Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-08-09
Evening Story.
CUSTODIAN OF THE KEYS
BY Catherine coope.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

- .L -
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper S~yndicate.)
Everly was an architect. Had 1t
not been for q most decided lack OF
concentration he might have been
a great architect-one from whom the
world would hear.
III you ould ever get down to
business" friends. family and even
clients had often said, you could
make US n or two monuments for
the architectural world to case upon
for generations"
Sometimes EVERY scowled and
sometimes he smiled whimsically at
this very apparent lack In his mental
equipment. Mostly. however, he went
his way trying at odd moments to
force himself to concentrate upon the
big schemes that rumbled ominously
about within the unsettled realms OF
his brain.
This state OF turbulence made him
restless because he knew that he was
possessed Of splendid ideas. yet try
as he might he invariably let slip the
golden moments that would have
gone to perfscttng architectural gems.
Your lack Of concentration Will
fling you among the failures" his
sister had said only recently when
he had failed through utter negli-
gence to fill q splendid contract. III
you would lock yourself In your
studio sometimes and throw the key
away you could possibly be COM
PEELED to work out Of sheer despera-
ton"
Afterward Hveriy remembered that
the expression In his sisters eyos
had hurt him. 1t came to him with
sudden, unpleasant force that he was
already slipping into the class OF
failures, in the eyes OF his family.
~ will stay In my room tonight
and work II / have to lock the door
and give Sis the keys" he muttered,
with a glow OF determination In his
eyes.
But when evening came EVERY
was consumed by a desire to be out.
He went to his room fully convinced
that he would stay there and work
out the plans for a great municipal
building. He was n of many COM
petitors for the contract. and he
realized that with concentration ne
could easily win out.
When he had turned the key In the
lock Of his door Everly bravely
threw the key to his sister, VINO
smiled to herself as her brothers
voice admonished her to keep we'll
within hearing.
III / find I cannot possibly work
It will only be wasting time to re-
main9in here" he told her.
When Ethel's soft laugh sounded
from the far end Of the hall Everly
turned toward his architectural tools
and began desultory drawings and
measurements. Try as he might his
mind fitted about, never stopping
for a!consccutive five minutes. WIS
ions OF the club, good stories and
theaters. dances and mild fNrtations
danced in his mind and cast munich
pal buildings roughly aside. EVERY
tried conscientiously to bnns his
thoughts back, but after supreme ef-
forts gave 1t up - futile.
He flung his tools aside and for
getting that he had locked he door
attempted to open 1t. He whistled
loudly to his sister. Later he ratified
the handle, but no sound Of coming
footsteps greeted his growing irrita-
ton.
He sank back In his chair and
waited. Perhaps the family had all
gone out for a moment. He listened
intently and tried to evolve some
way of getting out of HIS self-fm-
prisonment, but there seemed to be
no immediate release unless he dis
turbed the entire community. Everly
laughed grimly. II looked ~ II he
would be compelled to occupy his
mind In work. There was no other
salvation for the present.
Plans, big plans, rushed madden
ingly in, then out, Of his brain. then
gradually Everly realized that SOFT
feminine laughter was drifting ] n
among them. He jumped up sud
denly and whistled again for his SIS
ter. The laughter, now drawing
closer. was vaguely familiar to Everly,
and when a bewitching and roguish
head appeared owe the transom he
caught a swift breath.
ENID, Have you dropped from
the skies? When did you get here?
Let me out quick!!" Everly smiled
as he smiled for few women. He
had loved Enid long, but vainly.
II have not dropped from the
skies, but from an ocean liner; and I
am going to visit Ethel for two
whole weeks" She laughed quickly,
and there was a look Of determine
ton in her eyes that EVERY had not
seen before. ri am so glad you have
decided really to work, Dick. You
know 1t is all that will ever get you
anywhere. You need not mind me-
am only too glad to hear OF your
resolution"
but I want to get out, now" cried
EVERY, for Ends sunny head was
disappearing from the transom. X
cannot work tonight"
TIE appeal in his voice went swiftly
to his sisters heart and she would
have fallen before 1t had Enid per-
mitted her.
Ethel, you promised me- Enid
said swiftly. 1T would be the same
night after night II you let him out.
Give me the key. ! will be RESPONSE
ble." Everly heard the girl laugh
roguishly. "You have scarcely any
more determination than your