Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-15

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scene, and Algernon hated scenes
They made him nervous and uncom
| Portable. They were usually sc
away and make up plan of action in
the seclusion Of the garage when he
| hoard the steps Of one Of the maids
! coming along the hall above on her
! way to the stairs. He did not care to
| be caught there and the nearest place
Of concealment was In the library 1t.
self. He knocked hastily, and without
waiting for an answer, he jerked aside
the curtains, opened the doors that
he found shut and entered
f, Molly O'Toole had been pacing up
!! and down the room, and as Algernon
entered she stood near the door,
facing him. startled and surprised.
What do you want?" she asked
sharply. She was worried and anxi-
Gus, and the strain Of keeping up be.
fore Hancock having relaxed, she gave
way for the moment to her frayed
nerves.
Hello" said Algernpn lamely, not
able to think of anything else on the
spur of the moment. II was Just
thinking-er-thaty you would be afraid
of losing your position"
Molly was Tearing against the table,
but even in the dusk CT the room, AL
gernon could see her face change color
and her small hands tighten on the
edge of the table as she struggled to
keen her composrre,
my position?" she questioned.
What do you mean?"
She came forward, cool and sweet
with sudden rompos,ra in a white
frock, string of turquoises around
her slender throat. and on her small
feet, peeping from under the hem Of
her gown, slippers of blue to match,
frankly regardless Of the widows
weeds she had made no attempt to
wear. She was so pretty and dainty
with her tip-tilted nose and saucy
mouth, that Algerpon wanted to put
his arm around her waist and kiss
again the crimson lips. Her superb
composure after the first start of sur.
prise and the frank audacity Of her
plan and manner won Algernon's deep
est admiration.
II just wanted to say" he broke
forth bcyishly. that you had better
look out or you will give the whole
thing away"
Molly's cheeks turned as white as
her dress and her composure toppled
like a house Of cards. She leaned
toward him. one hand clenched on her
breast. who is he?" she demanded
hoarsely scarcely above a whisper;
that man in the villaGe?"
~&o~
miserably unhappy over her distress.
His one desire was to help her. not to
add to her trouble and fright. He
could no more have worried her than
he could have cut that soft white
throat which futtered in her fear like
the breast OF captured bird. pat
terson," he repeated. "A stranger on
his way to Canada"
Does he know the Todds?" she
asked quickly.
NO. said Algernon.
How do you know" she demanded,
still unconvinced
1--WE were talking about them" lied
A]gernon. when was overhauling
hts machine this afternoon. He never
saw them in his life, was never in New
York"
The girl drew a long breath and
leaned back against the table again.
one hand raised to her hot cheek. into
which the blood was rushing In
crimson tide, the other still clenched
on her breast, her graceful head slight
ly turned as she bit her lips and strug.
gled for composure.
"You see," said Algernon gently, as
one would speak to startled child,
che does not know anything"
The girl nodded and motioned to
chair for him to be seated 'Sit down."
said she simply. eve will talk things
over. What did you mean by saying
l would lose my position" she laughed
lightly, land why did you come? I
have lost my position now, don't you
see?"
Algernon threw his hat on chair
and drew another up to the table, re-
lieved and happy again now that thu
girl was herself once more and real
izing as never before how pretty Molly
was and how lonely he would be with
out her now that they were getting &C.
quainted as fellow-conspirators.
II came he explained amiably. ito
let you see that you really can't afford
to set people talking about you, even
in this backwoods town. 1t could get
into the papers and put an end to
everything, my position and yours.
Can't you see that?"
The girl nodded, and Algernon went
on. These people up here don't look
On things as we do In the city. If q
man calls on girl here he has as good
as proposed"
(To he Continued