Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-10

She nodded carelessly, and tossing
her purse on the table, returned to the
side terrace and her flowers.
CHAPTER XVI.
Molly Darling.
Patterson was grateful for the
money and laughed at the girls I'M
willingness to give up the check-hook,
which Algernon merely limited at as an
excuse for not giving check for a
larger amount. He would stay over
one more day, he decided. and wait to
see If the boiler didn't come and ne
could go on In his own car. 1t was
SO much safer than by the train.
Trains could be watched SO easily and
searched But If the boiler didn't
come, he would not wait any longer.
Waiting got on ones nerves, and be-
sides 1t was expensive, as he had the
board and lodging of his chauffeur,
as we'll as himself, to pay. They
shook hands cordially and Algernon
returned to Castle Crags.
He spent the morning tinkering with
the cars and dreaming Of Molly
O'Toole, whistling occasionally to him
self, softly and half unccnsciously,
Molly and he we're working at cross
purposes, it seemed, and he de-
termined to end it all 1t had become
more than he could stand to play the
part of humble chauffeur, any longer.
He was frankly sick OF the job ana
longed to be done with it and to make
himself right again In Molly's eyes.
For some reason she seemed to think
badly of him, acted as If he were
sort of professional forger, another
Jim the Penman.
She was out all the morning in the
motor-boat and when she returned
Hancock was with her, both In hilari'
GUS spirits. He had been out in his
own boat and they had m on the
rocking tossing ocean, and Hancock
looking into the Irish blue eyes
through the curling strands OF wind
blown hair, wondered if 1t was not
fate that had drawn them together
again. He had been extremely child
ish and thoroughly miserable, and now
they met in their tiny boats, far from
land. with the salt spray In their faces,
the tumbling waves beneath them, and
overhead. the deep blue OF the August
sky. Surely, it was fate, and he
turned his boat and followed hers.
In the afternoon, when Algernon
again went in search of the girl, he
found that she and Hancock were
still together out on the rocks, some
where, and he went back to the garage
and spent the rest Of the long day tink-
ering with the cars. He was not
jealous. He felt with sublime egotism
that when 1t came to deliberate
choice, Molly would not hesitate mo-
ment between her love for him and her
greed for Hancock's money. She
would follow her love and laugh
money to scorn in the haven Of her
lovers arms. He had barely finished
supper. when he went once more to
find her, Indifferent as to whether he
was seen by the servants.
He wandered through the house but
could not find Molly, and determined
to wait for her on the side terrace.
He drew up lounging chair beside
one of the small tables on which ne
found cigars and his favorite wine,
arranged as he realized with annoy
ance but not jeasously, by Molly for
Hancock He lighted cigar and
stretched himself at ease. 1t was very
quiet and peaceful here. The long
summer twilight was darkening into
night. A few stars were beginning TO
appear toward the far horizon, across
the tumbling unrest Of the waters.
Little breezes from the vast far away
whispered by, stirring the vines along
the coping and the thick ivy on the
house walls. From the darkness Of a
woodland pond, the frogs croaked
forth their deep bass song OF lonell-
ness.
Algernon arose restlessly and stroll
led to the edge of the terrace Wnere
he leaned against the balustrade ana
gazed over the pleasant vista OF ms
own possessions. Like stretch OF
dark green velvet, growing ever dark.
err with the approaching night sloped
the lawn, falling abruptly to the rocks
and the sea. In the shelter OF the
promontory, he saw his sloop. bare
outline against the evening sky. Inc
all pervading quiet Of the night. steal
ing On one from that wide open coun'
try. filled Algernon with tender sad
ness and a sick disgust for the rush
and noise Of the city, for all the use
less strain and struggle that didn't
amount to any more in contentment
and peace and soul happiness.
He went back to his chair and
smoked while, watching through the
haze of his cigar, the last gray yes
Nd H. a