Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17

turned away to array himself in the
customary black-or glad rags
which seemed now, however, but the
habiliments of woe. Then he descend
ed to receive q new shock; he found
out that Mrs. Ralston has assigned
Mrs. Dan to him, to take in to dinner
Drearily Bob wondered IL it were
mere chance that he had drawn Mrs.
Dan for dinner prize, or II Mrs. Dan
herself had somehow brought about
that, to her, desired contamination,
AS he gave Mrs. Dan his arm he saw
Mrs. Clarence exchange glances with
the commodores good lady. Mrs. Raj.
ston went in with the monocle man.
CHAPTER vi,
Dinner.
Mrs Dan dallied with Bob, display.
ing all the artihces of an old cam.
paigner. OF course. she had no idea
how easy it might be for her to learn
all she wanted to. She could not
know he was like q barrel or punch
had to do was to pull the plug >and let
information how out. She regarded
! Bob more in the light OF aafety
vault; the bishops interruption had
put him on his guard and she would
have to get through those massive
outer doors of his reserve, before she
could force the many smaller doors
to various boxes full Of startling facts.
| It was fine tablefull of people, OF
which they were a part. Wealth.
beauty. brains and Drawn were all
there. An orchestra played some
where Being paid performers you
! didn't see them and as distance lends
enchantment to music, on most occa-
sions, the result was admirable. Deli
cate orchids everywhere charmed
with their hues without exuding that
too obtrusive perfume OF commoner
flowers. Mrs. Ralston was an orchid
enthusiast and down on the Amazon
she kept an orchid hunter who. when
ever he found a new variety, sent her
a cable
| So Mrs. Dan started on orchids with
Bob. She hadn't the slightest interest
lin orchids, but she displayed simu-
| lated interest that sounded almost like
real interest. Mrs. Dan hadn't prac-
tised on society, or had society prac-
iticed on her, all these years for moth
| ing. She could get that simulated in
terest tone going without any effort.
But Bob's attention wandered, and
he gazed toward Miss Gerald who oc-
cupied place quite a distance from
him. -y5,s---TT--.
Mrs. Dan, failing to interest Bob on
orchids, now took another. tack. She
sailed conversational course on
caviar. Men usually like things to
eat. and to talk about them, especi-
ally such caviar as this. But Bob eyed
the almost priceless Malasol as If It
were composed of plain, ordinary fish
leggs. He didn't even enthuse when
he took sip of Moselle that matched
the Malasol and had more bouquet"
than the flowers So Mrs. Dan. again
altering her conversational course.
sailed merrily before the wind amid
the breeze of general topics and gay
light persifiage She was at her best
now. There wasn't anything she didn't
know something about. She talked
plays, operas and amusements which
gradually led her up to roof gardens.
She took her time, though, before lay
ing the bowsprit of her desires
straight in the real direction she wish
ed to 60 She knew she could proceed
cautiously and circumspectly, that
there was no need for hurry; the meal
! would be fairly prolonged. Mrs. Raj
ston's dinners were elaborate affairs;
there might even be few profession.
! al entertainment features between
courses.
"And speaking about roof gar
dens," went on Mrs. Dan, looking any
way save at Bob, Il believe you we're
telling me. only this afternoon, how
you and dear Dan were finally driven
| to them as last resort. Poor Dan!
/ So glad he could get a breath OF fresh
air in that stuffy Old town! Just hat
ed to think of him confined to some
stuffy old office. Men work too hard
in our strenuous, bustling country,
don't you think SO? And then they
break down prematurely. I've always
told Dam" she ratified on, ito enjoy
himself innocently, Of course" She
paused to take breath. Don't you
| think men work too hard in America,
Mr.. Bennett?", she repeated.
Sometimes said Bob.
She gave him quick look Per-
haps she was proceeding rather fast,
though Bob didn't look on his guard.
"As / told you. adore roof gardens.
But you were telling me you men were
not alone. What harm" she gurg-
led Some people" talking fast, are
SO prudish. I'm sure we're not put in
the world to be that. Don't you
agree"
"Of course" said Bob absently. He
didn't like the way that fellow down
on the other side of the table was gaz-
| ing into Miss Gwendoline's eyes. Il
beg your pardon. II don't think
caught that"
I'VE were saying there were some
wom-ladies with YOU said Mrs Dan
quickly Too quickly! She strove to
curb her precipitancy You remem-
Der? You told me?' he voice trailed
off, as If it were matter of little in
terest.
"Did -" Bob caught himself up
with a jerk. He felt now as If he
were a big fish being angled for, and
gazed at her with sudden apprehen-
sion. The lady's mien. however, was