Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-01
fCHAPTER II.-Continl1e,

saA8 (CHAPIEH ll.--COuIlnueQ.) ,Fst-
Fleming is a rascal, daughter or no
daughter" Fred persisted. Ever since
he and his gang got poor Butler into
trouble and then left him to kill him
self as the only way out, have felt
that there was something coming to
all OF them-Hahsen, Schwartz and the
rest. saw Fleming on the street to-
day"
d sWhat!" exclaimed, almost jump
ing out Of my chair.
Fred surveyed me quizzically over
his coffee cup.
Hasn't he a daughter?" he quoted.
Eyes, saw him, Jack, this very day,
in an unromantic four-wheeler, and he
was swearing at policeman"
where was it?''
"Chestnut and Union. His cab had
been struck by car, and badly dam
aged, but the gentleman refused to get
out. No doubt you could get the de-
tails from the corner-man."
"Lood here, Fred" said earnestly
'sKeep that to yourself, will you? And
you too, Edith? It's a queer story, and
I'll tell you sometime"
AS we left the dining-room Edith put
her hand on my shoulder.
Don't get mixed up with those peo-
Pile, jack" she advised. "Margery's a
dear girl, but her father practically
killed Henry Butler, and Henry Butler
married my cousin
"You needn't make it family at
fairs," protested. II have only seen
the girl once"
But Edith smiled. II know what !
know" she said. How extravagant OF
you to send Bobby that enormous hob
by-horse!"
"The boy has to learn to ride some
time. In four years he can have pony
and I'm going to see that he has II.
He'll be eight by that time"
Edith laughed.
'.In four years" she said. why, IN
four years you'll" then she stopped.
'Tll what?" / demanded, blocking
the door to the library.
you'll be forty, Jack, and It's
mighty unattractive man who gets past
forty without being sought and won by
some woman. You'll be buying
II will be thirty-nine," said with
dignity, land as far as being sought
and won goes, am so overwhelmed
by Fred's misery that don't intend 70
marry at all. If l tlo-if I dot will be
to some girl who turns and runs the
other way every time she sees me-.
'sThe oldest trick in the box" Edith
scored. whats that thing Fred's al
WAYS quoting: "A. woman is like q
shadow; follow her, she flies; fly from
her, she follows"
Upon my word" said Indignantly.
"And you are woman"
s"I'm different" she retorted. ~
only wife and mother"
In the library Fred got up from MS
desk and gathered up his papers.
can't think with you two whispering
there" he said. I'm going to the den."
AS he slammed the door into his
workroom Edith picked up her skirts
and scuttled after him.
'How dare you run away like that"
she called you promised me" the
door closed behind her.
/ I went over and spoke through the
panels.
(" FOLLOW her, she flies; fly from her
she follows'-oh, wife and mother!' !
called.
.'For Heavens sake. Edith" Fred's
voice rose irritably IF you and Jack
are going to talk all evening, 20 and sit
on his knee ard let me alone. They
way YOU two flirt under my nose is
scandal Do YOU hear that, JACKIE
aGood nieht. Edith" called. II have
left you kiss on the upper left han1
panel of the door. And I want to ASK
Won ore more question. what If | nv.
from the woman and she doesn't fol-
low"
THANK your, lucky stars" Fred
called in muff'ed voice, and left
them to themselves.
had some work to do at the Office,
work that the interview with Hunter
had Interrupted. and half past eight
that night fonnd me my desk. But my
mind strayed from the papers before
me. After a useless effort to concern
trate.- !. gave it up as useless, and by
ten O'Clock i was on the street again.
nv evening wasted. my papers in the
libel case of the Star against the Eagle
untouched on my desk and the vic
tim OF an uneasy apprehension that
took me, almost without volition.' to
the neigbhorhood Of the Fleming house
on Monmouth avenue. For it had oc-
Cured to me that Miss Fleming miett
not have left the house that day as she
had promised. might still be there. H.
able to another intrusion by the mys-
terious individual who had key to the
house.
It was a relief consequently. when 1
reached its corner to find no lights in
the building The girl had kept her
word. Assured Of that. looked at the
house curiously. It was one OF the larg-
est in the city, not wide, but running
far back along the side street; small
ward with low iron fence and gar
age completed the property The street
lights left the back of the house in
shadow, and as stopped in the shelter
of the garage, was positive that I
heard some one working with rear
window Of the empty house. A moment
later the sounds ceased and muffled
footsteps came down the cement walk.
The intruder made no attempt to open
the iron gate; against the light saw
him put one leg over the low fence.
follow 1t up with the other. and start
up the street, still with peculiar noise
lessness Of stride. He was short.
y-shoaldered fellow, in a cap, and
his silhouette showed a prodigious