Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-29
CHAPTER XII Continued.

/ fortunately, she was alone and tina
no one but herself had seen tn
strangers arrival. He drew neare
and she recognized him with suddel
throb OF relief as Mr.. Patterson. tn
gentleman of the broken car. But he
relief was short lived, for why, she
asked herself desperately, should MT
Patterson come to her party unlimited
If he were, indeed, no one but who
he claimed to be, and why, If he were
none other than Mr.. Patterson, ever
If he thought the fete public affair
and every one welcome, should he be
approaching by the roundabout way Of
the rocks? Controlling her nervous
desire to turn and fly Molly advanced
with her hand out and a smile on hel
dry lips.
sl"How do you do?" said she.
Holmes grasped her small hand and
smiled down at her, amused, kindly
but frankly cognizant of the situation
coolly critical. Molly felt her worst
fears we're realized even before he
spoke in q gentle drawl, politely rails,
Ing his hat.
."Miss-O'Toole?"
Molly grew slowly whittier ana
winter. but her wonderful control did
not desert her and she returned coolly,
with q bit of bow, as one acknoWl'
edging an introduction:
Eyes, indeed. Is this Mr.. Patter'
SOM"
"Mr. Todd, Algernon Van Rensselaer,
Todd" replied Holmes with a tired
sigh. j,
~ understood that you registered
at the hotel as Mr.. Patterson" re-
turned Molly, looking straight into his
small keen eyes.
81 did" admitted Holmes, and ad-
ded with significant little smile, to
avoid complications"
"Complications?" questioned the
girl with q delicate lift Of her eye
brows.
"Complications," repeated Holmes.
with my mother, Mrs. Todd" and he
bowed again, smiling at her in sneer-
ing amusement.
On the lawn were the many little
tables for the coming feast, few OF
the musicians had struggled out to the
terrace and were noiEily tuning their
Instruments, while the parlor maid
tripped by with snowy tray and
basket Of tempting fruit. It would be
impossible under the circumstances
for Molly to explain that 1t was all
Joke to amuse herself in the long lone
~ days by letting the country people
innocently call her Mrs. Todd, the
1Aame they had given her upon her ar
rival. It was not the duty of house
keeper, to give lawn party to her
mistress neighbors in the mistress
absence. But like drowning man and
a straw, the frightened girl clutched
at the faint hope that he had allowed
three days to pass without bringing
her to account and had not signed his
own name to the hotel register ito
avoid complications" He might be
merciful and wait until the party was
over. might even let her leave town
without exposing her to the idle curl
osity Of the village, to the wounded
surprise and hurt pride of Hancock.
Mrs. Todd had talked much of her
sons good nature, Of his gentleness
and chivalry to women.
"Come in," said she and turned to
the door mechanically, wondering
why she did not faint or cry or break
down some way, why her one hysteri
cal desire was to laugh and laugh and
laugh.
Holmes took another long slow
view of the landscape with the quiet
air of the proprietor and followed her
into the great hall. There. he glanced
around him critically. strolled to the
drawing-room doors, looked in. did
the same by the library and dining
room. and finally returned to the table
and the girl, toying nervously with a
slender stalk Of sweet peas and
watching him in an agony of suspense,
"Sit down. said she, and We can
talk"
t"see here" said he not unkindly,
laying his hand on her shoulder with
a familiarity the wretched girl dared
not resent at the moment in the faint
hope that he would be good to her and
wait until her guests departed. "See
here, want to look around bit,
quietly. Suppose we wait until the
festivities are over before we talk?
/ think hear the first Of your guests
coming now, and above all things I
hate scenes" He smiled at her,
amused, cynical, frankly pleased with
her good looks.
THANK you" mumured Molly,
crushing the flowers in her nervous
fingers and longing to throw them at
him.
Holmes laughed. Not at all. am
amused, believe me, and shall
thoroughly enjoy myself this after
noon-as I have for the last few days.
Really, you are very good under
study Of mama" He patted her
shoulder and strolled away as team
drew up at the terrace steps.
Don't worry about me-" said he
gaily, nodding at her from the TIRES
hold of the library door. Il shall look
around a bit and probably go back OF
the village early. Lawn parties are a
bore, believe me. l shall come again
later, or shall we put it off until to-
morrow, our little talk? Later, this
afternoon? When the last guest has
gone? All right That suits eThe
servants will think simply fingered
behind the others and it's best that
they be allowed to think so for a
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