Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-20
CHAPTER vi Continued.

AlgernOn leaned across the tdple
and laid his hand on hers. II am an
ass, Molly. Forgive me. That my
ears aren't long like my brethren's is
simply an oversight on my Creators
part. No, l am not going. You need
a man to help you through, and am
going to stay. 1t will come out all
right, dear. Trust me-"
II don't want to get you into any
trouble"
you're not. If there is any trouble,
I am getting myself into it. Don't
worry about me"
"But. Joe," she rose and threw out
her hands, "do you realize what
AM
Algernon rose and caught her hands.
Is'Yes," he said hoarsely, II realize what
yor are, and God help me, Molly
O'Toole, If you aren't good to me-"
''Don't!" she cried sharply, jerking
her hands free and turning aside.
Aleernon stared moment at the
bent head, at the dainty profile and the
BLACK hair curling In the napel of her
soft white neck, his hands thrust in
(the pockets of his coat to keep his
Farms from going around her and draw
hing her to him. then he laughed I'M
(eteadily, and turning to the table,
kpicked up his pipe and stuck 1t in his
Emouth. Damn! what a fool he was,
kletting himself go like that when the
! irl hardly more than knew him. He
walked to the great empty fireplace
Iand slowly knocked the ashes from his
epipe and cleaned it, humming a bit OF
q tune in vain attempt to show that
The had meant nothing by his sudden
Eseriousness, then he strolled carelessly
back to the table and sat on 1t, hands
in his pockets, one foot swinging.
Molly was nervously arranging and re-
arranging the bills and did not look
up.
"This Is the first position as chauf-
feur I have ever had" declared Alger-
non with forced gaiety. please don't
discharge me. have no place to co."
A sudden idea came to the girl and
she looked up quickly. Il do discharge
YOU" said she. II am Mrs. Todds
housekeeper. I have full right to en-
gage or discharge any one as see fit.
I engaged you. You-I-am not salts
fed. | discharge you. shall give
go
81 refuse absolutely to be discharg-
ed" said Algernon firmly. II belong
to the Amalgamated Association of
Chauffeurs, No. 1912, and you cant
discharge me. My union won't stand
for it,
"Oh; please, be serious" begged the
girl. "You are young
"And you are younger" returned Al
gernon, trying to see into her eyes.
81 can't be serious. I was born fool
and shall probably die one."
''But you needn't die anything else,
besides" protested the girl, half laugh
ing, half annoyed.
II dyed coat once" said Algernon,
land then gave it to my valet7-had to
pay him to take it"
''Your valet"
my valet" declared Algernon firm
y, realizing his break. II have an In
come Of fifty million"
The girl laughed at his nonsense.
IF you stay you will get into
trpubie-
IF go, I shall get into worse"
II had been out of a job SO long"
said the girl, half to him, half to her
Beh, trying to excuse her conduct in
the eyes of the hippant youth who
would not be serious, land was so sick
Of poverty. I wanted to see how 1t
felt to be rich once before died. ~
wanted to be able to boast that once in
my life knew the blessings of
wealth. Poverty Is hell, as you prob
ably know, Joe.''
"Oh, yes" said Algernon, 81 know"
"A mixture Of hell and heaven"
unused the girl. *'Now you have Job
and now you haven't"
"Or, else you never lose your job and
then it's plain hell" said Algernon,
feeling called upon to add his little to
the conversation.
Molly nodded. 1.-THE terrible monot-
ony OF job you hate is certainly
awful she agreed.
1T is," declared Algernon.
For a while both were silent. Molly
was busy with the bills before her,
and Algernon gazed modify at the
floor, lost in thought. Finally the girl
looked up and spoke in her old gay
indifference and Algernon knew she
had given up the attempt to get him to
90 before trouble came.
"Day after tomorrow" said she, 81
am going to have lawn party" She
waved her hand loftily with the air OF
proprietor, toward the stretch of
lawn beyond the windows, "My soul
pines to be a shining social light, so l
am going to have a Yfete."
"Who are coming?'
"Everybody-all the aristocracy."
Hancock, too?"
Everybody! Why don't you come,
II you want to? There is no social dis
tinction in this annex to the North
Pole Everybody's servants eat with
them and go to parties and 'socials'
with them. Equality, poverty piety,
are the three watchwcrds up here"
Poverty is the only thing l can
honestly claim" sighed Algernon. Il
guess had better not come. Your
guests will think they are getting
glimpse Of the Four Hundred, and the
more exclusive you are the more ex-
elusive they will feel, and the more ex-
elusive they will feel the moro they
will enjoy it."
"All of us snobs,' sneered the girl.
I