Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-07-12

big, open spaces, where man could
breathe and think and dream. The
city always oppressed him.
His days he spent at the tube; his
evenings he sat at the open WINDOW
Of, his apartment.
In his wallet were numerous let
tiers OF introduction and numerous
cards to various clubs. In his wal
let they stayed, while Bob Crandall
looked out across the river and COM
planned, Lord. but this town 10 Q
lonesome hole!"
His only caller at the apartments
was certain young chap named
Westford, with whom CrandAl had
once spent two wholly alluring
months on trails in the far north
west. Westford, having found some
property in litigation, had been
forced back to town. and here ne
stayed as complaining a prisoner as
Crandall, and In CrandAll's rooms
each night they talked OF the open
trail and the big clean woods and
walled, each to the other:
Il Lord, but this town sure 10 one
lonesome hole!"
Crandall first noticed the balcony
at the windows just beneath his
own when he came home early one
September evening. Things had
gone all askew at the tube that day;
he was tired and hot and worried.
He threw open the window, lighted
a pipe and perched himself on the
sill.
'Glancin down he noticed for the
first time that balcony. It was
loaded with flower pots, palms and
geraniums and heliotrope and sunury
varieties which Crandall. being no
botanist. did not recognize. He only
knew that 1t was very pretty and at
tractive and restful looking balcony.
Then a window scraped. Out on
the balcony, watering pot IN hand
came slim girl In white. And after
her hobbled splendid gray haired
woman, Who leaned on cane.
The girl in white began watering
the plants And as she worked she
talked to the older woman In the most
delightful voice imaginable. Once
she looked UP. Crandalls heart stood
still. Her face was one that went
with that voice and those ripples OF
laughter. It was q face Crandall had
often pictured to himself.
After that night he began to watch
for her each evening. And after a
few evening OF this he had learned
from the elevator boy that her name
was Blanding, that 1t was her mother
who walked with the cane.
Crandall began to use his letters OF
introduction and his cards at the
clubs, trying to find some one who
would introduce him to the Bland
ings. But somehow no one he could
find seemed to know them.
When the third week Of his search
for a mutual acquaintance had been
fruitless, Crandall came home one
evening, and having watched Miss
Blanding water the plants, having
listened to that wonderful voice OF
hers and the mellow ripples OF laugh
ter, he sat putting away at his pipe,
his feet dangling over the sill. It
was a drowsy sort OF evening. A pur-
pie mist crept up from the river,
softening the harsh outlines OF the
bridge and the ragged skyline.
Crandall was aware Of a drowsi-
ness. He seemed to hear again those
ripples Of laughter, the soft GOODNESS
of that voice. Was she on the bal
cony again? Would she water those
plants twice the same evening? HIS
head bobbed downward He did not
know that the pipe slipped from his
mouth and bounced off the balcony
railing Just below him.
One leg slipped over the window
ledge. Crandall sighed sleepily. Fin.
ally he vented full and lusty snore,
And then
Someone had struck him fright.
full blow In the face and kicked hia
knees. Also some one was scream.
ing. He was prone on his face and
warm, wet earth was jammed into
both nOstrils.
He scrambled up. Under him was
1umbled mass of wrecked palms
and geraniums and heliotropes and
plants Of other varieties.
I Again came the scream. A slim
white form was close to him In the
darkness. Two hands were clutching
at his arm
s"Oh, are you hurt? Are you hurt?
begged two white lips.
, 4 whats happened?" he gurgled.
you fell out OF your window onto
this balcony
And ruined the plants?" gasped
Crandall in genuine chagrin.
Never mind the silly plants! Are
you hurt?"
mot nearly as much as ! deserve
/ to be- said he contrftely, picking
pieces. Of flower-ppt out Of his pockets
The older woman had hobbled out
Her face was very white, but she wal
smiling.
You'd best come in and let US SEND
for a doctor to look you over" sail
she.
q Nonsense" laughed Crandall
The plants saved me. I'm not hur
in the least. Now please let's max,