Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-22

intimated. had frankly liked Bob as
an outdoor companion, or an moor
one too sometimes, for that matter.
He was one of the few men, for eX-
annie she would "trot" with. He
could "trot" in an eminently respect
full manner, being possessed OF an IN
nate refinement, or chivalry, Whlcn
certainly seemed good to her, after
some of those other wild Terpsichor
can performances of myriad muscu
lime manikins in the mad world OF
Milliondom.
| Il suppose your father has taken
his trouble much to hearth" Miss Ger
aid now observed.
Not bit
MOI" In surprise.
| mo"
"Why not?"
,"Said he looked to me to keep him
! in affluence the rest of his days.
"To your
! That's right"
| "But how?-What are you going to
do?"
Hustle"
."At what?"
Don't know. Got to find out
What did you plan doing, when al
lcollege?'
Nothing
"Is it''-Miss Gerald got back to
where she had been before-"the
isense of awful responsibility with
slight sarcasm, that has turned your
brain?"
I'm not crazy?'
! MOP" She remembered that most
people in asylums say that.
Though / may be in a matter OF
three weeks Bob added, more to him
self than to her.
"Why three weeks?'
"Well. if | don't-just shouldn't hap
pen to go crazy during that time, III
be all right, after that"
..Why do you allow specified perl
cd for your mental deterioration?
81 didn't allow it"
"Who did,"
] Cant tell you"
Miss Gerald pondered on this an.
swer. 1t would seem as If Bob mao
"ha1lucinations," if nothing worse
HE was possessed of the idea, no
doubt that he would go crazy within
three weeks. He didn't realize that
1.-THE deterioration" she referred TO-
might have already begun. ne looKeo
normal enough, though, had the mos,
normal-looEing eyes. Could 1t De tna'
he was acting? And if he was act
ing WHY was he? That seemer lncom
prehensible. Anyhow, it couldn't be
= sense of responsibility that had up
set, Bob. She became sure OF tha'
now. He played a losing game Win
too much dash and brilliancy! Hadn'
she seen him at polo-hadn't she hclo
her breath and thrilled when he had
"sailed in and with irresistible vim
snatched victory out OF defeat? NO.
Bob wasn't "quitter.
$50 your father looks to you TO sup
port him."
$50 he said. The governors a bit
of a Joker though, you know. He may
be only putting up a bluff to try me
out" 80,
! "What did he advise you to do?'
Pob shiyered. Matrimonial mar.
ket."
"You mean
"Heiress." Succintly.
"Any particular one?'
dad did mention a name.
"Not-?" She looked at him.
Eyes"
An awful pause :.
CHOW YOU know why I didn't want
to see you," said Bob. IN mat even
fatalistic voice, First place,
wouldn't ask you to marry me, II you
were the last girl in the world! Sec
ond place. I was afraid If saw you
some of these things dad SAID 10 Try
me would be bound to pop out. You
mustn't think badly Of dad. Miss Ger,
aid. He was only sizing me up. Don I
7 know that twinkle in his eye? Just
wanted TO see If I'm as lazy and good
for-nothing as some chaps brought up
/ with the silver spoon. Why, he'd
honestly, dad would just kick me, II
II took his advice. Why, if / went
hack home tomorrow" went on BOD,
I warming to the subject 'and told him
wa were engaged"-the girl moved
slightly-"and were going to be mar
: ried right off"-the girl moved again
why-why, old as l am, dad would
take off his coat and give me good
trouncing. That's the kind of man
dad is see it all now
He really believed he did-and for
tho first time. He felt he had solved
the mystery of dads manner and con
duct. It had been mystery. but the
solution had come to him like an in
spiration Dad wanted to see "hetner
! he would arise to the occasion. he
had told him he didn't believe ne was
worth his salt just to see his PACK.
bone stiffen. He had alluded to thai
4 other way of repairing the busted
| family credit" just to observe the ell
feet on Bob. And how dad must nave
. ! chuckled inwardly at Bob's response!