Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-13

luduc LOT Tie uOOT uIOW1uS IL UdSh,
he gazed down the hall, only to see a
figure swiftly vanishing around dim
ly-lighted corner. Bob couldn't make
out whether it was, a man or WON
an, but seeing no one else in the hall,
he impetuously and recklessly dart
ed after it. When he reached the
corner, however, the figure was gone.
Bob stood in quandary. There
were good many different doors
around that corner. Through which
one had his mysterious visitor van
ished? If he but knew, he felt car
tain he could place his hand on the
much wanted individual who was max
ing such nuisance of himself in So
cial circles. He might be able to rid
society Of one Of those essentially
modern pests, and at the same time
lift the mantle of suspicion from him
self At least, he would be partly re-
habilitated. Later he might COM
plete the process. And oh, to have
her once more see him as he was.
He was sorely tempted to try a
door. He even put his hand on the
knob Of the door nearest the corner.
The figure must have turned In here;
he couldn't have gone farther without
Bob's having caught sight Of him. At
least, Bob felt almost sure of this con-
clusion, having attained that corner
with considerable celebrity, himself.
Almost on the point of turning the
knob, prudence babe Bob to pause.
Suppose he made mistake? Suppose,
for example. he stumbled upon Gee
gees room, or Gid-up's? The perspira-
ton started on Bob's brow. Gee-gee
would be quite capable of hanging on
to him and then raising row. just
for publicity purposes. She would
make "copy" out of anything, that
girl would. Then, If it wasn't Gee
gees room, it might be Mrs. Vans.
Fancy his invading the privacy of that
austere lady's boudoir! Bob's hand
shook slightly and the knob ratified a
trife; he hastily released 1t. 10 MS
horror voice called out.
"Any one there?"
II was Gee-gee. Bob stood still, not
daring to stir, lest Gee-gee, with
senses alert, should hear him and
come out and find him. He prayed
deyoutly not to be found" 1t was
bad enough to be crazy and to be
social buccaneer, without having MISS
Gerald look upon him as an 1ntrlgant
Don Juan and Jonathan Wild all
rolled into one. Bob wanted to- flee
the worst way, but still he thought
it better to contain himself and stand
there like a wooden man few mo-
ments longer.
"Any one there?" repeated Gee-gee
A neighboring door opened and one
of the last men Bob wanted to see,
under the circumstances, looked out
J It was the hammer-thrower and bis
honest face expressed world of won
der incredulity and reproach, as ne
beheld and recognized Bob, who didn't
know what to do, or to say. He Ger.
tainly didn't want to say anything
though, having no desire to agitate
Miss Gee-gee any further. Fortunate
" the hammer-thrower seemed too
amazed for words. He just kept look
inp and looking. "Where on earth
did YOU come from?'' his. glance seem
ed to say. care you the ghost OF Bob
Bennett? And If you aren't, what are
Won doing here, before a lady's door,
at this time Of night?'
Disapproval now became mixed
with INDIGESTION in the hammer-tnrow-
er's glance. He seemed trying to
make UP his mind whether or not 1t
was a case demanding forcible mea'
sures on his part. Was it his duty
to spring upon Bob, then and there,
and "show him up" before the world?
Bob read the thought. In another mo-
ment Gee-gee might come to the door,
and then? Bob suddenly and des-
perately determined to throw him.
self upon the mercy Of the hammer
thrower. Indeed, he had no choice.
Quickly he moved to the door where
his hated rival stood and as quickly
pushed by him and entered that per-
sons room. At the same moment
-caa.gee unlocked her door. Bob