Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-04


his packing box and went on, as much
to himself apparently and the yaller'
pup asleep at his feet as to any one.
"Shucks! horse Is like woman.
You have to know them before you
can handle them, can get the best out
of them. Tact" And he blew a tiny
smoke wreath upward with dreamy
pleasure.
The circle was visibly impressed,
but still somewhat skeptical.
elizabeth has been around here for
the last two months" said Higgins,
land little fire startled under her
has proved about the most tactfui
tact"
"Oh, don't know" said Algernon
with the lazy indifference Of one en-
tirely unfnterested personally, merely
correcting an error for the sake OF
truth.
I'VE know" snorted Brown. THAT
horse has been here two mcnths no"
and stood still most Of that time
"a little skill" returned Algernon
cheerfully. and waved the unquestion'
ed result aside with an airy gesture.
"A little dynamite" said Higgins,
and the others laughed.
Rats" said Algernop with the low
chuckle of knowledge for an exhibit
ton Of ignorance. ut didn't look to
me as if we needed dynamite"
"I'll bet a nickle you didn't find the
nag walking, even" declared old man
Brown, determined not to relinqulsn
his well-formed and well-grouuded idea
of Elizabeth's character.
Il was walking over from Brockton,
when the cart overlook me-" said Al
gernon with dignity. II asked the
young lady the direction, but as the
horse was rather mettlesome, offered
to take the reins."
"You made her rum" admitted H1g-
gins slowly.
81 made her STOP" corrected Alger-
non.
"Why don't you buy her from the
Todds and make your fortune?" asked
Brown, cynical but wavering.
II may when they come said Al
gernon. -
Mrs. Todd's COME chorused the
others. -
Mrs. Todd?" questioned Algernon
fearfully, wondering If his mother had
returned, Unexpectedly from Europe
WITHOUT letting him know, to surprise
him in his new undertaking. Mrs.
Todd abhorred newspapers as much as
she did sloth, and her goings and com.
ings were never chronicled In those
mediums of gossip for the uninitiated:
Algernon was fond OF his mother. but
he disliked surprises. The surpriser
is so often the surprisee.
"The young lady's here all right and
don't you forget It, said Brown with
gloomy pleasure.
"Young?" stammered Algernon.
Brown nodded About twenty-five
or three. can't be more, looks less, but
women are never as young as they
look"
81 thought Todd was about the same
age" murmured Algernon.
''He u.s." said Higgins. "She Is his
stepmother. It was surprise to us
all. too. her age, until she explained.
She was mighty young when she mar
ried old man Todd, was his second
wife, see! And Y don't blame him
none, for marrying her She's prettier'n
picture He only lived about two
years after she married him. Talk
about luck!"
His or hers?" asked Smith from
down Waterford way, with wink at
Algernon.
Hers said Higgins.
His" said Brown. IF he had lived,
she would have made him troubles
broken up his home, probably. she's
so darned Eighty
CAV, she's young" said Higg.nsi
Let her have some fun.
That's no reason for girl carrying
on as she does,' snorted Brown. And
her husband not two years In his grave
yet"
"She amt married no longer,
though" insisted Higgins, in defense
of beauty. And so long as the son
hasn't no kick"
The sons damn fool" said Brown
shortly.
"Er-er-maybe not" stammered Al
gernon.
| Maybe not.' Brown turned upon
the stranger with ill-concealed scorn
and laid the case before him. Here
is Todd a young fellow, with his
father not dead much more'n year,
and his fathers widow carrying on
something fierce with another mani"
"He don't know nothing about It,"
protested Smith. "A family never
knows them things until the wedding
or the divorce papers come"
"Who's the other man." asked Al
garnon, still dazed.
Hancock" said Brown, with slow
pleasure at telling the story to 9
stranger in all it's narrowing details
"The young Teller who owns the Pines
over near Brockton. You see, Castle
Crags, the Todd's place, is on one arm
of the bay, and the Pines, young Han
cocks place, is on the other. by
water. they aren't more'n mile apart
but by the road, it's more'n three times
as long"
shouldn't think they would use the
road none" said Smith with another
wink for Algernon.
Brown shook his head. yes, they
do. He's over in his automobile fol
her nearly every day."
"She's so pretty" excused Higgins
gently.
what does she look like?" asked
Algernon family.
Like one of these pictures en- 9
I Eio0inS All