Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-15

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him. Dear old dad, who was some
what OF bibliomaniac, had, on one
or two OF BOb's vacation trips to Lon
don, introduced the lad to many
quaint, out-of-the-way hooks and cor
hers. Now Bob drew on the source
OF information thus cleaned and angled
with his one-eye-glassed neighbor
But the monocle man fenced beauti
fully: he knew more than Bob. And
when the latter had exhausted him
self, the monocle man, with a few
wrinkles behind his staring window
pane, played with Bob. He showed
him as mere child for ignorance OF
the subject, and drawled so brilliantly
that some of the others became inter.
ested, though protesting not to see
that Bob was there When the mon
ocle man had finished, Bob felt abash,
ed. He gazed upon the other with
new and wondrous respect. He had
attempted the infantile and amateur
ish game Of unmasking the other-of
exhibiting his Grass ignorance and let
ting the others draw their own con-
clusions-and he had been literally
overwhelmed in his efforts.
| Having shown Bob the futility Of
trying to play with him, the monocle
man again offered Bob the marmalade.
His manner Of doing it made Bob
think of jailer who believed in the
humane treatment of prisoners and
who liked to see them we'll fed. Bob
for the second time refused the mar
malade and did It most emphatically.
I Whereupon the monocle man smiled.
! At that moment Bob met the gaze
Of the temperamental young thing.
| There were dark rings under her eyes
and she looked paler than he had ever
seen her. Also, there was a certain
fascinated wonder, not unmixed with
some deeper feeling, in her expression
She was, no doubt, absolutely astound-
ed to see Bob there, and talking with
the monocle man. Bob surmised she
would be waiting for him somewhere
later to express herself, and he was
not mistaken. Bob got up. AS he
did 80, he glanced at the monocle
man. Would he be permitted to 60,
or would the denouement now hap
pen? Would the other, alas, arise?
He did nothing Of the kind He let
Bob have little more line. He even
suffered him to walk away, at the
same time smiling once more at vacan-
cy or the rack of toast OF course,
the temperamental young thing hailed
Bob shortly after he was out of the
room. He expected that. She came
hurrying up to him, excitement and
terror in her eyes.
Flee" she whispered
81 don't do it," answered Bob sturd-
| lily.
why did you come back?" Agitat-
eddy. What rash thing to do! Like
walking into the lions den.''
well, the principal lion was nice
and polite, anyhow"
Gould you not see he was only
JUS" sought for a word-"dally-
ing with your"
He made me see that" Bob con-
fessed rather gloomily He made me
feel like thirty cents. I guess he's
got my goat And to think thought
him blamed fool. I tell you I'm
learning something these days; I'm
taking course they don't have in
college, all right
"Why do you waste time talking?"
said the girl Every moment is
precious. Go, or you are lost
THAT sounds like the STAGE" re-
piled Bob.
She came closer, her Temperament,
tai gaze burning. "Will this make
you serious ?" she asked almost fierce
ly. II told"
"Eh?"
Il told ALL" she repeated.
"You did?"
Eyes"
"When?"
Last night
"Hum!'' said Bob. THAT makes it
a little worse, that is ALL"
81 was mad" she said, at the way
you-you-
81 think I understand"
"Why-why don't you get angry
and
"And curse you the way they do in
plays?" He laughed a little mirthless-
ly Whats the use? 1t wouldn't do
any good if dragged you around by
the hair"
Its just that attitude of yours, "
she said, breathing hard that has
made me perfectly furious"
Who'd you tell?" Bob eyed her
contemplatively.
Lord Stan The monocle man, as
you call him."
"Whew!" Bob whistled. you went
straight to headquarters, didn't, you"
HE came up to me on the porch
just after you had left, and-and-"
''Its quite nfain." said Bob gently.