Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-16


But I haven't missed my tooth
brush, and gave my shears"
well, 1t may be your shears"
"And nothing can be done?"
Certainly something can be done
Go to a mineral spring for two OF
three weeks"
And that's what brought the youns
man who gave his name as Ray Had
ley up to the spring. The frog, or the
fish, or the turtle, or the shears, OF
whatever 1t was. vanished In a week
and then q fortnight was spent In
making the acquaintance of the five
old maids.
Mr.. Hadley made love to all i've
1t takes q little more time to court
five old maids than one. but single
man at mineral spring has the time
to spare.
Each old maid called Mr.. Hadley q
charming man. 1t was whispered
about that he was a rich man. II
was further whispered that he had
never loved. Therefore, he was worth
winning, and each of the five won
him. That is, he acknowledged be
fore the fortnight was up that hii
heart was touched, and the day before
his departure he said to each one:
II am not going to say what Wish
to say Just now. l shall write 1t after
i get home, and hope to receive Z
favorable answer"
1t 1t will be SO NIGEL" simpered
each of the five.
Besides the mineral spring and the
five old maids, the village had a post
mistress-Miss Grace Parsons, the
daughter of an old soldier. She had
held the place for three years wher
the tragedy of the five old maids
came along to raise row.
Three days after Mr.. Hadley's de
parture the five began to haunt thu
postofflce. They had not been rivals
exactly. While they knew that Mr.
Hadiey had been rather lavish of his
affections, each had solaced herself
with the feeling that she was the chos
en- one.
After ten days OF haunting the post
office, however, each one began Il
wonder If the other hadn't in some
way got hold of her letter and sup
pressed it. From that they began tt
wonder II the postmistress. actuated
by spite or jealousy, hadn't sup
pressed all Ave letters. The thought
brought them together.
"She must have done It." said one.
"She don't like any OF use,' added
another.
"Mr. Hadley must have writer
long ago." simpered third.
Men in love don't delay this way
sagely observed the fourth.
Something should be DONE" wal
the firm conviction of the fifth.
Something was done. A complaint
was made to the postal authorities al
Washington. Five very important
letters had very probably arrived al
the postofice and been suppressed
instead of being promptly delivered
The matter should be given immed
late attention.
The postoflce inspector for thai
route had been taken ill, and another
had to be sent over the route. Hi
name was Royal Dayton, and tn,
complaint was handed to him witt
the remark: &c.,
Here, look into this. guess i
doesn't amount to much, but it's IL
the days work"
And that's how Royal Dayton and
Miss, Grace Parsons came to meet.
"Why, they charge me with sup
pressing their letters!' she exclaimed
That's it"
And they are very important per
sonages in this community"
so they say"
but what five persons should want
to injure me by making such com
plant? There is not word of truth
in it. l did not know that | had 9
single enemy
well, let us figure a minute" sait
the inspector. ut seems that Ave
different persons have been looking
for five very important letters"
"Yes?"
"Such being the case they would
have made inquiries very often
They are five people that know each
other. Can't you place them?"
Gould one of them be Miss John