Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-10
CHAPTER III.
An inauspicious Beginning.

,
An inauspicious Beginning.
Mrs. Ralston's house parties were
usually satisfactory affairs. She was
fond of people, especially young people
and more especially OF young men OF
tho Apollo variety, though in strlctly
proper. platonic and critical sense. In
deed. her taste in the abstract, for an
y mated Prayiteles had, for we'll nigh
two score of years, been unimpeacn-
able. At the big gatherings in her
noble country mansion, there was al
WAYS a liberal sprinkling of decorative
and animated objects of art OF this
description. She liked to ornament
her porches or her gardens with husky
and handsome young college athletes.
She had an >intuitive artistic taste Tor
stunning living statuary, dressed up,
Of course. Bob came distinctly in thas
category.
So behold him then. one fine morning
on the little sawed-off train that whlsK-
ed common people-and sometimes a
few notables when their cars were 9TH
erwise engaged-countrywa Bob
had big grip by his side, his golf
sticks were in a rack and he had
newspaper in his hand. The sunshine
came in on him but his mood was not
sunny. An interview with dad just be-
fore. leaving hadn't improved his
spirits. He had found dad at the
breakfast table examining book Of
artificial flies. on one hand, and a big
reel on the other.
(Which shall it be. my SOM" dad had
greeted him cordially. Trout or tar
POM" !.
II guess that's for you to decide
Robert hid answered grumpily. Dad,
in his new role, was beginning to get
on Rob's nerve. Dad didn't seem to be
at all concerned about his future. He
shifted that weightys and momentous
subject just as lightly! He acted as
if lie hadn't care in the world
Wish could make up my mind,
he said, like boy in some doubt how
he can best put in his time when he
plays hooky. "Minnows or whales? III
toss up He did. Whales win. By
the way, how's the hustling coming
on o.
Don't know"
We'll, don't put it off too long"
Cheerfully. II guess | can worry
along for about three weeks
"Three weeks said Bob gloomily.
Oh. that familiar sound!
.sYou wouldn't have me stint myself,
would you, my SON." Half reproach-
fully. "You wouldn't have dad deny
himself anything
"No," answered the other truthfully
enough. AS a matter of fact things
couldn't benz UGH worse, so he didn't
much care. Fortunately. dad didn't
ask any questions or show any curios-
ity about that "hustling" business. He
seemed to take 1t for granted Bob
would arise to the occasion and be as
indulgent SON as he had been an in
dulgent dad-for he had never denied
the boy anything. Bob softened when
he thought of that. But confound dads
childlike faith in him, at this period of
emergency. 1t made Bob nervous. He
had no faith In himself that way. Dad
did lift his eyebrows just little when
Bob brought down his big grip.
4 WEEKEND" he hazarded.
Whole week. replied Bob in mel
ancholy tone
"Whither?''
'Tonkton"
Dad beamed. Mrs. Ralston?
Eyes"
Aunt of Miss Gwendoline Gerald, l
believer" With a quick penetrating
glance at Bob
Yes
Sensible boy observed dad, still
studying him.
s "Oh, I'm not going for the reason
you think said Bob quite savagely.
He was most unlike himself
'Of course not Dad was concila-
tory.
"I'm not. Think what you like
TOO much work to think" yawned
dad
But you are thinking" Resentfully.
Have it your own way
Bob squared his shoulders. "You
want to know really why I'm going to
Tonkton?"
Have ever tried to force your con-
fidences, my son 2"
I'm going because I've got to. l
cant help myself"
"Of course" said dad. Eta! ia! En-
Joy yourself. See you in three weeks
Three" But Bob didn't finish.
What was the use? Dad thought he
was going to Tonkton because Miss
Gerald might be there.
88F "A 4 matter OF fact BOb's one great