Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-28

gang had been quietly buying mp
could
How much do you want for it?''
asked Bert.
Fifteen thousand" grunted Sledge.
Again Bert smiled. When the site
had been talked of for hospital pur-
poses the Blade had stated that II
could be bought for seventy-fve. Al
so, he remembered that Pelican, who
was strongly mentioned for governor
on the reform ticket had been almost
INDEPENDENTLY in favor of the River
View hill location"
How long will you hold it for me
at that price," he asked.
What do you want it for?"
An investment
1.-TWO days.
Thanks" acknowledged Bert, ris-
ing "You haven't changed your mind
about the Ridgewood extension?"
Nav" returned Sledge. You're
protected; so is Marley"
Quite satisfied, and even elated.
Bert walked out He had evolved a
beautiful plan for taking advantage OF
Sledge's coming downfall. He would
form an operating company to buy up
all the sites which, like the River
View hill location, would be of en-
HANGED value when the Sledge gang
was turned into political nonentity
by the revival of the public funds
tache with marked appreciation. Mol
ly would appreciate this stroke.
The yellow.haired bartender, who
had just come on for the noon rush,
carried Sledge's stein of beer in to
him, and laughed as he set it down.
Bert had a fine dill on last night"
he observed.
"Hunh!" commented Sledge. reach
ing out for the stein and turning to
his favorite landscape.
Celebrating" Blondy went on.
Think I'll have to snitch on him a,
little, Chief He's passing you a
double x"
"Naw.' protested Sledge.
"All right, maybe you know" insist
ed Blondy. Just the same, he claims
the girls wearing the ring. It's
secret engagement, until he can throw
the hooks into you on that Person
property-and some others. Some
others"
"Souse talk" judged sledge, but
nevertheless, he looked at Blondy
speculatively.
There's two kinds of souses,' stat
ed Blondy, out of his long experience.
"Bert's is the other kind
Sledge looked through the hole in
the gate for a long minute, then he
put a fresh rose in his buttonhole,
and went to the telephone.
Molly Marley tried to evade coming
to the telephone, but Sledge impressed
Nina so much with the Importance OF
his message that Molly consented to
talk with him, mainly because she
had determined to stop his annoy
ance
Hello" she said rather crisply in
to the telephone. She was surprised
at the rumbling harshness of the re-
turn voice.
well, I'm wise," Sledge bluntly in
formed her. Pretty Bert has bah
bled.''
What do you mean?" she inquired,
surprised out of her intention of TAX
ing the conversation into her own
hands.
"He got steweu last night explain
ed Sledge. He was celebrating ana
spilled IT.
II don't understand" faltered Mol
".
Come off," scorned sledge. "Pret-
" Bert bowed the whole works. He
picked out the Occident to do 1t.
You're still engaged
Suppose We are!" retorted Molly
lngrily. What are you going to do
about it,"
Smash him." stated Sledge. 81
,old him l would"
"You better not" warned Molly,
furious with every male human being
IN the world; Bert and Sledge in par
.icular.
Hell be smashed in five minutes,
5ledge informed her.
Il dare you!" threatened Molly.
You're a corker!" chuckled Sledge,
delighted with the defiance in her
voice. "You goana get back at me;
1unh?'
Bert will" she promised. He can
put you in the penitentiary, Mr.
Sledge."
What" he rumbled. "That PIN
head! Good-by."
"Wait a minute," she hastily stop
bed him. What are you going to do?'
Call up the Blade"
1.-THE Blade! My name mustn't go
n the paper"
Sure not" Sledge comforted her.
They've already got their orders
about that. I'll just tell 'em the new
amusement park will be on Lincoln
road. The Ridgewood avenue exten-
,ion's off, and so is Bert
And so are you if Bert tells what
ne knows about the public funds in
vestment!" she triumphantly told
aim. you'll go to the penitentiary!
I'm goana find out" he said.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Society of Politics and Some