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

. & d 70
but don't think do. Don't worry
about 1t now--something terrible's on
my mind--just awful! l can't think Of
anything else. What you want to do Is
to scoot out to Tahlelah. Oklahoma, to
this address--here's his card-tell
'em Bob sent you" He looked at Abb
bolt feverishly, as II almost hoping
Abbott would bolt for Tahlelah then
and there. His broad red face was set
determinedly.
"This news IL splendid" Abbott de-
clared Enthusiastically. II had already
applied for country school: was
afraid had lost out whole year. on
account Of everything. must
thank"
Abbott. don't want to be thanked.
haven't got time to be thanked. Yon.
der's Hamilton Gregory's house, and
that's where I'm bound-good night
But, Bob, haven't told you my
business
''I'll hear it later old fellow dear
old fellow think a heap Of You, old
Abb But must 60 now"
"No, you mustn't. Before you go into
that house we must have little talk.
We cant talk here-people are COM
ing and going"
~ don't want to talk here. bless
you! want to go In that house. NV
business Is private and pressing. The
gate was but few yards away: he
looked at it fixedly, but Abbott held
lis hand upon the agitated arm.
Bob, what I have to tell you can't
wait. and that's all about 1t. I won't
keep you long, just turn down this al
ley with me, for it's matter Of life
and death"
"Confound your life and death! My
business is life and death, too
At that moment light was turned
on in Gregory's library. and Grace
Noir was seen to pass the window.
Abbott's hand frightened on the
others arm, as he urged, Down that
alley, a nice dark place for talking"
mice dark, be hanged" growled
Robert. What business can you have
with me that wouldn't wait till morn
ing? Look here, I'm desperate!"
$50 am l." retorted Abbott. Bob,
you've been to Springfield"
Robert Clinton snatched open the
yard. gate, muttering, that's my bust.
ness"
miss Noir sent you to unesrth q
secret
"Oh!" exclaimed Robert, in an altered
tone, stopping in the gateway, did she
tell you about it," .
"No-but you've brought back that
secret. and you must not tell Miss
Noir."
"Not tell her? That's funny" Rob-
ert produced sound which he ex-
pected to pass as laughter. $50 that's
what you wanted to tell me, IL 1t! DO
you know what the secret Isl"
IT do not. But you mustn't tell It.
However, that's what I'm going to
do, as soon as i reach that door take
your hand off, man, my blood's up, by
George! Can't you see my blood's up !!
It's a-boiling, that's what it's doing!
So all,you want Is to ask me not to tell
that secret?"
mot exactly all"
well. well-quick! What else?"
ITO see that, you, don't tell II.
"How do YOU mean to see that
don't tell IT, :.
3 "You will listen to reason, Bob,
said Abbott persuasively.
mo, I WON'T" cried Robert. mot
me! No, sir! I'm going to tell TINS
minute"
"You shall mott" said Abbott, In a
lower and more compelling tone. HIS
manner was 80 absolute, that Robert
Clinton, who had forced his way al
most to the porch-steps, was slightly
moved.
"See here. Abbott-say Fran knows
all about it, and you pretend to think
good deal Of her. Well, It's to her IN.
terests for the whole affair TO DC iald
open to the world"
~ think so much Of Fran" was the
low and earnest rejoinder. that II
were better fixed, I'd ask her to marry
me without moments delay And !
think enough Of her. not to ask her to
marry me, until have good posi-
ton Now it was Fran who asked me
to see that you didn't betray the
secret And think 80 much OF her.
that I'm going to see that you don't
For moment Clinton was silent;
ther he said In desperation: Wnere
is your nice dark alley! Come on, then
let's get in IT."
+ When they were o1lc iAOu AAs.o :,
ruption, Clinton resumed: you tell
me that Fran wants that secret kept!
I'd think she'd want 1t told every.
where. This secret Is nothing at al!
hut the wrong that was done Fran and
her mother. And since you are SO
frank about how you like Fran, ~
follow suit and say that ! have asked
Grace Noir to marry me, and know
RI stand better show by getting lei
out of the hypnotic spell of that mis-
cradle scoundrel who poses as oleat
ing sheep"
Abbott interrupted: THE wrong
done Fran? How do you mean?
"Why. man. that-that hypocrite II
wool, that weed that infests the
ground. that"
an short, Mr.. Gregory? But what
about the wrong done Franz"
Saint telling you? That worm
eaten pillar Of the church that's made
me lose so much faith in religion that
T amt got enough left worth the post
age stamp to mail it back to the re-
vival meeting where 1t come from
"For heavens sake, Bob, tell me
what wrong Mr.. Gregory did Fran"
"pidn't he marry Fran's mother
n,har he was college chap in Spring