Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-05

! snail Try u. WneAe 10 'Aio ~no.N
book?"
zoe, you're dear. shall get It,
She gave him tender little pat on thu
arm that made Algernon thrill a:
though he had touched an, electric bat
terry and his foolish heart t1uttered az
1t had never done before.
~ shall wait out in the car" said he
sThe servants will wonder what's up II
we stay here talking much longer"
Here. you forgot this and Moll!
tore the leaf from the book and hello
1t out to him. ~
glove! SO I did" And Algernon
folded the leaf carefully and put 1t in
his pocket.
Molly took the check-book out to
him in the car. do it as soon as you
can. won't your" she begged.
eyes" said Algernon. Are you
coming for drive? You had better
It will do you good"
She hesitated and then nodded.
That evening Algernon slipped away
from the assiduous attentions OF the
parlor maid, and unseen by even Bates,
made his way to the east terrace. He
entered the dining room by one OF the
long windows he found open to the
warm air of the summer night. Molly
was lust descending the wide oak
stairs.
Coming out Of the shadows OF the
MINER hall into the rosy light below,
she made dainty bewitching picture
in her soft white silk dress as she
paused on the last step OF the wide
stairway. Algernon stared in frank
admiration and felt that it would be
no hard matter to persuade Hancock
tn elope on any provocation and for
any reason no matter how foolish ana
illogical.
did you do it," she questioned
eagerly.
Algernon handed her the check
carefully made out and signed by his
barely decipherable scrawl.
Molly scaned it critically. taking it
to the lamp and reading it slowly, over
and over again. 81 think it Is fine, =
said she, looking up. "Was 1t hard?"
mot very" admitted Algernon.
She laid her hand on his shoulder
and held the check out to him with
one of her sudden impulsive changes.
Take IT, said Jshe gently II can't
keep 1t. Joe. what do you think am
made Of that should let you forge?
or course, I won't. was mad this
morning even to mention it to you.
Forget It. boy, and take the check"
Algernon caught her hand, check
Ind all, In both if his and drew her to
hiha. molly, keep 1t, dear. want
you to. You can give 1t back to me
hundred times over, when-you are
married"
"Give It back to you?" she ques-
toned, and the tender light died from
her eyes with the want of logic of
woman In love. He did not care II she
did marry Hancock. Well, then she
would marry him and show Joe thcs
she didn't care either, and she drew
away from Algernon, in wounded
pride, the check in her hand. And
Algernon, wondering what he had
done, answered her in all innocence.
Eyes. when you are married. And
then I can send it to this Todd and
make It all right with him"
eyes," said she coldly. II see. l
can and will. shall type letter to-
night and you can sign it, if you don't
mind. or no, shall sign 1t and put my
initials underneath, and the man will
think 1t is from the secretary. That
will be all right" She held out her
hand. Thanks so very much she
drawled, playing the great lady again
with happy affectation. II am sure I
am a thousand times obliged" She
smiled sweetly, graciously, as one
would In return for passing favor
rendered by stranger.
Algernon bowed tremendously. 1T
was pleasure, I assure you" said he.
But no less a Kindness she
drawled.
She gathered up her silken wrap,
hanging over the back of chair, and
Algernon CALAMITY adjusted it about
her shoulders, and side by side, they
strolled to the door, Molly trailing her
clinging draperies with a childish
pleasure in their silken rustic. AL
gernon opened the door, and with
graceful inclination of her small head,
she passed through.
On the terrace, the girl paused and
glanced down the driveway, among
the shadows Of the trees. in the d.
rection of the great iron gates.
Come on down to the rocks" begged
Algernon. knowing for whom she was
looking. "Give me this evening. He
has had all the other ones"
business before PLEASURE" said she
and Algernon WINGED in the
darkness.
"All work and no play, you know"
he returned lightly
She laughed. THAT is what l am
trying to guard against in the future"
said she. IF l succeed, what glori-
GUS playtime shall have"
She leaned against stone post
among the vines and hummed to her
self tender love song of long ago.
"You are money mad" said Alger-
non angrily. Cant you see anything
but the dollar mark, Molly?"
when you are poor, you cant af:
ford to- said she. when you are
rich, you can. That is why want to
be rich. Too much looking at the dol
lar mark leaves it on ones face
Algernon sat down on the balustrade
beside her and gazed at the soft tum-
BILE of hair on her neck, and at her