Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-20


time"
"He was here this afternoon" said
Bates calmly.
well, he and Molly wanted to talk
over the lawn party" said Algernon,
hastily climbing into the car.
who's Molly?" asked Bates, slow,
persistent. immovable.
"Molly?' temporized Algernon des-
perately. II don't know Who said
anything about Molly?"
"You did"
Rats" declared Algernon with
some heat ~ did not. Why should
7? I don't know any one by the name
OF Molly Why should call any one
Molly? Tell me that Why should L?
Would any one call another by a name
they had never heard before and knew
didn't belong to her"
ITO who?"
"Why, to any one. to no one. Of
course not. 1t Is silly to suppose such
a thing. So why should I? Tell me
that"
Bates was not the man to waste the
flying moments by entering upon
long discussion of the abstract why
ando wherefore Of anything. Don't
know, but you did" he insisted firmly.
81 heard you. You said Hancock and
Molly were talking about the lawn
party"
Algernon laughed nervously. "Oh,
yes, maybe did. Down in the city we
chauffeurs call our lady bosses Molly,
you know. Up here you call them the
old woman or the missis, I believe"
And leaving the groom to assimilate
this last piece Of intelligence as SLOW
ly as he wanted to, Algernon hastily
started the car before Bates could
have time to reply or question.
eff Bates makes it point to cross.
examine me-" thought Algernon,
something is going to drop. He got
me SO ratified didn't know what was
saying. My head was always my one
weakness, as mama says. My mind Is
like a lottery ticket, perfect blank
when one needs it the most. A mark.
ed coldness has got to spring up be-
tween Bates and me or see where
the month becomes day and l prob
ably land in the asylum reserved for
those whose weakness of mentality Is
unfortunately known by the authori-
ties"
The car rolled along smoothly and
quietly with the gentle painting of the
engine like the contented purring of an
enormous cat. 1t was growing dark
rapidly, and frome the fields on either
side Of the road came the first full
notes of the evening orchestra from
its stand in the ponds and bitches.
The crickets called necessarily, one
high shrill note of accompaniment to
the frogs deep bass. The air was
heavy with the pungent odor of the
fields after the sun goes down. ming
led with the salt breath Of the sea.
Alone in the darkening night, In the
swiftly moving car, Algernon sought to
get the best of that dull ache in his
heart, to forget those two waiting on
the rocks for the moon to come up
over the tumbling sea.
There was something the matter
with one of the lambs which Algernon
had forgot to, fix after the night be-
fore, and he stopped at the edge OF
the village street to see If he could
not rectify it. Higgins strolled up out
of the deepening shadows and hailed
him.
'Hullo, that you, Holiness"
eyes, said Algernon.
mice night" said Higgins.
Algernon agreed.
what were you doing down here
about an hour ago?' asked Higgins.
mot guilty." said Algernon, begin
ming to think of Bates and determined
to keep his head this time.
Il haven't been down here before
this evening"
''That so,' said Higgins, with an in
def1nable air of pleasant relief, like
man not disappointed when he feared
to be. 81 thought maybe it was you.
A big red touring car went by without
any lights. Thought it was you and
had forgot something. The car was
going in the direction Of the Todd
place."
Algernon struggled with the lamp
and sought desperately to change the
subject. "Forgetfulness," said he
airily. lis my one weakness. I'm like
the math prof. had when was
freshie. He took the baby out In it's
buggy once and met friend on a
street corner. They stopped to talk
and finally walked on together. When
the prof. got home he was worried.
MY deak said he to his wife, I'm
afraid I've forgotten something.
Never mind. my love-, said she. It's
only the baby"
"Guess it was Hancock" said Hig-
gins, placidly ignoring the lost baby
and the college professor
maybe it was" admitted Algernon
vaguely.
"He's up there quite Bit" sug-
gested Higgins.
,"Oh, don't know. Not as much as
he might be-" returned Algernon, en-.
crossed in the lamps.
NO" agreed Higgins. HE don't
sleep there"
Again Algernon felt called upon to
make a reply and again sought to
change the subject. Know anything
about motor-cars?"
NO." said Higgins shortly. She's
mighty pretty woman. You can't
blame him none"
Hes family friend" said Algernon
with rare presence of mind. They've
known each other all their lives. went