miss Carlisle"
The two women bowed without
effusion, Valerie Carlisle scrutinizing
Jessica with an acute attention that
seized every detail of her appearance.
Miss Floyd, have We not metz" she
puzzled. Pardon. it seems SO to me.
Probably you have met my twin
brother" Jessica suggested. gravely
self-possessed. "He is much with Mr..
Stanton"
There was shock of antagonism in
the meeting gaze, as there had been
between Floyd and this girl when he
had seen her in the railroad depot on
the way to Lowell Miss Carlisle
turned to Stanton, enlightened
ooh, your mechanician | remem-
ber."
Fl. my friend and mechanician. yes"
he amended.
"Ah? But LIN OBTAINING you-l
merely wished to ask if you had quite
recovered from your illness When
you left us that night, I never i'm
agined you would try to race next
morning And YOU should not have
done so; it resulted in an accident. ;"
He opened his lips to deny that his
illness had caused the Mercur- :, .,..s-
hap, then paused. If he had not '-it
the savage irritability of strong man
sick, would he have quarreled with
Floyd and taken his car around the
turn at such ruinous speed? He did
not know.
Il am perfectly well, thank YOU he
answered, instead.
Indeed, am glad. Will you not
come to see lis soon--ycu owe us a
dinner call, you know
He did not echo her delicately ex-
pectant smile, his dark face hard.
t'You must believe my appreciation
Of the dinner without that formality,
Miss Carlisle. | start fer Indiana in
few days" he regretted.
Her amber eyes also hardened, sud
denly, and strangely: she moved
step to retire. catching up her trail
ing lengths Of satin and lace
"As you will, of course. All; we
found out what car wins when you are
taken from a race, Mr.. Stanton, as at
Lowell. And you judged wrong-it
was not the Duplex, but the Atalanta.
Good night
Stanton looked after, amazed, then
abruptly turned his eyes to the frank,
steadfast face of Jessica Floyd.
Come out in the fresh air." he re-
uuested "That perfume she wears