Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-20

our inheritance left to my brother.
He was not strong but was hand
some, attractive fellow, with an Unborn
love of luxury. AS he had no training
or desire for work he certainly needed
what fortune there was more than It
was possible that ever could.
Yet now, as I sat bordering my At
fairs on bench in Washington
Square, almost wished that we had
arranged to have my share at least
five hundred dollars larger. AS 1t was.
the arrangement was final, and my
last thought would be to go back upon
it, or to appeal for aid which knew
must be drain upon the far from
satisfactory income of my brother.
1t was one of the brilliant mornings
50 common to the last days Of May In
New York, and the square was alive
with children. They fluttered every
where, dainty, occupied, enhancing.
The benches were filled with nurses
and mothers, with here and there an
old gentleman taking the sun. or some
private, like myself in the great army
of the unemployed.
The old gentleman in the seat next
me had been doing for the better part
of an hour. Finally he awoke with a
start and looked at his watch. He
drew himself up as If the hour mad at
last arrived when he must set himself
to work upon his multitudinous at
fairs. smiled lin sympathy with his
waking shrug. rs
'Halp-past eleven, SIR" said he. I'm
deed. must be going. Would you care
to glance over the morning paper,
SIR" And he handed me the days
Herald that he had been nodding over,
stamped his left leg tentatively,
squared his shoulders with insistent
vigor. and limped away in the direc-
ton of Fifth avenue.
I looked after him feeling much
heartened by the old-fashioned grace
of his friendly courtesy, and spread
his paper out tenderly upon my knees.
1t was the first gift of friendship that
as far as 1 could remember, had ever
been offered to me by any hand other
than my mothers.
There was little news. There had
been tenement fire on Hester street
Mrs. Someone had given rather
notable coaching party, and some oh.
scure millionaire on upper Fifth ave.
nue. had died after five years of mild
insanity. I was glad that he had got
his release. and turned from habit to
the employment column There was
nothing there but the same old cata-
'logue Of wants that experience had
taught me to look upon as hopeless
Then, having nothing better to do,
turned to the Personal" column. that
bait box Of villainy. that marriage
bureau Of the restlessly sentimental.
There again was the usual thing, the
long line Of "Object Matrimony." and
then with quickened interest my eye
fell on the following:
"A gentleman capable Of deciding on
the instant may become financially in
dependent for life. No applicant will
be considered who is bound by any
college education. Apply in person
between the hours Of four and five p.
m. at Lexington avenue, today.
"Mr. Barnaby."
The thing was in all probability
some swindle. I reflected, and yet i
could not help being interested-for
seemed to myself exactly to fill
every qualification. Who (more espe-
cial1y what college man) could be
found with fewer ties than I had? As
for deciding any matter quickly, II it
seemed to me that could decide upon
the instant on anything. short Of com.
hitting crime, that would show me
the way to making my living.
read over the address again and
put the paper into an inside pocket
would go, for had nothing to lose,
and perhaps there was really some
thing to gain
But first I decided on change Of
linen shave and a new pair OF
gloves. If ] were going to- do the thing
at all. might as well do 1t as gentle
man should No. confound It, 1t was
not my necessity. nor my poor logic
which was leading me into this new
path but the very newness Of the
pathNitself. the strange. alluring call
of the unknown. The clouds Of des-
pondency seemed to clear away from
my mind, leaving 1t clean swept for
whatever might be before me. So that
it was with light heart that strobe
out under the Washington arch, with
the joyous thrill Of premonition stir.
ring vaguely at my hearts roots. 4
CHAPTER II.
I 1unched indolently at the Cafe
Martin: for I had some time to kill,
and knew that could meet any
situation the more easily II had
eaten and eaten we'll Then I smoked
the most expensive cigar OF my life.
This lunch seemed somehow solemn
rite, a farewell to the little life that
I had led in my isolation. OF course
dined gloved. as do in all public
places. Then as smoked the last Of
nv cigar, I walked slowly down to
Twenty-third street. 1t was just half
past three as I stepped on board a
Lexington avenue car.
On the car I watched my neighbors
lazily. 1 hardly seemed myself, my ad-
venture was so strongly at the helm.
was surprised that the car took 80
short time to make the journey up.
town.
In fact, I was past my destination
before knew it, and had to walk back
two blocks and half. The number
corresponding to the address given In
the advertisement was over the door