Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-15

post and watched him. Her face was
white, and in her eyes Indignation,
fear and surprise struggled for
mastery.
| She had not caught the name Of Pat.
terson and her racing thoughts jumped
to the conclusion that the trouble that
had compelled Algernon to leave New
York was now forcing him to leave
Maine. He doubtless had an accom-
plce in the village, some one she knew
nothing about, some one probably who
had come Saturday or Sunday. as that
was the day Algernon had asked
again for the check-book. 1t was all
so clear to the girls tortured fancy.
The two had been discovered by the
police and were trying to get away.
Her fear was all for her Joe, mingled
with a hot anger and sick disgust for
herself that she should care so much,
so terribly much, for a thief, crimi.
nal With the maternal instinct strong
in her. she wanted to fight for him, to
protect him and shield him as she
would little boy. For her own guilt
stood forth so clearly in the light Of
his. Who was she that she should
criticize him?
The parlor maid entered and turned
to Molly
you rang?" she asked.
81 rang" said Algernon. "Tell the
cook to have my breakfast on the
table as soon as possible"
"In the dining-room, sir?" STAN.
mered the girl
Naturally. don't eat on the stoop
my girl
Bates stood in the front door, re.
specially touching his cap.
"You wanted me?" he asked.
"You can manage boat, you say?'
Yes, sir
81 want the sloop down in the cove
put in sailing order as soon as posi-.
BILE. Can you do it,"
Yes, sir"
Get the gardener, or some one, to
help you, and see that it Is done prop
erly. l am going to take run up the
coast and shall want you to go with
me. Tell Thomas to get a boy from
the village to take your place, until
We return. Understand"
Yes, sir"
Get your breakfast, then, and see
to it, 10,
Yes, SIR
Bates clattered out, bursting with
excitement. pleasure and wonderment.
Molly had stood there heard the orders
given and said nothing, so Bates did
not question the authority behind
them. Algernon returned to his writ
ing, and Molly stepped forward and
Nny,fv tA1 Ia So, NJ fn1N q
was making cut list Of provisions for
the boat and would pause now and
again, raising his eyes and looking
straight before him in thought. She
watched him in silence moment, as
he wrote with a white face and set
mouth, and self and her own mercen-
airy schemes were forgotten, swept
aside into oblivion by the rush of her
love for this man, her boy, in trouble.
His crime she waved aside with a
woman's sublime inconsequence.
The next time he looked up she
spoke in feigned gaiety.
"Joe, l see now how the food could
be provided. I had forgotten Higgins"
He turned his eyes slowly to her
face and then dropped them again as
if he had not heard her and wrote
steadily on.
Il dod not refuse your invitation
outright" she hurried on my re-
fusal was provisional in more ways
than one, you must remember
He did not look up or answer and
before she could speak again the non
plused, thoroughly frightened parlor
maid announced from the doorway
that breakfast was served and as
hastily withdrew. Something was
radically wrong somewhere was all
the poor thing was capable at that
moment of compromising Why
erybody-herself, the austere Bates,
the cook-should be rushing around at
the orders of the chauffeur was wholly
That they were doing
so quickly and without question was
clear :Syond doubt. The reason for
it sheT lit she would have to leave to
AlcCernon started to the door, but
Molly stepped in his way Joe" said
she. you do not say whether your
invitation to me still holds good"
Algernon stopped and looked down
into the girls face, smile Of forced
gaiety trying in vain to conceal the
fear and longing in her passionate
eyes. He remembered the Sunday
when, In the dark among the rocks,
contented, with the waves
tapping softly at their feet, her small
hands in his, he had told her the Sec
ret Patterson had confided to him,
had given her his honor to keep, and
now she had tossed it aside as worth
less. nv who in North Brockton but
him ~ Molly knew about Patterson?
He had not telegraphed to New York,
therefore Molly must have been the
one to do SO. She had wanted to get
rid of the man somehow that Hancock
might come back and how easier could
she do it than as she had?
Algernon's hands clenched slowly,
he opened his mouth as if to speak,
then turned without word and passed
through the farther door, leaving her
alone in the great hall that was flood
ed with the morning sunshine, pouring
in through the tall diamond-paned
windows.
Algernon strobe into the dining
room and sat down. He had come into