Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-16
>lHEREDBUIlQN
MYSTEN SIOWoFNfWYbRk
~ Ny WILL IRWIN

.
Rosalie, reading Betsy Barbars's
mind by the process of observing ex-
pressions and making swift reductions
thereon, perceived that Betsy-Barbara
was about to say, What affair is 1t of
.yours!" She perceived also that the
better part OF Betsy Barbara, the part
which impelled her to her philan-
thropies OF service, had put down that
vixenish reply.
EYES, said Betsy Barbara, II think
he won't drink any more. He's too
busy with his agency"
'How's it going?" asked Resale.
Splendid hear" replied Betsy
Barbara. Hes getting promises Of
some very good business already"
Rosalie resumed her best motherly
expression.
"Now I'm just as sure as can be, ;"
she said, that you were the person
who made him do 1t. When Il first
thought over the case OF that young
man, saw what he needed. An he's
got 1t, all right! Guess you can count
on him. When a man really has the
habit, he's gone But when he hasn't
all he needs is something more inter
esting to do"
II think So" replied Betsy Barbara,
relieved that Resale seemed to be
prying no further into her relations
with Tommy North.
t'I'm sure. Well, gettin' back to
Miss Estrilla. She showed today In q
little talk with me that Mr., North
was on her mind notice you don't
60 up there much. But if you could
stop in once or twice just like you
used to, an about the second time let
It out natural about Mr.. North's takin'
a brace an goin' to work, 1t would be
blessing to her. OF course, it must
be led up to-an' you mustn't say any
thin about the murder. She just can't
stand that"
Betsy Barbara did not show the en-
thusiasm which Rosalie expected. She
hesftated. This was genuinely puz-
cling. Rosalie's memory. playing like
lightning over this turn In girl-psycho-
logy, called up set Of facts which she
had hitherto observed without cor
relation. OF late. though Senior Es-
trilla by no means neglected his Sis
ter his visits to the parlor had be-
come more regular Twice she had
seen him talking to Betsy Barbara in
the hall. 1t was Rosalie's Impression
that he had waited there to ind an
opening for tete-a-tete.
els II Mr., Estrilla an not Tommy
North that she's dom this maneuverin'
to cover fup!" she asked herself
mentally.
+ All this had passed with the swift
ness Of thought when ahought trav.
els the electric wires OF such a mind
as Rosalie's. But now Betsy Barbara
was speaking: .s.:
9"The reason / haven't been there.
Mrs LIE Grange. is frankly because Of
Mr.. Estrilla. He's $3.50 so-over-
towering guess mean. OF course.
don't take him seriously, and yet, he
does look at me SO and pay me such
extraordinary compliments! I don't
know exactly how to handle that kind
Of man." she ended with little nerv-
GUS laugh.
Resale waited
"Of course. you understand, like
him. can't exactly let him see how
much I like him, for fear he'll think
it's-she paused and laughed"it's
the way he seems to want me to like
him.
Hes a dear" said Rosalie with
genuine warmth: cant say when I've
seen young man that an old woman
like me feels more like wantin' to play
around with. But 1t Is bOthersome to
you, can see. Especially when there's
a nice young American man that you
feel some responsibility for
Betsy Barbara bristled q moment
at this. But-as Resale had forseen
the feminine instinct for confusion
was stronger than the feminine in
stinct for concealment
1--WE had hard time to keen Mr..
North from seeing II. Not that it's
any Of his business exactly, or that I
think he'd care particularly. But just
at this moment, Mr.. Nerth really
needs me. II he thouxht that Mr.. Es-
trilla we'll, 1t might sooil all I'm try
ing to do for him"
Eyes, indeed!' replied Resale, with
out a trace Of irony.
Betsy-Barbara went on In a non
chalant voice.
"These two men are nothing to me,
Oh COuTSc. MI EbITllld Is d Vciy III
teresting person. He's handsome,
and in the right way-if you know
what I mean. I love his little accent
and his witty talk, and I think his
singing 10 simply adorable. AS for
Mr. North" Betsy Barbara paused.
Then her voice ran gibly to its care
fully careless conclusion-"he's only
a very good friend"
"It's Tommy North. all right" was
Rosalie's mental comment.
WELL" she said aloud, chose things
are like anything else. They look
worse a ways off than they do when
you're facin' them. Slip me a word
III any Of 1t ever really bothers you,
an can probably help. You wouldn't
care to do what asked for Miss Els.
|trilla?'
"Oh. yes. can surely do that.' re.
piled Betsy-Barbara, her generosity
|reviving. now that she had opened her
mind little.
That's a good girl Now -emem
ber-wait while before you get it In
Il don't want her to suspect that
tipped you of. Goodness! What are
those girls dom in the kitchen that
makea such smell 2" And Rosa.