Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
IMAM IN the.o
BROWN DERBY
" n:
Wells HASTINGS
Gao Author Of eco
The Professors Mystery
Copyright, lg|lby Bobbs''era Co.
cHAprER II. (Continued.l

CHAPTER II. (Continued.)
"Are you not going a little fast, Mr..
Bond?" asked "You have not told
me as yet how I am to earn this
Frankly, Ellsworth, you ask quite
too many questions to please me.
What does 1t matter to you what you
have to do? give you my word that
you will receive the income. l will
deed the principal to that effect this
cranky, Mr.. Bond" said, with
rising anger, II don't care for the way
you do business. do not even feel GER
tain of your honesty. Can you tell me
explicitly what it is you want me to
do, or shall we consider the interview
and I began putting on my
gloves.
you're a young fool" he snapped
"and I'm an old fool to
waste my time over you. There are
forty other men waiting in the next
room" He peered at me from be-
meath the overhanging brows, met my
eye and looked away. "All I want you
to do is to marry my niece" he fret
fully concluded. "She is rather good
looking, If that is Of any interest to
you"
"To-marry-your niece?"
Eyes. Ellsworth, marry her. There
is nothing dishonest in that, Is there?
My. brain whirled. had never
spoken two words to any other grown
woman than my mother in my life
since l had entered college. God
knows l had dreamed of them often
enough, but to speak to woman IN
friendship, to marry her-the very
suggestion of it dazed me.
But the young lady? I STAN
mered.
us perfectly willing to marry the
man choose for her.
"But-but why do you choose me?"
Mr.. Bond rose abruptly from his
chair. "See here. Ellsworth he said
coldly, that at least Is none OF your
business. Perhaps l think you are the
finest man in the world. Perhaps l
like the thought OF you because am
sure l know that no other woman
will be likely to tempt you-once she
has really seen you. Come, my car
rage is waiting, and am a very busy
man"
"Do you want me to come now, on
the instant?"
IT thought that you felt sure that
you could decide on any matter
quickly"
II will come" said I. and took my
hat from the table. At least I would
find out what the thing was all about,
what the lady had to say in the mat
ter. Perhaps, indeed, the man was
really insane, and this girl. whoever
she was, was actually in need OF help.
''That's better said Mr.. Bond.
"Peters, you may dismiss the other
CHAPTER III.
We sat in silence in Ephraim Bonds
closed coupe during the drive to tho
house. I had never heard Of my en-
ployer in my life, and was much IN
terested in watching our direction as
we drove along, on the probable neigh
borhood Of his residence. When we
turned into Fifth avenue I thought
that we were about to cross the park,
and was no little surprised that our
course continued straight uptown. But
nv surprise was even greater when
we drew up before the steps Of a
large granite house in the upper sew
entities.
The door was opened for us by a
negro, who peered at me
almost rudely, and shuffled into the
darkness at the farther end OF the hall
way, with Mr.. Bonds hat and cane.
Mr.. Bond himself, showed me the
way into a reception-room, which was
as poorly lighted as the hall.
II will call my niece" he said hur-
riedly, and as hurriedly would have
left the room had not laid detain-
ing hand on his sleeve.
"Just one moment, Mr.. Bond" said
T." would like to see your niece
alone before there is any talk OF this
marriage between US.
II see no reason for IT," he
answered colby.
II do" I said. "You might as we'll
understand me, once and for all, sir.
This Is, I think you will admit. an
unusual proceeding. have come with
you SO far, but now that am here we
must deal openly Not only must your
niece know what manner Of man am,
but must aIso be sure that she moves
in this strange affair Of her own free
will, that this bargain Is as much her
desire as it is your wish. I tell you
she will be a strange woman If she
consents without coercion to marry
man branded as l am"
Ephra,m smiled in the semi-dark.
ness. "You are very suspicious. Mr..
Ellsworth. But, after all. see no rea-
son why I should not satisfy your
cautious nobility. won't intrude at all
on your meeting. My niece will come
down alone. and you can introduce
yourselves"
Before I could answer he had left
the room.
had wished to question him
further, to spare the girl the embar-
rassment of any awkward step on my
part; but i1er uncle's leave-taking had
been so abrupt that was left with my
questions upon my lips. stepped
over and drew the heavy window cur
tains back as far as they would go,
letting in little Of the waning May
sunshine. It would be well for two peo-
pie embarking upon such an enter