Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-13
CHAPTER III, Continued.

hat way the next day." she observed
With tentative sympathy. One just hot
= 70 forgive Bob. She knew lot o
sleverer men who weren't half so in
teresting on certain occasions. Intel
Iectual conversation isn't everything
Even that soul to soul talk Of the high
err faddists sometimes palled. Il sup
pose that's why you're walking"
Why?' he repeated, puzzled.
''To dissipate that tired feeling
believe you call it,"
'But I'm not tired" said Bob.
"Headachey, them"
NO." He wasn't quite following thu
yubtleties of her remarks.
'Then why are you walking?" sht
persisted And with that?" Touching
his grip with the tip of her toe.
Save hack fare" answered Bob.
She smiled.
MAN wanted a dollar and half
be went on.
"And you objected?" Lightly.
II did"
Again she smiled. Bob saw she. toe
thought it was Joke And he remem
bered how she knew Of one or two oc
casions when he had just thrown mon
~ to the winds-shoved it out of the
window, as 1t were-orchids, by the
dozens, tips, two or three times toe
large, etc. Bob, with those reckless
eyes, object to dollar and a half--or
! hundred and fifty, for that matter!
Not he! II ever there had been a
ypendthrift! y
We'll, I'll lend hand to poor, pow
srty-stricken wretch" said Miss Gerald
lndulgently entering into the humor of
The situation.
What do you mean?" With new
misgivings.
'Plt m'-indicating the grip and
the sticks-'in the trap" she COM
manded.
Bob did. He couldn't do anything
else. And then he assisted her In.
Thanks for timely help!' he said
more blithely,. as he saw her slip on
her gloves and begin to gather up the
reins with those firm capable fingers.
And now" He started as If to 60.
"Oh, you can get in too Why
shouldn't he? There was room for two.
She spoke in matter of fact manner.
TT" Bob hesitated. A long, long
drive unbounded opportunity FOR
chats, confdences!- all at the be-
ginning OF his sojourn here? Dads
1 words that horrid advice-burned on
his brain like fire. He tried to think
J Of some excuse for not getting in. He
4 might say he had to stop at drug
ION businessby telephone, or But no!
he couldn't say any Of those things.
He was denied the blissful privilege of
gother men.
well, why don't you get in?' Miss
Gerald spoke more sharply. Don't
you want to-"
The words came like thunder clap
though Miss Gwendoline's voice was
honey sweet. Bob raised a tragic head.
That monster Truth!
No. he said.
An instant Miss Gwendoline looked
at him.. the violet eyes incredulous.
amused. Then slight line appeared
on her beautiful forehead and her red
lips parted a little as If she were going
| to say something, but didn't. Instead.
I they closed tight, the way rose buds
shut when the night is unusually fros-
sty. Her eyes became hard like dia-
monds.
How charmingly frank" she said.
Then she drew up the reins and trail
cd the tip Of the whip caressingly
along the back of her spirited cob. 1t
sprang forward. Look out for the sun,
Mr.. Bennett" she called back as they
\ dashed away. ITS rather hot today
Bob stared and stared after her.
n What did she mean about the sun? Did
she think he had a touch of sunstroke,
or brain-fever? twas an inauspicious
\ beginning, indeed. II he had only
known what next was coming!