Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-01

and started 1Or the door.
LET me-" begged Hancock. starting
after her, but Holmes (, reached her
side first and Hancock drew back
flushed and angry, with a sharp pain
of jealousy. Who was this stranger
who, instead of mingling with the
other guests as he and James had
heroically, If unsuccessful, tried to do,
had fingered in the house as though
no intimate terms with It's mistress
and had stayed behind the others pur'
posely as Hancock we'll knew that he
might talk with her alone, going now,
simply because they had come on him
unawares and there was no escape?
shall come tonight" asked Rol.
mes of Molly, as he hung up the gar
age telephone and turned to the girl
81 had better go now. There Is no
need OF making the others think any.
g--er-unnecessary, by staying be-
hind. I hate publicity worse than
mama does"
The girl nodded, white and tired,
and they rejoined the others on the
terrace.
AS ,..y waited for the car, they
talked Win the vivacity people assume
when they are trying to hide their
feelings James alone was frankly
silent, ard James alone had nothing
to conceal. AS the car disappeared
down the drive, Molly turned to. the
door with wry smile. Hancock. she
knew, was Jealous, but what did 1t
matter? Algernon Van Rensselaer,
Todd would return that evening and
then the whole thing would end. She
had had her chance that afternoon, and
for a foolish unstable reason she had
let it go, thrown 1t recklessly aside.
Well, she had been a fool, but 1t could
not be helped now. She shrugged
YEARLY and went in.
The days were growing shorter and
it was nearly dark though still early,
when Molly, lingering in hopeless de-
spair on the side terrace, once more
saw Holmes coming toward her across
the lawn At first, in the shadows,
she had mistaken the long figure for
that of her chauffeur. and her heart
had given a quick little flutter, and
involuntarily she had smiled to her
self. unseen. But as he drew nearer
she saw that he was. instead, Patter-
son, or Todd, as she now thought OF
him. She wondered bit angrily why
he never approached the house by the
gates as every one else did, and then
remembered that to one walking, the
pathway from the village, through the
woods, around by the rocks, was the
shortest way by at least mile. The
evening, though cloudy, with distant
rumbles of thunder and ominous
flashes now and then Of lightning, was
warm and walking delightful after the
close sultry day. Holmes car was
broken and there was nothing more
natural than that he should prefer to
walk to Castle Crags through the
woods along the shore rather than hire
a rickety trap from the hotel and rat
tie up in noisy discomfort.
Molly waited where she was until
he reached the terrace steps, then she
rose and went forward to meet him
She did not hold out her hand this
time, but bowed with a certain youth
full dignity, wished him good evening
and with 4 slight motion Of her hand
toward the open doorway, turned and
led the way in.
The shaded lamp on the center
table lighted but small oasis in the
vast hall. throwing the stairs. the fire.
place and the distant corners into deep
gloom, and Molly raised her hand to
switch on the rest of the electric
lights. when Holmes checked her He
was afraid Algernon might be prowl-
ing around the grounds somewhere,
and too much light would attract his
Its pleasant as it is said he. II
shall not be long-besides, saw the
place this afternoon-made thorough
examination"
Molly acquiesced quietly-he was
master here-and drew up a great
chair into which she sank gratefully,
feeling that her knees could no longer
support her. She was the culprit, he
the Judge. It was for him to do the
talking and ask the questions. She
waited for him to begin, Indifferent
after the long strain of anticipation,
in which her feelings had for time
worn themselves out.
Holmes had worn no hat and the
long lock of black hair across his fore
head had been blown forward nearly
into his humorous twinkling eyes. His
hands were thrust into his pockets as
he stood looking down at the girl, with
amusement instead of censure.
"Well?' said the girl, looking up at
him from the depths of the chair.
1T wouldn't be well. If mama was
here" said Holmes. He walked the
length of the hall, paused a moment
at the door to stare out into the night
and then returned to the girl in the
circle of the lamp-light. II was all
over the house this afternoon and
down at the stables and the garage.
Everything seems to be all right, In
perfect order, except-the minor If.
regularity of the numerous tables
found on the lawn and few super,
fluous musicians on the side terrace.
Everything is all right declared
the girl colorlessly. 81 haves done
everything as Mrs. Todd ordered It to
be DONE
Except one thing" suggested Holmes
jocularly. "And that is?"
Taken tho role of my revered par
ent. What cid you do it for?"
Fun answered the girl shortly.
Ur1,,o 90 IJ.,1yooo ch,cL1nd III was