Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-02
CHAPTER XXXIII.-(Continued.

Ed one III ITOut, uIoNc up " 'ho NA"A
ley porch where Bert Glider gloomed
in the doorway. They We're driven
by happy girl each, and had no 9th
err occupants. y.
"Come and take ride with me"
Bert" hailed Molly, so full OF delight
that she had absolutely forgotten her
quarrel with him, which was a blow
indeed. "You can't drive, though.
Fern had emerged from her car.
"Im going to have my dinner here
she laughingly announced. Il think
shall 20 to the theater tonight in
mine. Jump in Molly's car, Bert, and
try It, It rides like a rocking chair
"No, thank you!" returned Bert
coldly. "Those cars are going back
to the sales room. l felt sure that
your father had not given them to
you. after our business arrangement
Of this morning. They are present
from Sledge."
ooh. please, no!' pleaded Molly,
with heartsick glance at her red
curtained car. She had loved it at
sight, but now, since she had learned
to know it, she adored it. How do
you know that they are from Sledge?"
II suspected it from the beginning"
he sternly informed her. $50 l called
up your father"
II said they were from Sledge!'
cried Fern. molly, it was awfully
crude of him, but love him for it
don't your
"What did father say?" demanded
Molly.
HE is Investigating
NGoy1~v roorohod of ipht in IN the
telephone, and called up her father.
He talked to her kindly, wisely and de,
liberately; also like man who had
given himself plenty Of time Tor
thought. Bert stood at her elbow,
listening to one side of the converse
ton. and piecing out the other with
painfully knotted intellect. Molly
turned to him with calm satisfaction.
"Father says that l am to consider
the cars as o gift from him. she
pridefully announced
Fern executed the full figures OF
minuet, and sang a merry tra-la-la all
the way through. Molly helped her
sing and dance the last figure.
"Three cheers!'' she exultcd. NOW
we may keep our cars"
IL never intended to give up mine,
Fern affirmed.
Bert walked Molly back into her
fathers den.
81 have nothing to say about what
Fern does,'' he firmly announced, but
/ have something to say about your
conduct You can't shut your eyes TO
the fact that Sledge has given you this
car and he has no right to do So
envy father says that I am to con.
slider the car as gift from him."
repeated Molly primly, but with
snap in her eyes.
"That is only an evasion Bert IN,
sisted. "You have wilfully misled
Sledge into the belief that you intend
to put yourself in the position OF re-
ceiving presents from him, and either
this thing must be stopped or there
will be unpleasantness between you
and me-"
"There is one way we can head that
off," Molly quickly assured him. I'VE
can break our engagement"
"Impossible!" Immediately declar-
ed Bert. frightened. II didn't mean
anything like that. Molly" and he at
tempted to take her hands and per-
form q little of the loye-making which
he had rather neglected.
81 mean it. though she insisted
drawing her hands away from him.
."Our engagement has only brought
trouble to everybody concerned. and
has subjected me to more than one
insult which I had no right to expect.
If we declare 1t off, both you and fath'
er can go right back to where you
We're in business way
cts too late for that" he assured
her, sitting down to reason 1t out with
her on the commercial plane, since
she seemed to insist upon it. Il
could never regain the political friend
ship which is necessary to my style
Of business. My commercial career
In this city is at an end, and my social
standing would be also. Knowing this,
| have been in correspondence with
my people in Baltimore. They have
magnificent business opening there
for me. but 1t takes hundred thou
sand dollars to obtain control of it.
/ laid the matter before your father
and he investigated it. Our conclu-
sion is this: If we can close up our
business satisfactorily here, and he
can sell this place, we shall have in
the neighborhood of hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, clear, between
u.s. You and I are to marry. go to
Maryland with your father, enter into
business, and take up the social posi-
ton to which we are entitled. When
/ take you there as my bride, Molly,
everybody's going to be very proud
of you. and am quite sure that you
will like the social atmosphere there
much better than here. I've dwelt on
this SO often to you that it must seem
like an old story, and yet this is the
first time that it has seemed very
near to u.s."
Molly felt herself wondering why
this glittering promise failed to thrill
her as it had used to do.
"I'll be the proudest Glider that was
ever in the family when l can take
YOU home as my wife, he went on.
Its all cut and dried, Molly, and we
expect to have everything closed up
before our wedding day if we can
hold Sledge off that long
And yet you scold me for helping