Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-29

to run down to see her protege. No
lover to answer the questions on
that list was with her. When she
got off at the station she found some
changes. The old station agent had
been replaced by a new man. Tho
| boy that used to drive passengers to
their destination in the country had
sought another Job. She also became
aware that very nice young man
had travelled down from the city by
the same train. and was evidently
bound for the same farmhouse.
When she inquired Of the agent as to
the conveyance she was told that a
inew boy was on the Job.
When the young man inquired he
was told the same thing.
The agent was conservative, mid
dle-aged man, who had no fund Of
humor In his makeup.
The fifteen-year-old boy who drove
the old span of has-beens before
two.seated what-not, had no serious
ness about him. He talked too much.
He whistled too much. He boasted
too much. He felt that he knew 1t
all. Hence, the agent was looking
to humillate him in the dust When
the boy came dashing up with his
old rattletrap OF rig the agent
handed him two quarters and said:
"The girl is to stop at Gold Gran
ny's. and the young man is going on
to Jim Fox's. Both are deaf and
dumb, and therell be no chance for
you to show off your smartness."
"Dear aud dumb = whew!" replied
the boy.
That's what ] said"
,"I'm sorry for them They can't
hear me whistle that new opsra
picked up the other day"
There was no need for Miss Laura
Bell to say anything as she climbed
into the back seat of the trap. There
was no need for Rrice Ashton to say
anything as he climbed upon the
front seat with the boy. The two pas
sengers were quietly wondering about |
each other as was natural. Mr.. Ash
ton wondered If 1t would be his luck
to be introduced to such girl, and
Miss Laura wondered (perhaps) how
many questions on that list the young |
man could answer satisfactorily.
There was silence for half q mile.
and then the fresh young boy could
stand it no longer.
SAY" he said to the nigh-horse,
"ain't this situation?"
And to the off-horse he said "
1.-Two dummies at one trip. Gal
can't talk or hear = young Teller in
the same fix. She's going to old
granny's. but how Is she going to
make the old woman understand?
He's going to Jim Fox's. but how's
he going to maize Jim understand?
Miss Laura caught on, and MI.
Ashton caught on, but what were
they to do but maintain silence and
let the boy go on with:
"Girl is mighty good locker. and
there are no flies on the young teller.
Both from the city. 1t would be
mighty funny II they fell In love with
each other"
Mr.. Ashton raised his hand to give
the boy a box on the ear, and het
opened his mouth to tell him to shut
up, but still, small voice babe him
not to interfere. OF course. no still,
small voice did anything of the sort.
but he desisted.
"The agent said they couldn't hear,
but can sing for my own pleasure
said the boy, as he licked at the
bushes with his whip. 81 guess I'll
sing them The Orphans Lament
They can't hear the words, but they'll
know it is an affecting song when
the tears begin to roll down my
cheeks"
There we're seventeen verses be-
sides the chorus in that song.
"Glad I'm not an orphan gal"
unused the boy as he finished and
wiped the tears away with the heel
of his hand. "If I was I'd get to be
a waitress at the Waldorf-Astoria
and marry Wall street broker.
hain't making so cents day, but
s'posen was dummy like these
folks? Well, there's old granny's,
and she's out in the back garden.
I wonder how they are going to say
howdy to each other? Whoa, you
wild steeds of the Drairie!"
Miss Laura didn't wait for any
help to descend. and she had no
word for anybody as she hustled for
the cottage and Granny.
"Only one dummy left said the
boy as he gave his horses a cut
and the next moment he got the
Of the season.
He was taken by the shoulders ana
shaken till bis teeth ratified, and the
man beside him exclaimed:
"You fool Of boy. but you ought
to be in an idiot asylum"
Great snakes. then you can talk
and hear. can you!"
II should say I could!"
"And the gal?"
II can't say. but I'll bet she wished
you had that whip laid over your
back good and plenty. You'll have
something coming to you if you keep
on trying to be smart"
1t was half mile from old granny's
to Farmer Fox's. The farmers wife
was Mr.. Ashton's sister, and he had
been invited down for visit. He,
told about the girl that rode with
him, but they didn't know her. Next
day after her arrival he went wander
ing over the fields. Next day after
her arrival Miss Laura went wander
ing over the fields. The magnet Of
Fate brought them almost together
when tramp who was sleeping un-
der a tree awoke with grunt and
sat I'D.