Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-15

seemed such a colossal thing TO ask
for another. that he go under an as
sumed name for time. 1t was amos
ing and he wished vainlv that Holmes
had been allowed to reach Canada last
night without any unintentional inter
ference On the part of himself and
Molly o'Toole.
CHAPTER VII
Bills, Bills. Bills.
Algernon sat In the shade OF the
vegetable garden and watched the big
red touring car OF the owner OF the
Pines turn in through the high granite
gate posts. Hancock was at the
wheel and Molly sat beside him. She
was in gray from the large veil-swath-
ed hat to the little shoes. They had
been out since early morning and now
it was late in the afternoon. Algernon
watched them until turn in the drive.
way hid them. then he shook his head
obviously. thoughtfully. and knocked
the ashes from his pipe.
1t was very warm In the shade OF
the hedge sheltered from the sea
breezes by the pines ana the dip In the
land. Overhead the fog was hearld-
ing it's evening approach by little
wisps Of vapor. floatinfg past like
ghosts of tiny clouds Everything
was very still but for the shrill per-
sistent hum Of the crickets and the
grasshoppers in the meadows back OF
the stable. Occasionally Algernon
could hear the high discordant whistle
of the under groom and once in
while the scathing remarks of the head
groom anent the musical ability or MS
Algernon cleaned his
pipe, put 1t in his pocket and stretched
himself luxuriously in the soft sweet
grass. He pulled his hat over his
eyes and prepared to finish the after
noon with nap. but could not get the
thought Of Molly and young Hancock
ont of his head long enough to allow
him to sleep. And the thought OF
Holmes presence in the neighborhoed
was vaguely irritating. He had been
down to the hotel that afternoon and
the strange cor in company
with Holmes chauffeur. The car was
q steamer and the pipes coming from
the engine had become full OF dirt,
causing the engine having no water
in it to blow out, though the register
indicated that it was full because OF
the dirty pipes and the ignorance OF
the chauffeur who had failed to keep
the pipes clean. Algernon saw he
could do no good. A new boiler would
have to be sent fer and until IT came.
Holmes would simply have to wait in
patience or take the railroad cars,
which he seemed to Afternoons an
noyance. in no hurry to do.
Algernon felt-and he knew that his
mother would feel the same-that he
was not exactly competent to oversee
the morals of the young. Neverthe-
less he longed to caution Molly that
unless she was more careful. she
would give the whole thing away
through the publicity Of the press and
he would be left alone in the big house
as Mr.. Todd. with no amusing little
to pass the time away. 1t
was not entirely clear to him yet
what her object had been in assum-
ing the name and position OF his
mother. It could not have been with
the intention Of marrying young Han
cock, at least, not at first, for none
Of them knew anything about the
Pines or Hancock before she had
come. and she must have taken the
name Of Todd on her arrival as 1t
would have been impossible to have
assumed 1t later, on Hancock's ac-
count. Then. what did she do it for!
Molly O'Toc1e was clever and she
would know, none better, that slight
irregularity, to speak mildly about 1T.
such as she was practicing would be
to explain clearly to any
one and most OF all to his mother, IN
whose employ she was. Why was she
risking good position, with the ex-
cellent recommendations 1t would
give, for the doubtful pleasure OF fool
Ding few farmers?
Algernon dozed off after time,
and was finally awakened by the honk,
honk of Hanoock's machine as 1t
turned out of the gates and took the
road to Brockton in the gathering
dusk He sat up and watched it dis
appear in cloud of dust, then he
arose, stretched and decided to 90 up
to the house and give Molly gentle
warning that she must be good for
he did not care to have his fun spoiled
thus early. She had taken him into
her confidence that me fning, so could
not look upon him IS bold as she
otherwise might consider him under
the circumstances.
The front door of the great house
was open to the sweetness Of the sum-
mer evening and Algernon looked in.
The hall was empty but for hound
that raised his head quickly as Alger-
non entered, and seeing who vt was.
lay back again, humping his tall
lazily, and soaring the pup. who had
followed his master tinidly up the ter
race steps, down again to the seclu-
sion of the garage and the safety to
be found under the great red touring
car nearest the door. Algernon heard
some one in the library, walking up
and down restlessly. He went to the
door and then hesitated.
What could he say? He couldn't
very well go in and tell Molly that she
was not behaving as even the tenn
porary bearer of the name Of Todd
should behave. She would get angry
and everything would come to light as
as If he held his tongue
,od LOT oo1eip do tic worst. II would