Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-15

i
morning. In fact, he had never done
anything before in his life that re-
manded so much courage. He pictur-
ed his entrance, anticipating what
would happen; he didn't try to- de-
ceive himself. The monocle man
would tap him on the Shoulder. "You
are my prisoner" he would say And
then it would be exit" for Bob amid
the EXPLANATIONS and in the face of
the accumulated staring of the COM
pany.
Bob wasn't going to play the craven
now, though. SO he marched down
stairs and into the breakfast room, his
head well up. With that smile on his
lips and the frosty light in his blue
eyes, he looked not unlike a young
Viking fearlessly presenting a cold
brow to the enemy while his ship is
sinking beneath him He acted just
as If he hadn't been away and az II
nothing had happened.
"Good-morning, people," he said in
his cheeriest.
For a moment there was tomb
stone silence while Bob, not seeming
to notice it, dropped down in con-
venient place at the table. His visa
Wis, as luck. or ill-luck would have 1t,
was the monocle man. Bob felt the
shivers stealing over him. But the
monocle man, too, acted as II nothing
had happened. He didn't get up and
tap Bob on the shoulder. Perhaps he
wished to finish his breakfast first.
"Aw!-Have some toast" he OBJ
served to Bob. "Mrs. Ralston's toast
is really delicious
NO. said Boil airily. II don't like
that English kind of toast. Makes me
think of -lsk No taste to it! Give
me good old American toast with plen-
ty of butter on it,"
"Aw." said the monocle man.
Bob didn't stop there. He appealed
to the bishop and carried the discus
sion on to the doctor. He even went
so far a daredevil look in his san
guine blue eyes now. as to ask Miss
Geralds opinion. Miss Gerald, how
ever, pretended not to hear. Her de-
voted admirer was close at hand and
Bob saw the hammer-throWers broWs
knit at sight of him. Bob In his new
mood didn't care a straw now ana
looked straight back at the hammer
thrower, as if daring him to do his
worst. For an instant he thought the
hammer-thrower was going to say
something. but he didn't Perhaps
second thought told him it would be
better taste to wait. for he lifted his
heavy shoulders with rather con-
temptuous or plying shrug and paid
no further attention to luckless BOD.
The latter kept up gay conversa-
ton between bites, processing to De
quite unaware of a certain extraor-
binary reticence with which his light
persifage was received. He looked
around to see if Gee-gee and Gid-up
were anywhere visible, and saw that
thew were not. This did not surprise
him as theatrical ladies are usually
late risers and like to breakfast IN
their rooms: nor would they be apt to
mingle promiscuously with the other
guests. Mrs. Ralston, Mrs. Dan and
Mrs. Clarence were also not about.
Bob was thankful Mrs. Ralston needed
most of the morning by herself, or
with sundry experts. to beautify; ne
didn't care to see his hostess just yet
It was hard enough to meet her fair
niece, Miss Gerald, under the circum.
stances.
81 Understand we have two new ar
rivals in the professional entertaining
line" said Bob to the monocle man.
"Aw.-how interesting!" replied
the other. Bob couldn't get much of
rise" out of him. though unvaryingly
affable in his manner toward the young
man. TRY some of this marmalade
dots Scotch, you know. All mar
malade ought to be Scotch. Dislike
intensely the English make"
How unpatriotic!" said Bob cyni-
cally. Really, the monocle man did it
very we'll He was a fine imitation.
"Aw." he said once more.
And then Bob began to play with