Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-25
CHAPTER xxx.

NOV who mas won part OF your
marbles?" she chided him, attempting
to conceal her annoyance with him
under the guise of gay raillery.
Bert already looks like married
man. laughed Fern. I'D be frightened
half to death, Molly Think what
he'll look like at breakfast on the
frst Of each month";
HELL never see the meat BILL de-
clared Molly. 81 intend to begin with
alimony"
II hope can pay IT, responded
Bert catching the all-too-jovial spirit
of the assemblage, and pretending 10
gaiety himself. Il think my first step
toward making living, however, VIII
be to move out of this state, where
/ can buy and sell piece of property
without asking permission of some al
derman or ward thug.
Il think we'll all co. suggested
Marley. who had been looking studi-
ously into his soup. What has hap
pened to worry you, Bert?'
"since Sledge smiled?" queried
that neatly mustached young man, in
order to head him off from that re-
proach. II think I have good cause
this time I took drive out Lincoln
road this morning, and they're going
ahead with their amusement park
project"
.Imnossible," asserted Marley,
STRENGTHENING in outraged dignity.
aWhile the Ring City Street Railway
company has q Lincoln road iran
chise which would prevent our COM
petitors from obtaining one; it mas
not announced any intention OF build
ing IN that direction, and will not 40
So"
Bert laughed quite without mlrth.
"Yom remind me Of that good old
standard story of the man VINO was
arrested for some trifling offense. ne
sent for his friend, and explained the
circumstances Why, it's confounoeo
nonsense,' exclaimed the friend, mold
ing the bars and looking through the
grating of the cellar door. No po-
liceman on earth can throw you INTO
iail for that
"Why. he was in Jail at that very
minute!'' protested Fern
II think that's supposed to be the
noint Of the story" guessed Molly.
"Of what is it apropos, Bert
"Of the impossibility of building an
amusement park on Lincoln road, ne
answered. "They're digging a lake
ont thare THEY'RE erecting the scat
y folding for roller-coaster. They've
huiIt a. big work shed, which is later
10 he turned into Tannenbaum hall,
which lust now, is stacked with gaudy
narts of a three-story merry-go-
round. It may be utterly impossible
for them to build an amusement park
out there. but they're doing it,
Molly glanced quickly at her fath.
er. He motioned that his untouched
SOUP might be taken away, and toyed
in nervous embarrassment with an
almond. -.
"I'ye already done it," he half
shamefacedly explained.
"Sold your stock?" she eagerly IN
quired. 80
.Not quite he hesitated. Il did,
however. stop at the telegraph once
on my way back from Allerton's this
morning and I wired the people VINO
have been after my stock to name
their best offer"
Good" she responded. "Will you
j take 1t. whatever it is?"
Il can't bind myself to that he re-
piled. II must confess, however,
that whatever the offer is, shall be
tempted"
"Auerton must have given you very
little satisfaction about that BILL sur
missed Bert.
"Quite the contrary" stated Marley.
"The bill is absolutely harmless. 1t
is only bit of political flapdoodle,
intended to convince the voters OF
L the state that Allerton is constantly
on the job"
Something must have happened to
I make you change your mind so quick
ly," pondered Molly. Whatever 1t
y was, I'm glad of it. You must have
met Sledge," and she giggled.
II "Sledge must have smiled at him,
laughed Bert, keeping up the joke.
II have excellent reasons Marley
concluded, with becoming business
gravity "The future OF street rail-
way investment in this city is too I'M
certain
"Father," said Molly suddenly, in
the midst of the silence which fol-
lowed, If Mr.. Sledge finds you have
sent that telegram, he will do what
ever he is going to do before you can
l. turn around"
Hell have to move quickly an
swered her father, with a superior
smile, his self-approbation returning
on the slightest prOVocatlOn. l sent
my people that telegram today, SO
they would have it the first thing Mon
day morning They were very eager,
while they were here, to acquire pos
! session. and l shall doubtless hear
from them by ten o'clock
81 wish | could sleep until ten, and
when | wake up find that it's all
right" Molly worried. "If you and
Bert are not entirely out of all bust
ness deals in this town by our we'd
ding day, Sledge will see to it, if he
has to move heaven and earth to &C
complish 1t, that we none OF us have
dollar: and by that l mean absolute
pauperism, in the best and most thor
oughly melodramatic sense"
"He has the most absurd way or
making love-" commented Fern. Its
i like the old cave dweller plan of kill
g., hof