Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-09
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AMYSTEN t&OW oFNFWl York
~ Ny WILL IRWIN

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,ssynsht. Che Bohhs-MssrM CsnDaay.
front door. The parlor was open; he
heard the soft thrum Of guitar.
Hungry for companionship, he crossed
the thick hall carpet to the parlor
door looked In and beheld Betsy
Barbar. itting with flushed cheeks
and folded hands. 1t was the attitude
of woman who yields. Beside her
sat the Estrilla person, strumming
gently on a guitar and looking mil
lion languors With q movement that
was an explosion. Tommy rushed out,
slamming the front door behind him.
His feet, rather than his will carried
him away There was saloon at the
corner. AS by instinct, Tommy rush
ed into 1t and ordered glass Of whisky
his first since the night of the
Hanska murder. He shivered slightly
when he drank It, as he always did at
the new taste of raw whisky. "A cab
driver whom he knew rose up from
the corner and greeted him respect
fully. Tommy invited him to have a
drink. The cab driver introduced him
to the bartender. Tommy invited
them both to have another drink. The
..rtender introduced paper hanger
Tommy included him in a fourth
drink. The bartender asked them I'd
have one on the house. BY this time
all was over with Tommy North,s
sobriety. In period incredibly short
he fulfilled the tragic purpose for
which he left the boarding house.
Now nearly every drunkard-and
especially an amateur like Mr.. Thomac
North-has one latent popularity
which comes out with intoxication. His
was the homing instinct. He always
sought his own bed when drunk, no
matter how embarrassing the circum.
stances might be. An hour and a half
he stood treat to the cabman, Tommy
North. muttering over and over to him.
self, New life in new full
plan Of genius" was weaving toward
the select boarding house Of Madame
Resale LIE Grange. Laboriously he
unlocked the door; painfully, and with
occasional mutterings about blasted
life, he reached the first landing. And
on that landing door opened. Betsy.
Barbara stood looking at him.
Yet curiously, as the gaslight caught
her full, 1t was not upon Betsy Bar.
bara's shocked wide-open eyes that he
fixed his gaze. He looked at her feet
Betsy Barbara was wearing high-heel
ed velvet shoes with paste buckles. In
the full light, they sparkled like real
diamonds. Betsy Barbara stepped back
with woman's instructive fear OF a
drunken man. So one of those slip.
pers moved. Tommy, his eyes still to-
ward the ground, clutched at 1t. The
motion almost tumbled him over-did
make his reel against the door post.
Get 1t an hold It," he said then
discover murder
"Mr. North--Mr. North" exclaimed
Betsy Barbara and stood helpless
staring at this weird performance. His
mind seemed to shift; he became
aware Of her as person; and he
struggled for articulation.
"Drunk!p he said. Final disgrace
gone now!"
"Mr. North" said Betsy-Barbara
gathering her courage, listen to me-
II you wake people up tonight, they'll
never forgive you. Now I'm going to
lead you to your room. But you are
to be perfectly silent. Do you under
stand?"
II promise said Tommy. There!
i spoke an broke promise. Vista
shattered promises"
mo, you didn't but you will IL you
speak again"
Tommy solemnly closed his mouth
with finger and thumb She caught
him under the arm as though to sup
port him. He waved her away and
started to make his own course up the
stairs. Betsy Barbara followed, hel
hands extended to give help in case OF
need. Though he sought aid of the
banisters here and there, he navigated
very well. At his own landing
Betsy-Barbara ran ahead, opened his
door, switched on the electric light
Then returning, she pushed him In
with final:
Good highland please try to be
quiet"
Betsy-Barbara returned to her floor
Mechanically, she turned into Con
stances room to make her customar,
last tour of inspection, Constance
had gone to bed--her breathing was
deep and regular. Betsy Barbara turn
ed up the light, tiptoed over to hel
side. Constance lay utterly relaxed
Gufnevere in sleep; her two heavy
dark braids streaming over the coun
terpane. Her deep breathing seemed
to indicate serenity Of mind; but hel
mouth dropped, one cheek showed
faint marks, and her eyelashes still
glittered.
W. = $3.50 -