Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-08

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trot, to keep up with her.
"Well, she said, with that approving
glance women usually bestowed upon
Bob, II suppose mustn't detain you
busy people after that remark / over
heard"
ooh, don't hurry" said the commo-
dore hastily. Between old friends
But say BY jove, you are looking
WELL Never saw you looking so young
and charming. Never!" 1t was rath.
err crudely done, but the commodore
could say things more bluntly than
other people and "get away with
them" He was rather privileged
character. Bob began to breathe
hard, having a foretaste of what was
to follow. And Mrs. willie Ralston
was Miss Gwendoline Gerald's aunt!
No doubt that young lady was up in
her aunt's box at this moment.
"Never!" repeated the commodore.
eth, Bob? Doesn't look day over
thirty" with q jovial, free-hearted
sailor laugh. Does she now?"
It had come. That first test! And
the question had to be answered. The
lady was looking at Bob. They were
all waiting. A fraction of second
or So which seemed lige geological
epoch, Bob hesitated. He had to re-
ply and yet being gentleman. how
could he? No matter what it cost
him, he would simply have to "lie like
a gentleman" He
Suddenly an idea shot through his
befuddled brain Maybe Mrs. Ralston
wouldn't know what he said, If he?
She had been numerous times to
France, of course, but she was not
mentally a heavyweight. Languages
might not be her forte. Presumably
she had all she could do to chatter
in English. Bob didn't know much
French himself. He would take a
chance on her, however He made
bow which was Chesterfieldian and
incidentally made answer. rafting it
off with the, swiftness of boulevar-
der.
I'll me faut dire que, vraiment,
Madame Ralston parait aussi agee
qu'elle l'est!" cI am obliged to say
that Mrs. Ralston appears as old as
she is!") n
a Then he Strengthened as if he had
just delivered stunning compliment.
"Merci!' The lady smiled. She
also beamed How well you speak
French, Mr.. Bennett"
The commodore nearly exploded.
He understood French.
Bob expanded, beginning to breathe
freely once more. Language of cour-
tiers and diplomats" he mumbled.
Mrs. Ralston shook an admoEishing
g. y o1o<Dcoi1
and departed.
Whereupon the commodore leaned
weakly against Dickie while Clarence
sank into chair First round for
Bob!
The commodore was the first to
recover. His voice was reproachful.
WAS that quite fair THAT parleyvoo
business? don't know about it's be-
ing allowed
"Why not? calmly from Bob. lis
truth confined to one tongue?"
"But what about that even tenor
Of your way'?" fenced the commodore.
"You don't. as a usual tnlng, go
around parleyvooing
= What about the even tenor OF your
own ways?" retorted Bob
.Nothing said about that when we
mo but-how can go the tven
tenor, IL you don't go yours?
"Hum?'' said the commodore.
Don't you see it's not the even
tenor?" persisted Bob. But It's your
fault If it isn't"
"some logic In that observed Clar-
ence.
Maybe, we have been bit too pre-
vious," conceded the commodore.
"That isn't precisely the adjective
/ would use," returned Bob. He found
himself thinking more clearly now.
They. had all, perhaps, been stepping
rather lightly when they had left the
club. He should have thought OF this
before. But Bob's brain moved rather
slowly sometimes and the others had
been too bent on having good time
ia consider all the ethics of the case.
They showed themselves fair-minded
enough now, however.
"Bob's right said the commodore
sorrowfully. Suppose we've got TO
eliminate ourselves from bis agree
able company for the next three
weeks. unless we just naturally nap
pen to meet. Well miss lot Of fun,
but / guess it's just got to be. What
about that parleyvooing business
though, Bob?" !,
"That's got to be eliminated. too"
from Dickie. Why, he might tell the
aAll right fellows said Bob short
". you quit tagging and III TAX
United States"
GOOD. I'm off, said the commo-
dore. And he went. The others FOL
lowed. Bob was left alone. He
found the solitude blessed and began
to have hopes once more. Why, he
might even be permitted to enjoy a
real lonely three weeks, now tnat ne
had got rid Of that trio. He drew out
a cigar and began to tell himself he
was enjoying himself when
ITO be continued.)