Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-04-25

ing book agent tinged mis- tone Win
a certain" belligerency. Was this an
other manifestation Of the History OF
the World in nine subscription vol
umes? N-t GG
''Pve come long way, and on very
hurried notice, to have an interview
with you," explained the stranger, gaz-
ing at him fixedly, "a very important
interview, indeed, and you will oblige
me greatly by postponing this little
excursion of yours, and aford1ng me
your undivided attention for half an
hour. In private" he added, with q
glance at Matt's companion; II can
not be more explicit here"
II am sorry, but It'll have to wait"
said Matt. ~ haven't minute to
spare. Please let 60 my wheel
"But it can't watt" exclaimed the
stranger with indignant animation.
"You do not realize what you're saying
or the issue there is at sake. sim
ply must insist, Mr.. Broughton-yes,
sir, must insist"
$50 must T." returned Matt angrily.
"Tell me what you want in two words,
and I'll give you an answer In one
and let go my Wheel"
Matt fully thought the stranger
would take fire at this. but he did not.
Instead, anxiety spread over his up
turned face.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"A short drive-to pay a call.
"Then let me take his place"
pleaded the stranger, indicating the
driver. 1--WE can talk on the way
and on the way back. For Gods sake,
young man, don't go on thwarting me
like this! I can't tell you how press
ing it all Is, how peremptory and urg-
ent. Only half an hour-if you knew
what was at stake, you could not re-
fuse half an hour"
Matt was thunderstruck; such i'm
portunity was startling; yet he had
not moment to spare If he were to
be on time at Fair Oaks. Nothing
should come between him and Fair
Oaks; and the delay already incurred
put him in fever. go on" he cried
to the driver. and with that the ex-
postulating gentleman was deserted
in the middle of the road, with his
message still unsaid, and his arms
waving madly after the retreating car
riage. 9&
Matt was very much thrilled and
tantalized, but at last came to the con-
clllsion that he had been mistaken for
some one else. Nobody could want to
see him on matter so secret that 1t
could lot be. divulged except In priv
ate. Though possibly-and here was
an idea-he was again the victim OF
those newspaper lies, the "kanaka
king and all the rest of 1t. Yes, this
was the explanation; the man was
sun worshipper, or some kindred lun-
attic. with one of those hare-brained
projects that rained down with every
mail. How foolish he had been not to
think Of that before-to have allowed
himself the least curiosity abouts the
man, whom he contemptuously put out
OF his mind and settled back to dream
of Miss Marshall with mingled tor.
ment and Joy. ..
They passed through stone gate
way of "A massive and towering design
lin the lonely woods. The winding
road led through more, and was so
narrow that the trees met overhead
and the air turned chill in the defile
below. 1t was very big place, the
and he flicked his whip in the direc-
tion of unintelligible local landmarks.
It hadn't been worth taxes till the
wood pulp business began, and now
even the stumpage would bring ten
dollars an acre. "A stroke of luck for
the general, wasn't it, what with pulp
getting dearer every ,day-though ne
just let it lie like it was, and did moth
ing. Thousands and thousands OF
dollars in wood pulp and stumpage,
and as good as money in the bank"
Matt suffered under these refec-
tions; it made him feel more Of an
intruder than ever, poorer and of less
account. Who was he to be driving
through such unnumbered acres OF
wood-pulp and daring to lift his eyes,
however timidly, to it's owners daugh-
ter? It emphasized his presumption
and every tree became new barrier
ebhorrent to look upon. 1t was IN a
very crushed humor, indeed, that he
approached the lawns and strawberries,
the tortuous brick walks, and at last
the house itself-a stately old colonial
structure, with that dignified frontage
Of classic white columns so dear to
our forefathers, and 80 expressive OF
their lives and aspirations.
Matt descended, dismissed the con-
veyance with the thrifty intention OF
walking home, and turned to mount
the wide, high steps. He was greeted
at the top by Miss Marshall, who SEEM
ed to spring up from nowhere, smil-
ing and radiant, and bewitchtng to
look at in her boyish riding costume.
Her father and she had just got back
and oh, 80 afraid that he might have
been made to wait-papa having met q
long-lost lovely friend in teuf-teuf
and tiger coat, and wanting to re.
main the rest of the week to talk to
her. But they must go right in, or
papa would be at the mullins and dis
gracing himself. Papa was terribly
elemental about mullins.
Amidst this laughing cordiality Matt
found himself being guided through q
lofty hallway, lined with books and
engravings, to a large, low ceilinged
room. where the general, also in rid
ing dress, was standing before a log
fire, and refraining in the most ex-
A. nf,,ro a