Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-15
CHAPTER vi Continued.
Copyright, The Bobbs-A.err:ll Company.

ana eulDdTTdbb0O dAu Aiouc AZ @''0AAp
to help him out, simply gazed at hin
seriously, anxiously, and slowly TN
crossed her legs and swung then
back and forth along the side of the
sloop. At last Algernon turned tt
her
"why. did you tell me?' he asked
soberly.
'T wanted you to know" said she
simply. II am Molly O'Toole, the
Todds' summer housekeeper.'
Algernon felt that 1t was only fail
to meet frankness with frankness, that
he owed it to the girl to do so, but
stronger still was the temptation tc
remain silent and not spoil the rest
OF the summer by premature dis
closures. He was sure If Molly knew
that he was Algernon Van Rensselaer,
Todd she would refuse to stay longer
In Mrs. Todds employ, and he hated
to contemplate the blank life would
be without Molly O'Toole.
IAN I the only one who knows?" he
asked.
THE only one" said she.
"You can trust me?" said he earn
estly. In as much of question as a
statement.
II wanted you 70 know" replied the
girl again.
She rose, stood moment lightly
poised on the edge of the deck and
then dived straight and slim out OF
sight into the rolling for-wrapped
waters Of the tiny cove. Algernon
waited until she reappeared, fearful
as he was each time she dove, that she
would never come up again and he
would have to go after her, and then
he Joined her and they swan to the
beach, side by side, In silence.
At the parting of the ways. Algernon
caught her hand in one Of his.
why did you tell me?" he asked,
half frowning, half smiling, wholly
tender and amused as he stood looking
down at her. "You make me feel
mean, AZ II I, too, ought to confess
and I--cant.."
She looked at him out of wide eyes.
Have you anything to confess?' she
asked. ~ did not think so. You seem
30 young"
Il am young" said Algernon flip.
PANTY. "but I'm awfully tough
SIS It Nasty" She threw back her
head and booked straight at him.
drawing back a. far as she could while
he sttll held her hand.
mo" he answered earnestly. 1T
Is simply--foolish."
About a--woman?"
mo, no." he laughed gaily, and she
smiled with dimpling mouth and sud-
denly miscellaneous eyes.
Don't confess" she advised. II
do not want to hear" She pulled her
hand free but he caught it again.
MOLLY" he cried, will you take me
ut my face value?"
with men one has to-" said she
with wise httbe nod OF the head and
the bitterness hs had seen once be-
fore creeping into her eyes and around
her delicate mouth. III they once be-
gan to confess. they would have no
value"
II know" agreed Algernon. "They
sre Ill wretchss, but tell me that am
IN exception. am"
Haven't engaged you as chauf.
feur7" she laughed. And did you
have any recommendations? I think
not for didn't see any. Would en-
gage any other man without recon-
mendations?"
mot as chauffeur" said Algernon,
"but maybe as husband" @
I'm q husband bank-account is
recommendation enough for me-" said
she brazenly, as she broke free and
nodded a laughing goodby, hurrying
away down the woodland patch
through the dripping trees and bushes.
Algernon watched her until she dis.
appeared around the rhodedendron
thicket, then he turned to take the
path to the garage, shivered and real.
lied that he had forgotten the blank
ct he usually draped about him for his
stroll through the woods to and from
the beach. For moment he hesitated
whether to 90 for 1t or not. finally de.
cided to and returned to the beach.
A man stood at the waters edge,
gazing thoughtfully out to sea. He
was tall and thin, dressed in light
gray, with a soft expensive Panama
on the back of his head, while a rim Of
pale blue silk stocking was just visi-
BILE above his low shoes and Of a color
to match the band Of his hat His
hands were thrust in his pockets, and
a cloud of smoke from the cigarette
in his mouth drifted about his head on
the still air.
Algernon paused surprised. He and
Molly had been so engrossed that
neither of them had heard the stranger
approaching through the woods. He
must have seen them, however, as they
took the path for home and stood chat
ting by the thicket The stranger, as
though aware that he was no longer
alone, turned like a fash, white and
startled, and Algernon beheld the long
lean visage, the twinkling eyes and
humorous twisted mouth Of Mr.. Joseph
Holmes. the stranger of the night be-
fore. A slight tinge crept into his
sallow cheeks and he laughed gaily as
he recognized Algernon and came
forward with his hand out
"Ah, Todd" said he. "Howdy-do."
"Hullo," said Algernon you
seemed in a bit of hurry to reach
Canada, last night. What has de-
tanned you?"
Holmes laughed. Some ride" he
suggested good-naturedly. "Mv car
got out Of repair and have to wait
,,-t;1 ho Ar{,ar NON ~ nnroo511,