Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-30
CHAPTER 4.


found an affinity partial to laces and
fripperies, and has run OF with her
all the wearers are ladies. and as such
announced by Halves. In tact. ne Ca car
ried 1t to excess. He speaks OF his wash
lady, with a husband who Is an ASH
merchant, and he announced one day
in some excitement, that the lady
who had just gone out had appropri-
ated all the loose change out OF the
pocket of his overcoat.
So when Halves announced a lady.
| took my feet OFF my desk, put down
the brief had been reading, and rose
perfunctorily. With my first glance at
my visitor, however, threw away my
cigar, and have heard since, settled
my tie. That this client was different
was borne in on me at once by the
way she entered the room. She mad
poise in spite of embarrassment, ana
her face when she raised her veil, was
white, refined and young.
81 did not send in my name, she
said. when she saw me giancing down
for the card Halves usually puts on my
table. ut was advice wanted, and II
/ did not think the name would mat
ter"
She was more composed, think,
when she found me considerably oiaer
than herself. saw her looking furtlve'
ly at the craving places over my ears.
l am only thirty-five, as far as tnal
goes, but my family, although it Keeps
it's hair, turns gray early-a business
asset but social handicap.
won't you sit down ?" l asked, push
inc out a chair, so that she could race
the light while remained in shadow.
Every doctor and every lawyer KNOWS
that trick. GAS far as the name goes
perhaps YOU would better tell me ire
trouble first. Then, 1t think IL lndls'
pensable, you can tell me-.
She acouiesced to this and sat Tor =
moment silent. her gaze absently on
the windows of the building across. IN
the morning light my first impression
wa.s--yerifed. Only to9 often the raAs-
ing of a woman's veil in my office re-
yeals the ravages Of tears, or rouge,
or dissipation. MY new client turned
fearlessly to the window an unilneo
face, with clear skin, healtnily pare.
From where sat, her profile was beau-
tiful, in spite of its dropping sugges-
ton of trouble; her first embarrass.
ment gone, she had forgotten herself
and was intent on her errand.
81 hardly know, how to begin" she
said. "but suppose '-slowly-"s suppose
that a man. a well-knoWn man, should
leave home without warning. not TAX
ing any clothes except those ne wore,
and saying he was coming home to din
ner and he-he-"
She stopped as if her voice had
"And he does not Gomez" l prompt
ed.
: She nodded. fumbling for her hand
kerchief in her bag.
"How long has he been gone?|
asked. I had heard exactly the same
thing before, but to leave a woman
like that hardly more than girl, ana
lovely!
Ten days"
II should think it ought to be looked
into,'' said decisively, and got up.
Somehow I couldn't sit quietly. A law
yer who is worth anything is always a
partisan. l suppose, and l never hear OF
a man deserving his wife that ! am mol
indignant, the virtuous scorn of the ui,.
married man, perhaps. But you VII!
have to tell me more than that. DID
this gentleman have any bad habits.
That is, did he-er-drink?"
"Not to excess. He had Deen forbid
den anything of that sort by his ply
stefan. He played bridge for money, but
believe he was rather lucky. she
colored uncomfortable.
married, / suppose?" asked cas-
ually.
Gle had been. His wife died when
- she stopped and bit her lip. Then
it was not her husband, after al! Oua.
w enough, the sun came out JUST AZ
that moment, spilling pool OF sun
light at her feet, on the dusty rug VIII
it's tobacco.bitten scars.
ut is my father" she said simply.
| was absurdly relieved.
B,1t with the realization that nael
not case of desertion on my hands,
j had to view the situation from q new
angle.
"You are absolutely at a loss to ac-
count for his disappearance"
Absolutely
"Yon have had no word from him?"
None
aHe never went away before for
any length of time. without telling
you?"
mo. Never. He was away a great
deal, but l always knew where 70 ma
him, Her voice broke again and her
chin quiyered. / though 1t wise to re-
assure her. s.
Don't let us worry about this until
we are sure it is serious" I said.
Sometimes the things that seem most
mysterious have the simplest explana-
lions. He may have written and the
letter have miscarried or-even q
slight accident would account
saw was laundering; she grew white
and wide-eyed. But, of course. that's
unlikely, too. He would have papers to
identity him"
His pockets were always full of en-
velopes and things like that she as.
sented eagerly.
Don't you think ought to know