Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-03

ever presses fer his money unless ne
thinks there is something wrong.
Don't you think so. Joe?"
HE isn't the tailor--er--is he the
tailor Mrs. Todd went to. do you
know" asked Algernon. changing a
statement into question as he
glanced up from perusal of the
letter.
mo. Mrs. Todd sent trunk-load OF
dresses up and when I unpacked them
I looked in them and found the name
Of the tailor she goes to, and I chose
another one What do you think?"
And she watched him anxiously, IN
pretty Difference.
81 think you are right" said Al
gernon mo one would ask the Tcdds
to pay up so soon. why He was
about to recount the various lengths
OF time he had allowed his bills to
run, and then remembered that he
was not in position to- discourse on
tailors and their bills and credit So
he stopped abruptly and turned again
to the letter in his hand.
why what?" asked Molly.
why, I believe you are right"
THAT wasn't what you were going
to say. You said that once"
mot being genius, I was going
to repeat myself smiled Algernon.
"Ycu are right. am sure
Molly impatiently drew off her
gloves and threw them on the table,
working her interlaced fingers nerv-
ously. It seemed the irony of fate If
her chance to redeem herself should
be taken from her now.
why should he suspect?' she
asked
Algernon shrugged. That's not the
question" said he gently. HE ap-
parently does suspect. Something
has to be DONE
He reread the letter and wondered
what he could do to head the fellow off.
Pm not going-yet." declared the
girl, with flesh of her blue eyes. Her
moment Of weakness yesterday had
passed. AID she Wol!l not give up
now when success was so near In
day or two Hancock would propose and
then she could laugh at tailors and
their foolish bills Il don't think
shall notice II"
Algernon shook his head. II think
you ought to take some notice OF 1t,
Molly. This letter is serious
81 won't leave now. I can't" pro-
tested the girl and she looked to Al
gernon. sure that he would help and
understand.
Have any of the others dunned
you?" asked Algernon.
mo-" said Molly sullenly. mo one
but this tailor. If we could only send
him a check" And she sighed YEARLY.
III we could only pay the bill, if
we were only the Todds," said Alger-
on flipoantly.
But Molly did not smile. Il have
a check.hook. you know. Mrs. Told
put some money in the bank in my
name so would have some ready cash
to pay the servants, and for other es-
sentials that might turn up
How much Is left?" asked Alger-
non.
None" said Molly. and she glanced
at him quickly like naughty child,
blushing crimson In her eyes was an
expression half Of defiance, half mis-
chief, wholly adorable to the enraptur-
ed Algernon who. instead Of feeling
righteous Indignation at the theft of
his own, looked at the saucy nose, the
dimpling mouth, the flushed angry
face Of the thief. and laughed. The
loss of a few dollars would not be
noticed by him one way or the other
and Algernon was not the man to
wear his soul out counting his ducats.
The fun he was having was worth the
price.
II spent it all, or nearly ALL" Molly
explained II had to have plenty OF
ready cash, you know, even up here.
If I was to uphold the reputation of
the family I have little left in my
purse upstairs. but not half enough
to pay that bill" She thought Of the
r-.mise sic had ,iv,n Holmes, hut
crushed the thought down by the
excuse that this was no new INSIDE
meanor, merely self-protecticn from
an old one which he had already said
he would overlook,
Algernon frowned and thought vain
" for way out of the difficulty.
81 have the check-book STILL" said
Molly slowly, in a low voice, not look
ing at Algernon.
Send them a check" suggested Al
gernon sarcastically.
"And why not?" she flashed out, but
she would not look at him.
What good would that do?" asked
Algernon gently. ''The tailor doesn't
know Molly O'Toolo and besides. the
bank wouldn't honor it for 1t would
overdraw your account"
cit would honor the Todds,' said
Molly lowly, and still she refused to
look at Algernon. squeezing her gloves
into a small hard ball, and not raising
her eyes from them.
Algernon at last caught the drift OF
her remarks and stared for moment
in dull surprise.
well? The only sin nowadays Is
the sin Of being caught. If we car
pass one check, We can pass another
Then when we do have to go. we car
60 with plenty of money In for
lamb. in for a sheep" And now she
raised her eyes desperately and looked
straight at Algernon.
Algernon, taken aback, stammered
l"Why. yes"
What can we do?" she asked ap
pealingly accepting Algernon as one
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