Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-17
CHAPTER XVIII. (Continued)


bedding, swept the cabin and pottered
around in the tiny kitchen. James
was happily Indifferent to what the
the hustle foretold, Hancock thought
that the real Mrs. Todd had sent Woro
that she would be up soon and wished
the boat put in order. Alone TOT a
moment in the kitchen with the girl,
James having been sent on deck on an
errand invented on the inspiration OF
the moment Hancock slipped his arm
around Molly's waist and drew her to
him as she stood in front OF the dress
er, a jar of ancient preserves In each
hand, a row of pans and tins before
her.
MOLLY" he whispered, do you know
what l have been thinking since you
told me yesterday"
mo-" said the girl, wondering II,
as a elimination of her troubles, ne
was going to repent of his rash bar
gain and ask to be released.
'T've been thinking" went on the
ecstatic youth, that now you are
mine alone, dear. No one from the
grave has a right to single one or
your thoughts. No one has prior
claim on you. l only. needed that
knowledge to make my JOY complete:
I hated to think OF that other who had
once"
MAN ahoy," yelled James. putting
his head in the door, while Molly and
Han drew hastily apart and fol-
lowed him on deck with more speed
than the occasion warranted.
Down the cliffs, strolling along the
edge of the lawn toward them, airly
twirling his cane, his hat on the back
of his head, came Holmes in the light
gray costume of Algernon's taste,
which he had so admired and so faith
fully copied. Molly had expected the
stranger, ordered by Joe, to come up
as soon as possible and her heart sank
"A she saw who It was Todd would
of course. refuse to allow Joe to go on
with his sloop. and how else could the
boy get away?
81 shall take him up to the house
and keep him there" thought the girl
desperately. Il shall keep him SO oc.
cupied that Joe cal come back and
get away on the boat Lefore he knows
what has happened. I shall pretend
now that have received word from
his mother to get 1t In order"
She waved to him gaily, and un-
mindful of the faithful two beside her,
ran lightly down the gangplank ana
across the wharf
Good morning" said she gall. Did
you want to see me?"
Holmes raised his hat. "The sight
is always a pleasure" said he. But
I can't say I came for that alone"
as there any special thing that you
did come for?" asked the girl anxious
ly.
Holmes shook his head mo. was
bored to death as usual and so came
around to kill time. That's all, believe
me. What are you doing to the boat?"
Don't you want to come to the
house?" asked Molly.
Holmes waved a greeting to Han
cock and James, who were watching
them from the deck, before he answer
ed. It was best to 60 to the house and
keep under cover as much as possible,
he decided. He could come down be-
fore the boat was ready to sail and
board her. If he hung around now and
the constable arrived, the fellow would
be sure to come down to the wharf
to see what was going on, and though
it would not enter his head that the
Todds' yacht would be used for the
escape Of forger wanted by the law,
he might insist on searching it, or at
least going through it out of curiosity
and he would then come on him, clear
ly in hiding and answering to the des-
cription the fellow must have received
from the New York police. Yes, on the
whole it void be better to go to the
house and remain there as long as pos
sible.
What are you doing to the sloop?"
he asked again, turning to the girl with
puzzled frown.
Molly laughed lightly. Putting it
In order in case I have to run away"
said she, and added, seriously, as he
did not even smile and her heart sank
lower than ever: "Your mother wrote
yesterday for me to get 1t in order. l
don't know why Maybe she is coming
back sooner than we thought"
Holmes nodded carelessly, accepting
her statementment as readily as it was
given, while Hancock, modify jealous
again, joined them, followed by James.
That's a nice little sloop," said
Holmes, nodding toward the boat and
turning 70 the men.
James agreed enthusiastically, and
the two fell in step together as Molly
and Hancock led the way to the house.
The girl chatted with feverish gaiety
and urged them all into the hall, to
Hapcoc'ks surprise and Holmes salts
faction. Holmes strolled to the win
dow, watched the preparations going
on on the sloop for moment and then
turned with sudden spontaneity to the
girl.
Molly" said he, 81 believe l shall
60 north in the yacht By jove, that's
a good idea. 1t just came to me-"
Molly flushed and thought of the boy
who was planning to escape in that
same yacht. She must save it for him
at all COSTS What will Mrs. Todd
say" she asked Indifferent to what
the others thought You will have to
wnit until she comes"
Hancock flushed. He was glad the
girl was not Mrs Todd, and yet the
fact of her deceit thus openly brought
to his notice was shock. He tried