Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-13
throp, and for a while we walked on
a gain in ai1ance

general store. bought paper and en-
velopes and, while Mrs. Lathrop poked
about and asked questions Of the pro-
prietor, sat down, by his invitation,
at the postoffice desk and wrote let
ter to my friend, Mr.. Ogilby. telling
him of my letter from Nancy, my en-
counter with Mr.. Stevens, and our
journey here, and dropped it sealed
and addressed into the convenient
mail bag that hung open-mouthed on
my side of the mail chute.
"Now you come right along, Mr..
said Mrs Lathrop when I
had finished writing. "You see," she
continued animatedly, when we left
the store, II know as much about the
town now as If was the official guide.
There isn't anybody can tell you so
much about folks as the village post
especially since postal cards
have got so popular. This one is a
pretty talkative man. too, 80 that now
know nearly as much as he does.
There Is sort of hotel a few doors
farther on, but don't think that we
had better go there. From all can
make out, 1t isn't used by much Of any
body except the cheap kind OF travel
ing men that come to such little places
as this, and they're as laxative as the
dressmaker. They way they sell their
goods is to throw in free budget OF
all the news that's happened in three
states and we would be entirely too
to them. But there's lit
tie place farther on where they take
summer boarders, and that will look
much more natural Even so, you had
i~k~ M 49, mn Va
Have you anything to suggest l
asked.
'Ill lend you mine. You can write
yourself down as John Lathrop. and
we'll tell them you're my nephew. I'll
adopt you as my nephew right now, SO
there won't be any lie about It."
Thank you, Aunt Sally" said;
''I'll try to be a good nephew to you.
AS matter Of fact, always have re-
GREETED my lack of an aunt"
That's very nice Of you, John" said
Mrs. Lathrop.
We registered, therefore, as Mrs.
Sarah Lathrop and John Lathrop Of
New Haven, Conn, city we both
knew we'll enough to answer questions
about. Being early corners, we got
good rooms in the front Of the house.
and at luncheon had the dining-room
mostly to ourselves.
1--WE have come to the right place"
said Mrs. Lathrop, as we got up from
table.
Eyes, it's very decent" answered.
II mean the right town." said Mrs.
Lathrop. II thought I'd let you get
your luncheon in peace, John, before
telling you But I was looking out OF
my window Just before came down,
and there went that Doctor Morrison
walking up the street as bold as
brass, and scowling as though he had
q grudge against all the world"
CHAPTER Xxx
The "sanitorium'' we found with
some difficulty. Even at our lodgings
we were afraid to ask open questions
or to betray any direct object for our
visit Nancy's letter had been 80 posi-
tive that the place was guarded with
precaution land indeed,
II the place was what she thought It
was, it's proprietors had need Of the
utmost vigilance), that we felt sure
they must have some means Of keep
ing in touch with all the current news
Of the town, and that the inquisitive
ness Of new arrivals would soon be
brought to their notice. So, although
the only plan we thought Of was an
indirect and slow one, yet we chose
it for It's very safety. It consisted
simply in having ourselves driven
about the country in our easy role OF
summer visitors, and In asking ques-
lions of the driver about every place
we passed.
It was late In the afternoon before
we found it, an innocent-looking place
enough, I suppore, but to me. knowing
what I did, and with the thought Of
Nancy shut up there, It seemed as
dismal as the House Of
Usher.
Certainly It's architecture was suffi-
GENTLY horrible. 1t was one Of those
freaks more common to
forty years ago than to the saner
present time, and was built, | suppose.
to represent Rhine castle; for 1t
was broad and rather low, with here
and there an unmeaning turret. and
with It's flat roof hidden by castellated
battlements. In stone 1t might have
been dignified eyescre. but in its
palpable wooden imitation It was a
ludicrous one.
The place was somewhat In disre-
pair. Here and there battlement had
rotted and fallen away, or an oblong
Of the walls showed the
loss Of plank that had once hardly
as granite. Even the ivy,
that ran darkly over It's walls. and
stretched lighter tendrils to the roof
itself, seemed not so much the happy
refuge of thousand twittering birds,
as all decent ivy should. but rather
some great wave that had swept sui
lenly against the rotting, tawdry splen-
dor, running its devouring fingers to
the falling battlements. a wave that
must slowly recede again and with It's
next surge engulf this obstructing cor
ruption in its own. When we had
driven past, and looked back at 1t,
the windows on that side reflected in
distortion some brightness Of the sun,
and ! saw for tho first time that they
were barred M Lathrop sitting be-
side me gave little SILVER.
"Are you cold?" asked her.