Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-15

the street in the direction Of his morn
ing paper when poster in deserted
store window caught his eye. 1t was
an atrocious poster-red letters on 8
yellow background. It announced
that five hundred dollars reward
would be paid by Mr.. Henry Trimmer
for information that would disclose
the present whereabouts of the real
Lord Harrowby.
AS Minot stood reading 1t, heavy
hand was laid upon his shoulder
Turning he looked into the lean and
hostile face of Henry Trimmer him
SELF
Good morning" said Mr.. Trimmer
Good morning" replied Minot.
"Glad to number you among my
readers" sneered Trimmer. what
do you think-reward large enough
Looks about the right size to me,
Minot answered.
me, too. Ought to bring results
pretty quick. BY the way, you were
complaining last night that You never
heard of me until you came here. I've
been thinking that over, and I've de.
cided to make up to you in the next
few days for all those lonely years"
But the morning had been too much
for Minot. Worried, distressed, he lost
| for the moment his usual smiling ur.
banity.
ooh, go to the devil!" he said, and
| walked away.
Lunch time came-two o'clock. At
half past two, out OF London, Jephson
spoke. Said his cable:
know nothing Of G. r. except that
she's been married frequently. Do
best you can"
And what help was this, pray? Dis.
gustedly Minot read the cable again.
Four o'clock was coming on apace,
and with every tick of the clock his
feeling Of helplessness grew. He men
tally berated Thacker and Jephson.
They left him alone to grapple with
wild problems, offering no help and
asking miracles. Confound them
both!
Three O'Clock came. What-what
was he to say? Lord Harrowby, IN.
terrogated, was merely useless and
frantic. He couldn't raise a shilling.
He couldn't offer suggestion. Dear
old chap he moaned. Il depend on
you"
Three-thirty! Well, Thacker and
Jephson had asked the impossible,
that was all. Minot felt he had done
his best. No man could do more. He
was very sorry for Jephson. but
golden before him opened the posi-
bility of Miss Cynthia Meyrick free
to be wooed.
Yet he must be faithful to the last.
At a quarter to four he read Jephson's
cablegram again. AS he read. plan
ridiculous in It's ineffectiveness occur
red to him. And since no other came
in the interval before four, he walked
into Miss Roses presence determined
to try out his weak little blum.
The Gaiety lady was playing on the
piano. whispering, seductive little
tune. As Minot stepped to her SIDE
she glanced up at him with coy IN
yiting smile. But she drew back
little at his determined glare.
"Miss Rose" he said sharply, II
have discovered that you can not sue
Lord narrowly for breach OF contract
to marry you
"Why-why not?" she stammered.
Because" said Minot, with trium'
phant smile-though 1t was snot IN
the dark-"you already had a husband
when those letters were written TO
you
Well, he had done his best A rath-
err childish effort, but what else was
there to attempt? Poor old Jephson!
.Nonsense,'' said the Gaiety lady,
ona continued tn play.
"Nothing Of the Sort Minot replied.
SELF"
Might as we'll the limit while he
was about it. That should be his con-
ISOLATION when Jephson lost. Might as
well-but what was this?
Gabrielle Rose had turned llvid with
anger. Her lips twitched, her china
blue eyes flashed fire. II only ner
lawyer had been by her side then!
But he wasn't. And 50 she cried not
ly:
"He's told! The little brute's told!'
Good lord! Minot felt his knees
weaken. A shot in the dark-nad II
hit the target after all :?
''If you refer to your husband, SAID
Minot. che has done just that.
Hes not my husband she snap
ned.
Oh. what was the use? Providence
was with Jephson.
mo, of course not-not since the
divorce. Minot answered. But ne
was when those letters We're written.
The Gaiety lady's chin began TO
tremble.
And he promised me. on his WORD