Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-25
straight"

straight"
Chen" Abbott .tammered, Mrs.
Bregory Ia
"Yap; Ia, with a question mark. But
there's one thing she isn't; she isn't
the legal wife OF this pirate what's al
ways a.preying upon the condolences
OF folks that thinks they're worse than
him"
"As for Mr.. Gregory" Abbott began
sternly--
Robert pursued the name with
vigorous expletive. and growled, "One
thing Mr.. Gregory has done for me,
he's opened the flood,gates that have
been SO long dammed-yes, I say
dammed--I say
Bob" Abbott exclaimed. don't you
understand Fran's object in keeping
the secret? It's on account of Mrs.
Gregory II she finds 1t out--that she's
not legally married-don't you see?
or course It would be to Fran's In
terests-bless her heart!--What a.
what Nonpareil!"
"Tain't natural" returned Clinton.
"for any girl to consult the interests
OF the woman that's supplanted her
mother. No, Fran's afraid to have It
told for fear she'd be injured by your
cutglass paragon, your religion
stuffed pillow that calls itself man."
Fran afraid? That's joke! tell
you. she's thinking only Of Mrs. Greg
ory."
I'm sorry for Mrs. Gregory" Rob
ert allowed. "but Grace Noir is more
to me than any other woman on Garth.
You don't see the point. When think
Of a girl like Grace Noir living under
| No v~Nkh hat kAA
"Mr. Gregory" Abbott supplied
And she so pure, SO high. 50
much above us. It makes me
crazy. And all the time she's been
breathing the same air, she's thought
him Moses in the wilderness, and 10
nothing but the sticks. Think Of her
believing in that jelly pulp, that steel
engraving in family bible! No. I
mean to open her eyes, and get her
out Of his spiders web"
II see your point of view"
"You do II you have eyes. Think Of
that perfect angel--but just say Grace
Noir and you've called all the virtues.
And her in his house!-"
"You still believe in angels?" In
quired Abbott gravely.
'Yap; and devils with long sort-of-
curly hair, and pretty womanish faces.
and voices like molasses."
But Fran wants Mrs. Gregory
spared"
Abbott, when think Of Grace Noir
spending one more night under the
roof Of that burrowing mole, that
crocodile with tears In his eyes and
the rest Of him nothing but bone and
gristle-"
Bob, II assure you that Miss Noir
will never spend another day under
his roof, will you agree to keep this
discovery to YOURSELF"
"You can't make no such assurance.
II she amt put wise to what branch
OF the animal kingdom he twigs to,
she'll not leave his roof"
Bob, If she leaves that house III the
morning, forever, won't you agree to
silence, for Mrs. Gregory's sakeand
because Fran asks it?''
Trans another angel, bless her
heart. But you can't work II"
Leave It to me. Bob. I'll be guided
by the spur Of the moment"
'"r need = bookkeeper at my store,
Robert said, Eliminating.
II promise you that Miss Noir will
soon be open to offers"
"See here, Abbott, cant afford to
lose any chances on this thing. I'm GO
ing into that house before this night
passes, and I'm going to see the feath-
ers fly. No-I don't want Mrs. Greg
ory to learn about It. any more than
you or Fran; but I'll limit the thing to
Grace
Shed tell Mrs. Gregory
Don't you say anything against
Grace Noir, Abbott, for though you are
my friend"
II say nothing against her; say
only that she's woman"
Well" Clinton reluctantly agreed,
II reckon she is. I'll tell you what I'll
do. I'll 60 with you into that VOLTS
den, and I'll let you do all the taking.
and IL you can manage things In hall,
an hour-just thirty minutes by MY
watch-so that Grace leaves there to-.
morrow, I'll leave you to steer things.
and it's mum for keeps. But I'm going.
to be present, though don't want to
say one word to that-that-But Il he
don't crawl out Of his wool far enough
to suit the purpose. In short, Il he
don't cave. and in half an hour"
Half an hour will do the business
said Abbott stoutly. "Come!"
"Be sure to call for Mr.. Gregory by
himself" said Robert, as they walked
swiftly back to the Gregory residence
III Grace comes into the room whils
we're talking, or Mrs. Gregory
III they DO" Abbott said quickly.
"you are not to utter one word, not
one. about Springfield-you under
stand? It's the bargain, and shah
hold you to your word OF honor"
For half an hour ] won't gay .
word" Clinton declared, unless it's
some word Just drawn out ct my
bosom by the sight OF that william.
Gomez"
CHAPTER XVIII.
Just Thirty Minutes.
During the weeks spent by Robert
Clinton in search OF Fran'6 lno-eecrAt