Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-20
The Best of Chester
4 TALE OF RED ROSES
l. BY George Randolph Chester
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his watch. I'll
We've still time for that drink he
observed, wiping his lips with the
back Of his hand.
"lll have 1t sent up with the BILL
offered Bozzam, going to the tele.
phone.
You're not to bother about the bill
if you're little short" remarked the
bass-voiced one.
"I'd pay that IL l had to soak my
whole 'front.'" Bozzam fared. DO
you suppose I'd give that big stiff
chance to pinch me for hopping a
board bill? You tell him I said he
was a bully, slob and common
thief"
ALSO cheese' added Timbers
vociferously.
"All right" agreed the sandy-mus.
tached one. "He won't give cuss."
BEGAN laughed.
IT don't think he will" he admit.
ted. "You boys needn't bother your
selves, after we get this drink. We
won't miss that next train. W. want
ed to go away from this town, any.
how, and in the cold and wet. at that
1--WE got our ORDERS" husked the
|
stick until we see the tail lights OF
your limited. Say, have you got a
map"
There's one in the trunk" said
Bozzam. looking down at the trunk
upon which he was sitting.
: Don't fuss with 1t just now" d.
rected the other. But, when you un-
pack it, you take that map and pair
of them curly finger-nail shears. and
cut out hole where this town is.'
"Ill do better than that" prom.
| ised Bozzam "I'll burn the map
do you know what will happen to
you if you ever come back?"
"You may spare yourself the painful
words" Bozzam heartily assured him.
Il got orders to tell YOU insisted
the chief spokesman. you're to be
beat small"
Feeling more like convicted "lifers'
than free-born American citizens, they
by and by folloewd their trunks out
of the room, and as they crossed the
lobby. on their way out into the wet
world they looked straight ahead OF
them, suddenly quite particular that
they should have no parting glimpse
of Sledge.
They need not have distressed
themselves, for Sledge, five minutes
before, had seen chattering throng
of girls come in at the ladies' en-
trance, and 60 up to the parlor moor.
Though about to join the secret con-
ference which was then waiting for
his authoritative leadership on the
fifth floor, he Immediately followed
up to the parlors, and wandered about
until he found the tall member of the
group comparatively alone.
Hello, Molly, how goes it?" he
heartily inquired, walking up to her,
and the two nearest girls fell away
from her as If she had been suddenly
stricken with pestilence
Fine, thank you!' she assured
him, noting, with sense OF helpless
aggravation, that his most prominent
decoration was still red rose. did
you follow me up here, Mr.. Sledge?"
"Sure!" he admitted, beaming alb
surdly down at her.
Why" she demanded. You are
beginning to annoy me-"
That's tough, but can't help 1t,
he declared 81 wanted to see you.
You look great in those fussy furs.
/ saw swell coat the other day.
They told me it was mink. Six
thousand bucks, but didn't know
your size.'
"You are the most hopelessly thick
wretch in the world" she exclaimed,
angry. and also ashamed to find that
she was laughing. I'm beginning to
believe you're buffer"
About what?"
"About everything. You can't hon.
estly believe that you can interfere
with my having my way. You can't
honestly think that there is one
chance in a million would marry you.
You can't. for a minute, think that
YOU could win a girl by wrecking the
happiness Of everybody she loves.
You can't truly think that you nave
even succeeded in breaking my faith
er. You're big blum. that's wnat you
are-and I hate you'll
Sledge, looking down at her from
his brawny height, smiled.
She had never seen that hideous
change in his features before. sne
had seen his recently acquired par
lor smile. which meant nothing more
than a desire to please, but this colo
menace, like the horrible grimace OF
man in the electric chair, like the
snarl on the face of dead wolf, IKE
the awful grin on the lips of behead-
ed Chinaman, affected her with the
physical chill of draft from a cold
rain! That was menace Wnlch
men who knew him dreaded more
than his hottest wrath, for there was
always a death warrant behind 1t; and
Molly. with some inkling OF its mean.
ing. found in 1t greater sense OF
his power than she had ever before
conceived. He was tyrant, cruelty
incarnate, a bloodless monster-and
born master!