Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-10


Good night, Arthur. I'm sure you
will not sleep we'll. That handsome
safe is irreparably damaged. I dare
say you will find way to cover the
loss without any injury to your own
pocket. Old top, farewell! Who was
It, Brutus or Caesar, who said: I go
but to return'?" The banter left his
face and voice swiftly. "You sneak
ing BLACKBOARD, you cheater Of widows;
yes, I shall come again; and then look
to your sleek, sanctimonious neck!
You chucked me down the road to hell,
and the pity of it is, some day I must
meet you there! Fortune, Child his
voice becoming sad, "you might rem.
ember a poor beggar in your prayers
tonight Percival, a farewell to you.
I'VE shall never meet again. But when
you stand upon that bally old rug
there, you'll always see me, the fire,
the tents, the camels and the desert,
and the moon in the date-palms.
By-by!"
And presently they were gone. A
moment later those remaining could
hear the chug-chug Of the motors as
they sped away. The banker was first
to recover from the spell. He rushed
for the hall, but George stopped him
rudely.
1.-TWO hours, if you please. I never
break my word. Your money is all
there II you do not act reasonably,
I'll throw you down and sit on you till
the time is up. Sit down. l do not
propose that my future wife shall ap.
pear in court as witness against her
mother. Do you understand me now?"
The banker signified that he did. He
sat down, rather subdued. Then he got
ND nervously and inventoried the steal.
He counted roughly million. A mil
lion! He felt sick and weak. 1t would
have wrecked the bank, wiped it out OF
existence And saved by the merest.
the most trifing chance! A bottle OF
wine! He resumed his chair and sat
there wonderingly till the time-limit
expired.
The public never heard how nearly
the Northumberland had gone to the
wall: nor how six policemen had work.
ed till dawn carrying back the gold;
nor that the banker had not even
thanked them for their labor. The first
impulse of the banker had been to
send the story forth to the world, to
harass and eventually capture his
brother: but his foresight becoming
normal, he realized that silence was
best, even il his brother escaped. II
the depositors heard that the bank had
been entered and million taken from
the vaults, there would naturally fol-
low terrific run. g.:
When the last bag had been taken
out of the library and the banker and
the police had gone, the bell rang.
George went to the door. A messenger
handed him a small satchel and note.
There was to be no reply. The note
was from Ryanne. Briefly 1t stated
that the satchel. contained the emer-
aids. There had been some din Guilty
in forcing the major to surrender them.
But that much was due to George for
his generosity. Later In the day he
George-might inform his-Horace's-
brother that the coup hadn't been a
total fizzle. They had already packed
away in suit-cases something like two
hundred thousand dollars In bills Of
all denominations. "Tell that dear
brother Of mine to charge it to our &C.
count. 1t will be less than the interest
upon million in ten years. TO you
my boy, add: Fortune favors the
brave!"
! George" said Mortimer, you will
not mind if l forage round in the
kitchen? A bottle of beer and a bit
of cheese would go handy. It's almost
my breakfast time"
"Bless your heart, help YOURSELF"
| And George turned to Fortune.
| "Ah," she cried, Selling his hands,
| you will not think ill of me?"
"And for what?" astonished.
For not speaking to my mother.
Oh. just couldn't; 1 just couldn't!
When l thought of all the neglect, all
the Indifference, the loneliness,
couldn't! 1t was horribly unnatural and
cruel!"
81 understand, heart o. mine. Say
no more about It," And he put his two
hands against her cheeks and kissed
her. Never shall you be lonely again,
for I am going to be all things to you.
Poor heart! Just think that all that
has passed has been only bad dream,
and that it's clear sunshiny morning;
eh?" He held her off ways and
, then swept her into his arms as he had
done on board the ship, roughly and
mastery. And there's that old rug!
Talk about magic carpets! There
never was one just like this. But for
| it l shouldn't even have known you.
And, by Jove! when the minister comes
! this afternoon
"This afternoon"
/ Exactly! When he comes, you and
I are going to stand upon that beauti.
full, friendly old rug, and both Of us
Iare going to be whisked right away into
Eden"
Please"
Silence.
How brave you are!"
II? oh, pshaw!"