Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-02


coloh OBJ yo' hair, honey?"
Black" put in Chilly Lusk. with
wink at the others. "Black as
crow"
Old Anthony's hand fell back to his
knee. Young mars laugh at de oil
man." he said, but he don know. Dat
de coloh dat buhn nah han's-de
coloh OBJ gol', en- eyes blue like err cat.
birds aig. Dah's or man gwine look
in dem eyes, honey. en- gwine make
'em cry en- cry" He raised his head
sharply, his lids shut tight, and swung
his arm toward the north. "Dah's
whah he come f'om,' he said, Zen
heah"--his arm veered and he pointed
straight toward the ragged hill behind
them-'he stay"
Lusk laughed noiselessly. Hes
pointing to Damory Court he whisp-
cred to Nancy Chalmers the only I'M
inhabited place within ten miles.
That's as near as he often hits 1t, |
fancy"
"Heah's whah he stay" repeated the
old man. Heap OBJ trouble wait heah
TO- him too, honey.-heap OBJ trouble,
heah whah lii mistis fin him." His
voice dropped to monotone, and he
began to rock gently to and fro as II
he were grooming lullaby. "L'l
trouble en- greet trouble! Foo dah's
lfiah en- she ain afeahd, en- dah's
watah en- she ain afeahd. It's de
hing whut eat de ha'at outen de
| ,reas'-dat whut she afeahd or"
Come, Anthony" said Judge Chal.
mers, laying his hand on the old mans
shoulder That's much too mourn
full Give her something nice to top
off with, at least!"
But Anthony paid no heed, continu.
ing his rocking and his muttering.
"Gret trouble. Dah's fab en- she ain
afeahd, en- dah's watah en- she ain
afeahd. En- All sees yo' gwine ter him,
honey. All heahs de co'ot-house clock
a-strikin' in the night-en yo' gwine.
Don't wait. dom wait, III mistts, e.
de trouble-cloud gwine kyah him
erway f'om yo'. :. When de clock
strike thuhteen-when de clock strike
thuhteen-"
The droning voice ceased. The
gaunt form became rigid. Then he
started and turned his eyes slowly
about him, a vague look OF anxiety on
his face. For moment no one
moved When he spoke again 1t was
once more in his gentle quavering
voice:
"Watah? Vas, Mars, good watah.
Hep yo'sef."
The Judge set a dollar bill on the
step and heightened it with stone,
as the rest remounted. well. good
by, Anthony" he said "We're might
lily obliged"
! He sprang into the saddle and the
iquartette cantered away. "My expert
ment wasn't a great success, I'm afraid
Shirley" he said ruefully.
ooh i think it was splendid" cried
Nancy. ''Do you suppose he really be-
lieves those spooky things? I declare,
at the time I almost did myself. What
an odd idea-'when the clock strikes
thirteen which, of course. it never
does'
Don't mind, Shirley" bantered
Lusk. when you see all dem trou
bles' coming, sound the alarm and
we'll fly in body to your rescue
| They let their horses out for a
pounding gallop which pulled down
suddenly at a muffled shrek from
Betty Page. as her horse went into
the air at sight of an automobile by
the roadside.
| "Now, whose under the canopy is
! that" exclaimed Lusk.
| ut, stalled" said Shirley. 81
passed here this afternoon when the
owner was trying to start it. and
sent Unc' Jefferson as first aid to the
injured" >,
"I wonder who he can be- said
Nancy. "I've never seen that car
before"
why" said Betty gaily, "Ah know!
It's Mad Anthony's trouble-man, OF
course, come for Shirley"
CHAPTER TX
! Uncle Jefferson.
| red rose, while ever a thing Of
beauty, is not invariably JOY forever
The white bulldog, as he plodded along
the sunny highway, was sunk in depres
sion Being trammeled by the limita
lions of canine horizon, he could not
understand the whims Of Adorable Ones
met by the way, who seemed so glad
to see him that they threw both arms
about him, and then tied to his neck
irksome colored weeds that prickled
and scratched and would not be dis
|
comparison, since he had never had a
tin can tied to his tail, he accepted II
as condign punishment and was puz
zledly wretched. So it was chastened
and shamed Chum who at length wrig
gled stealthily into the seat OF the
stranded automobile beside his master
and thrust dirty pink nose into his
palm.
John Valiant lifted his hand to
stroke the shapely head, then drew ii
back with an exclamation. A thorn
had pricked his thumb. He looked
down and saw the draggled flower
thrust through the twist Of grass. "Oh
pup Of wonders!" he exclaimed
"Where did you get that rose?'
Chum sat up and wagged his tall
for his masters tone. instead Of ridi
Guile, held a drawing delight. Perhaps
he thing had not been intended as a
disgrace after all! AS the careful
hand drew the misused blossom tender
ly from it's tether he barked joyously
with recovering spirits.
With the first sight Of the decora
| ton Valiant had had a sudden memory