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

tle NhCSh oul youi oCil'
Dear" said Algernon solemnly, 81
promise on the honor of a gentleman
that will never forge the name Of Al
gernon Van Rensellar Todd He laid
his hand on his heart and bowed gaily
in the darkness.
con the honor of gentleman" she
sneered.. Both honor and gentlemen
are as extinct as the dodo bird"
Don't say that, Molly" he begged.
And why not?" she demanded
CURLY.
I'm not dead one yet" protested
Algernon.
The girl shrugged and rose to her
feet. cts late. I must go in"
Algernon helped her up the rocks
and neither said anything more until
non caught her hand
MAY l have the book, dear?" he
asked.
"Will tomorrow be time enough
Joe?" she hedged. II must find 1t
and it's so late"
Eyes, certainly. I shall come up to
the house directly after breakfast.
That will be time enough. Good
night, dear
He raised her hand, kissed 1t ten
derby, and holding the door open for
her, closed it gently after she went IN.
In her room, the girl went straight
to the bureau, opened the top drawer
and took out the cheek-book. With
white face and firm steady fingers,
she tore it apart, jerked out the leaves
and cut them into tiny bits with her
finger-nail scissors, then she swept the
scraps into her waste-basket, and
throwing herself on the high, four
poster. canopied bed, sobbed herself
to sleep.
The next morning Algernon found
Molly waiting for him on the tiny
beach. She waved to him gaily, and
no thought of the check-book or Hol-
mes entered his head until he lay
sprawled at ease on the sun-warmed
deck of the little sloop. Then he
turned to her lazily and asked her II
she had brought the book with her.
She was rebraiding her wet hair and
did not look at him. NO. said she.
II shall come up directly after
breakfast" said he,
What for?" said she.
"The book said he.
LET Patterson come for 1t him
SELF" said she.
why, Molly, he couldn't dear. Why
should Mrs. Todd give a stranger
her check-book?"
"Why is anything" she asked flip
PANTY and rose to her feet.
molly, don't you see he can't come
for it?' She nodded.
III | come, will you give it to me?'
IF you promise, Joe, never again
to forge"
II promised last night, dear"
"You will let him do whatever forg-
ing is necessary"
eyes"
"Then what do you need the book
for?'
why, Molly, he will need blank
check"
Cove him the book and let him
keep It," said she carelessly. II
Joe were only honest with her! She
was sure he wanted the book for him
self. Why had he made up the fool
ish story about Patterson? 1t hurt her
that he did not trust her as she had
trusted him.
The wind was in her face, the sea
laughed and called to her gaily, over.
head gull wheeled in graceful flight.
Molly drew herself up and stretched
out her arms. her blood ttngling In
every vein, her heart singing in answer
to the sea. What had trouble and
poverty and deceit to do with one at
such a time? The sea was hers, the
sky above. There was no past and no
future, just the present moment, her
self and Joe, the tumbling ocean and
the tiny sloop, rising and falling. She
shrugged the check-book aside and
dove from the deck to swim to the
distant bell-buoy.
AS soon as he was through break
fast and could free himself of the
rival attentions Of the parlor maid and
the waitress, Algernon started around
the house to look for Molly and get
the check-book. He found her on the
east terrace busy with bowls of flow
ers which she arranged herself every
morning. She nodded when she saw
him and seemed at first DESTROYS OF
avoiding his company. Algernon in
quired, for the benefit of any of the
servants who might be listening, II
she would want the car that morning.
then he drew nearer and asked her in
a low tone If she had found the book,
81 shall get it," said she, not looking
at him, tucking few flowers into
place, and taking the bowl into the
hall.
He waited on the terrace until he
saw her returning down the stairs
and then went to meet her at the foot.
She descended slowly. pausing on
the bottom step and holding out her
purse to him. ct burned the book
last night, joe" said she, here Is
some money. That will be better than
forging another check"
81 was not going to; Molly" said
he reproachfully "1 told you that
Couldn't you trust me. dear? Do you
think would put you in any danger
lust for Patterson"
She looked straight into his eyes
and answered with quiet dignity. u
was not thinking Of myself, Joe. but
of you. am nasty, perfectly nasty
but I can't bear the thought of your
being so, too Ah don't Joe don't. II