Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-06

parents. The guests arrived pune
tually and whispered hub-bub file
the spacious rooms. All were maske
and each was trying to hide his or he
identity, thus they held their voices il
whispers or talked in a high falsett
key.
Harper Goodman was a trif1e lat
getting ready for the party. HI
dressed in the barn in the rear of hi
own home. He was anxious to tr.
his disguise on his mother first, ant
if she failed to recognize him, h
would then hurry on to the party
Having completed his masquerade
toilet-which was that of tramp-h'
went to the kitchen door and knocked
He dr. not wear false face, To-
makeup" full wreath of stragglins
whiskers so disguised him that hi
would not have recognized himself OF
looking in the mirror. He had blacken
ed his eyebrows. giving to his counte
nance logged, heavy look. The
rough black beard covered most of his
lower face, while SLOUGH hat, drawn
we'll down, shaded the upper part.
The housemaid opened the door in
response to Harper's rap, and on be
holding the suspicious looking char
acter there did not invite him in. On
the contrary, she pushed the door al.
most shut in his face, peeping out
through the crack at him.
I'D like to speak with Mrs. Good.
man." said Harper, speaking in his
natural voice.
"I'll tell her." responded the maid.
Then she banged the door In Harper s
face, turned the key and rushed to
her mistress room on the second
floor. But Mrs. Goodman had gone
across the street to inquire about a
neighbours sick child. She knew that
Harper was preparing to 60 to the
masquerade party, and that he would
be sometime at his toilet. So she de-
cided to make the few minutes neigh
borly call, returning In time to see
her son off. But she found the child
very i'll and. was waiting with the
mother until the doctor should come.
Consequently the housemaid looked in
to a tenantless room. Horror was on
the girls face, when she realized that
she was alone in the big house, and
a burglar-or something worse at
the back door, Mr.. Goodman was out
Of town on business and Gladys and
Annie were staying over night with
their grandparents at the outskirts OF
the city. The housemaid thought Har-
per already gone to the party and had
no suspicion whatever, of his being
the person at the back door.
For a moment the maid thought the
In h or
Irish girl, able to hold her own in
physical strength against man. And
she knew her own powers, too. SO
she thought and thought for minute
or two. Then she said half aloud:
"I'll do it, begorra. There may be
reward fer him. An money amt a
bad thing to have I'll send it to the
auld folks In Ireland"
Then she went below.
+ She decided on the buffers pantry,
it being without an outside door or
window. The door leading into the
dining room she locked. putting the
key into her pocket. The door lead
ing into the kitchen she left open, the
key on the kitchen side. Then she
opened the outside kitchen door and
saw that her man was still there.
Mrs. Goodman says please to step
into the dining room," she announced
to Harper.
Thanks, num-" replied Harper,
smiling to himself for he was pleased
to note that Carry-the maid-did not
guess who he was. Jest pass
through the pantry, sir" instructed
Garry, very respectfully, pointing the
way.
Unsuspecting, Harper went as bid,
and Just at the moment when he put
his hand on the knob Of the door lead
ing into the dining-room Ito ind II
locked) Garry shut the kitchen door
behind him with bang and turned the
key. There you are, you thief" she
called out to Harper. And the sur
prised fellow heard her stamping hur'
riedly out of the kitchen. Then he
heard her bang the street door behind
her. At first Harper smiled: she
thinks I'm a tough character, ne
unused. Then, finding himself locked IN
the buffers pantry, he began calling
loudly to his mother He did not KNOW
that she had gone across the street.
In vain did arper call. No one re-
sponded. Presently, being tired out, ne
decided to wait But it was not long be-
fore he heard the street door open into
the hall. Then footsteps came on to the
dining-room. There were two persons
walking. Harper could make that out:
But neither was his mother. He could
make out her light step among many
others. But he was not long kept IN
suspense. The key turned in the door
lock; the door was flung open and a
dark form filled the doorway. Then
Harper made out the CLEAN OF some
thing bright in his face. 1t was the
muzzle of a revolver. The dark form
was that of a policeman. Carry, arms
akimbo, and look Of "Ah. my man,
got YOU" on her face, stood just back
of the policeman.
Cup with your hands and come out!
The officer spoke sharply, authorita.
lively. Harper obeyed, too dumfounded
to speak at the moment But once in
the lighted dining room he smiled, for
he thought the policeman must recog'
nize him. He know the officer we'll, for
his beat took him in the block in which