Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-12

We couldn't heat 1t with million
fires. Well have to let in some warm
air from outside first"
warm air-humph," remarked Mr..
Magee. We'll, live and learn"
The two stood together in a great
bare room. The rugs had been re-
moved, and such furniture as remained
had huddled together as If for
warmth. in the center OF the floor.
When they stepped forward, the sound
of their shoes on the hard wood
seemed the boom that should wake
the dead. ..a
"This is the hotel Off CO." explained
Mr. Quimby.
At the left Of the door was the
! clerks desk; behind it doomed great
safe. and series Of pigeonholes for
the mail of the guests. Opposite the
front door a wide stairway led to a
Handing halfway up, where the stairs
were divorced and went to the right
and left in search Of the floor above.
Mr.. Magee surveyed the stairway
critically. r. III:
"A great place." he remarked. ''to
show off the talents Of your dress
maker, eh, Quimby? Can't you just
that stair in state, and the young men
below here agitated in their bosoms? p
mo, can't" said Mr.. Quimby
frankly.
81 can't either, to tell the truth, "
laughed Billy Magee. He turned up
his collar "It's like picturing a sum-
mer girl sitting on an iceberg and
swinging her open-work hosiery over
the edge. don't suppose it's necessary
to register. I'll go right UP and select
my apartments"
It was upon suite Of rooms that
bore the number seven on their door
that Mr.. Magee's choice fell. A large
parlor with fireplace that few
blazing logs would cheer. bedroom
whose bed was destitute CT all save
mattress and springs, and bathroom,
comprised his kingdom. Here. too,
all the furniture was piled in the cen
ter of the rooms. After Quimby had
opened the windows, he began
Strengthening the furniture about.
Mr.. Magee inspected his apartment.
The windows were all Of the low
French variety, and opened out upon
broad snow-covered balcony which
was in reality the roof OF the first floor
veranda. On this balcony Magee stood
moment. watching the trees on Bald.
pate wave their black arms In the
wind. and the lights Of Upper Asgue-
wan Falls wink knowingly up at hin.
Then he came inside, and his investi-
cations brought him presently to the
tub in the bathroom.
Fine" he cried, "a cold plunge in
the morning before the daily struggle
for immortality begins"
He turned the spigot Nothing hap.
pened.
81 reckon" drawled Mr. Quimby
from the bedroom. you'll carry your
cold plunge up from the well back of
the inn before you plunge into it. The
waters turned off. We can't take
chances with busted pipes"
"Of course" replied Magee less
blithely. His ardor was somewhat
dampened-a paradox-by the failure
Of the spigot to gush forth a response.
There's nothing I'd enjoy more, than
every morning to get up an appetite
for-what? Oh, we'll, the Lord will
provide If we propose to heat up the
great American outdoors, Quimby, |
think it's time we had fire"
Mr.. Quimby went out without com
ment, and left Magee to light his first
candle in the dark. For time he oc-
cupied himself with lighting few of
the forty, and distributing them about
the room. Soon Quimby came back
with kindling and logs, and subse-
uuently a. noisy fire roared in the
crate. Again Quimby retired. and re-
turned with a generous armful of bed
ding, which he threw upon the brass
bed in the inner room. Then he
slowly closed and locked the windows,
after which he came and looked down
with good-natured contempt at Mr..
Magee. who sat in a chair before the
fire.
81 wouldn't wander round none he
advised. "You might fall down some
thing-or something. been living in
these parts, off and on. for sixty
years and more, and nothing like this
ever came under my observation be-
fore. Howsomever, I guess it's all
right if Mr.. Bentley says so. I'll come
up in the morning and see you down
to the train
w Hal LIdiH. iu4uIlCO Nll. "d6CC'
your train back to New York City, =
replied Mr.. Quimby Don't try to
start back in the night. There amt
no training till morning
"Ah, Quimby," laughed Mr.. Magee,
you taunt me. You think I won't
stick it out. But I'll show you. I tell
you, I'm hungry for solitude
"That's all right Mr. Quimby re-
sponded. you can't make three square
meals a day off solitude
"1'm desperate" said Magee. Henry
Cabot Lodge must come to me, I say,
with tears in his eyes. Ever see the
senator that way? No? 1t isn't going
to be an easy job. must put it over.
I must 60 deep into the hearts Of men,
up here, and write what I find. No
more shots in the night. Just the adj
venture of soul and soul. Do you
see? BY the way, here's twenty dol
lars, your first weeks pay as care
taken of New York Quixote.'
whats that?" asked Quimby.
"Quixote," explained Mr.. Magee,
was a Spanish lad who was little
confused in his mind. and went about
J ~