Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-13
Evening Story
CARETAkER WITHIN.
BY Dorothy Douglas.

6y Oorothy Douglas.
Copyright, 191. by the Mcclure
i: Newspaper Syndicate.)
Myra walked slowly along the New
York streets. Her lips did not smile,
nor did her heart. She was deeply
I troubled, for it had come to her with
gradual force that she must, in some
way, make an honest living. The
scant 5000 that lined her worldly
purse would soon sift through It and
she would be left high and dry on the
pavements of the city.
| The thought was far from pleasant,
and Myra began to feel desperate.
She realized that department store
position would mean not only loss
lof health, but also loss Of happi-
ness. Myra could not have stood be-
hind counter and measured out RIB
bons or laces: 1t would mean count
less hours Of misery. to which she
could not sacrifice herself.
81 would far rather be blowing in a
field Of potatoes" she told herself, and
a wistful smile found its way into the
shadows that had darkened her eyes.
"If had had few hundred more dol
lars I could perhaps have bought a
tiny farm of some kind-roses or
violets.' The smile fingered In a
vision Myra could see herself attending
sweet smelling flowers. She felt, and
rightly, that 1t was perhaps the only
commercial line in which she would
be successful. Myra was hurled
quickly back into her depths of gloom.
fit into the groove Of money makers?
Myra smiled grimly. She had been
trained into spending rather than max.
ing money. and her ladylike accom-.
plishments lay in embroideries and
fancy sewing
She tramped still further along the
city street. Finally her aimless
glance rested upon the signs in the
windows Of town dwelling. Hav-
ing lit upon the words her eyes re-
manned stationary while her brain
suddenly grasped at an idea.
ITO let. Dobbs & Clark. Real
estate agents. oo9 Broadway. Care
taker Within" 1t was upon the last
three words that Myra's eyes
fingered She smiled quickly. In.
spiration had come
In another moment she had board
ed the Broadway car and was being
carried to the Office of Dobbs & Clark,
real estate agents
Arriving within those luxurious of.
fees Myra made straight for a room
in which she supposed one of the
heads of the f1;1n would be. Many
admiring glances from numerous
clerks followed her. and David Clark
drew a swift breath Of surprise when
he glanced up from his desk to see
her standing in his Office.
81 came in to see whether or not
you could give me a position as care
taker in some of your vacant country
houses" Myra told him. One Of her
particularly appealing smiles fol-
lowed.
David Clark found himself en-.
Toying it. He looked at Myra for a
moment, not knowing exactly what to
say.
II really need the position badly"
continued Myra. 1T is, perhaps, the
only way in which can earn my
living" she added, whimsically, "ex'
cept by embroidering handkerchiefs
and table centers."
Clark smiled After moments
thought, during which he looked at
Myra through half closed lids he
hesitated and selected his words.
1--WE seldom pay our caretakers.
They live in the houses merely to
save rent" Clark paused and the
feeling swept over him of having
. crushed the petals of rose. He
smiled at the smile, and with the
| thought of roses he remembered the
rose-hung cottage on Long Island that
was suffering for want Of protection.
"You have thought of something for
met" Myra said with quick intuition,
and Clark felt q culver Of some queer
emotion grip him. Her swift reading
of his mind was as pleasing as it was
unexpected.
"Yes-that is if you know any.
thing about the care Of flowers.
have a cottage In the country, with
beautiful rose garden, but it is being
fruthlessly destroyed by villagers. They
I have no respect for vacant property
and are vandalizing the gardens"
1 into Myra's cheeks and the tightening
flashes in her eyes.
ooh! If only can have it, will
| lOVe every mower Ill VIC pldCc--lI you
will give me the opportunity. All the
time that I can spare from showing
the cottage to prospective tenants
will be spent with the flowers"
| Lucky flowers!" thought Clark.
Aloud he said, IT will pay you twenty
five dollars a week."
That is far too much" Myra ex-
claimed
Then the matter is settled. The
property will undoubtedly go very
soon-if the gardens are properly
cared for. The neglect has been more
or less of drawback" He stopped
speaking and found himself looking
into Myra's eyes and a certain dizzi
ness creeping into his well-ordered
brain. IF you are free this afternoon
will take you out there. IL want
to see what condition the house is in"
! A few minutes later Myra found
herself again in the streets of New
j D.. i .