Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-01


kINS ADAMS
ACE, JONES ETC
tree at the edge OF the thicket when
first saw her. There was plenty OF
light from the moon and 1t sifted down
through the trees and fell across her
head and neck. As neat bit Of stage
setting for my business as could
have fixed up myself; and I am some
hand at that. You have seen my place
and you know. I noticed a queer
circlet around her neck. The stones
were like soft pink Ares. I had not
lever seen any like them before and l
stood there trying to figure whether
they were r,ibies and how much they
might be worth. While Twas wonder
ing about 1t, she half turned and got
my first good look at her face.
"She was younger than had reck-
oned on, and not bad to look at, but
queer, queer! Something about her
struck me all wrong: gave me sort
LOT ugly shiver. Another thing struck
me all right, though. That was that
she had jewels on pretty much all her
fingers. In one Of my letters to her
1 gave her hint about that: told her
that gems gave the stars a stronger
hold on the wearer, and she had taken
1t all in. She certainly was an easy
subject.
"A bundle done up in paper was on
the ground near her. I ducked back.
very still, and got into my robe. The
arrangement in her letter was for me
to whistle when got there.
whistled. She Strengthened UP.
"'Come,' she said. I am waiting.
"Her voice was rather deep and soft.
But 1t wasn't Y pleasant softness.
Some way I did not like it any better
than liked her looks. It was too late
, to back out, though. stepped out
into the open and gave her the grand
Tow.
"'The Master Of the Stars, at your
command" said.
"'You are not as I expected to see
you she said.
"That was a sticlker. 1t might mean
most anything. I took a change.
"'Oh, WE'LL I said, we all change.
ut went. We change as life
changes she said. They never found
you. did they?'
prom the way she said 1t saw she
expected me to say NO So l said
NO
"'That was left for me to return and
do she went on with a kind OF queer
Joy that gave me the shivers again.
| Eyes I agreed. wishing knew
what she was driving at, but sticking
to my text. And here we are
Together says she. isn't it won
derful! After all these years. Ths
instant l saw your statement in thu
newspaper knew 1t was your sou
calling to mine across the arcs.
"You know, Professor Kent.
thought that was so good made note
of 1t for future business use. While
/ was saying 1t over to myself she gave
me jar:
! t"'Our boat is at the shore she
said.
"In that last letter she mentioned 9
ship. And, now, here was this boat
business. (Afterward looEed for .
sign of either, but could not find any
/ thought perhaps it would explain
the other part OF the we and our
II was going to elope by sea wanted
to know It, and said as much.
care you steadfast?' she asked.
/ .sWell. there was only one answer
Ito that. said was She opened hel
package and took out coll Of rope
It was this gray-white rope, sort o.
clothes-line, and 1t looked strong.
"sWhat now?' ! asked her.
"To bind us together she said
|.Close, close together, and then the
plunge! This time there shall be nc
failure They shall not find one Of US
without the other. You are not
afraid?'
"Afraid! MY neck was bristling
The woman was proposing, as near az
I could make out, that we 60 out in
boat, tie ourselves together, and iumr
overheard. She seemed to think Il
was an encore to some previous per
I - -.~EE.1a
Torrance.
eco slow, said. thinking mighty
lizard. I don't quite see the point o.
this
"'All, all is as It is foreordained in
the stars: the curve of the astra
courses, the illimitable, Interchangeable
curve that has made us what we are
and shall draw us on and on to oul
mighty destiny. You, you have
pointed out the way
aThat is what she gave me, waving
her arms in the air.
"Didn,t I curse myself for not rem
embering what had written her? Nc
clue, except that the poor soul was
plumb dippy-too dippy for me t.
marry at any price. It wouldn't have
held in the courts. Yet, there might
have been five thousand dollars Of
diamonds on her. It was tight place
I wanted to duck the whole thing; but
the rings held me. ] have ALWAYS
been dotty about diamonds. | suppose
she felt me weakening. Women are
queer, that way.
".You dare to h.,<ak our pact" she
saws in a voice like woman on the
stage. Then she changed and smoke
| svo,, q 1nnhino q fhnak