Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-02
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A Large Surprise For Each Of the


Girls.
Sledge began deliberate siege upon
Molly with the same care and vigor
that he would have exercised in con-
Quoting a most important political
campaign.
On that first evening at the the
alter, he made Molly's wishes, express
ed or unexpressed, both a study and
a law. A draft blew on her. She
had a scarf around her shoulders be-
fore she was through with her first
SILVER, and Immediately thereafter
Sledge snapped his fingers for an ush-
er and ordered the f1re-escape doors
closed. She looked over the program
of en'acte music, and sighed for a
missing favorite.
write it down. directed Sledge,
handing her a fountain pen and
check blank.
Laughing. she wrote it, thinking
that he would no doubt send her the
sheet music next day.
Again he called the usher.
"Take this to Joe. and tell him to
have it played" he ordered. Anything
else you'd like, Miss Molly?"
I'm afraid to mention wish for
fear I'd get it, she laughed. in more
or less embarrassment; but Fern,
who was having the time of her life,
giggled. and telling him to recall the
boy added a favorite of her own to
the music program.
"You can have good time most
any place." Sledge complimented her,
with a growing fondness for Molly's
friend. You're a nice kid. I ought
to have invited your gentleman friend
along u
81 don't see who it would be-" laugh
ed Fern. Molly knows 80 many nice
chaps, but the most of them are sucn
boys"
excuse me minute, girls" begged
Sledge, and unloomed himself from
the background
Where now has he gomez" won
dered Molly, half amused and half
apprehensive.
Hes probably noticed that some
girls have candy surmised Fern, who
had come to believe him infallible.
Hell bring back ton of it,
81 hope he isn't going to order the
spotlights turned this way smoker
capable of anything
GAS long as it's nice admitted
Fern I'll bet you never had man
treat you with more respect
That's true enough. He's rather
surprise to me in that. He's hne
friend to have, Fern"
Just as the overture struck up
Sledge returned to the box, followed
by a large-handed man of about thirty
five. whose face and neck were red
from much cheerful exposure to the
weather. He had a merry blue eye
and pompadour hair. and he wore d.
amond shirt studs and cuff buttons.
Tommy Reeler, girls" introduced
Sledge. Miss Fern Burbank. Tom
my. Miss Molly Marley"
Mr.. Reeler. in great heartiness and
in friendliness all unafraid, shook
hands with both the girls, and sat
down by Fern.
"I'm in luck" he confided to the
crowd. II was feeling lonesome
enough to take a drink when Ben dug
me up.and slipped me the news that
he had a girl for me. How do you
like our town, Miss Fern?
81 love it, returned Fern. not dar'
ing to look at Molly. whose trimming
eyes she knew to be fixed upon her.
Under the crescendo Of the music,
the conversation became paired on,
and sledge, with complacent self-ap-
probation watched the couple in front
of him.
"Tommy's right guy he confided
to Molly. big contractor; paving
and city buildings. Wife died last
winter"
THAT was too bad!' responded Mol
ly sympathetically.
'She was due" declared Sledge,
ord 30 lillpI hpr