Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-12-09
Euening Story
THE THIRD TIME CHARMS.
copyright. 1915, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
By Catharine Cranmer.

paper Syndicate
"They say it's hard to get babies or
widowers through their second sum
mers," mumbled Jack Ellis to himself,
"but it'll be miracle If Dorothy Leigh
gets through her second season with,
out becoming engaged. She pretty
popular, wealthy, adorable - in other
words, just Dorothy"
| Jack frowned at the awful possible
tiles of the case. He was in love with
Dorothy, but would not be In secure
enough financial position to propose to
her before January, when he would be
taken into the firm as director Inc
present uncertainty of business condi-
lions gave him occasional doubts
Thunder and lightning! Business
has got to grow" he exclaimed, light
ing his sixth cigarette in ten minutes
and springing out of the low armchair
where he had been half reclining.
With hands in his pockets, he made
rapid strides back and forth in his
den. He tried to devise ways and
means for selling two reams of paper
where he had before sold but one, but
ever between his frowning gray eyes
and the duplicated paper market
there rose the vision of brown haired
brown eyed, peachy skinned Dorothy
and ever about her were swarms OF
admiring men including everything
from callow youths just out of college
to the blase roue.
"Biff!" and Jacks right fist cupped
into his left hand with thud. His
set jaw and narrowed eyes indicated
what he'd like to do to any man who
dared to go near Dorothy. At the same
moment he determined to go to her
that very day and offer her his modest
fortune, which would be greater with
in the year. "And with Dorothy as the
goal, what mountains of difficulty
could stop me or even detain me?'
In frenzy Of love and hope and a
rather foolish certainty OF success,
Jack made careful afternoon toilet
and went swinging along the few
blocks to Dorothy's home. Head up,
eyes shining, he was quite uncon-
scious of the admiring chances he re-
cieved from the many girls taking
their Sunday afternoon stroll to the
park.
But alas for mushroom hopes! AS
he passed through the iron gateway
leading into the residence street
where Dorothy lived, he stiffened at
the sight Of Henry Ardmore's shining
black automobile rolling no1selessly
toward him with Dorothy and Ard
more in its roomy rear seat. Ardmore
leaned forward and faced Dorothy just
int time partially to obscure the glory
of her charming smile of greeting to
Jack.
'Why can't that old fossil stay at
was Jacks mental query as he passed
on through the street, which now held
nothing Of interest for him.
1t was only four o'clock and the late
autumn afternoon, was one OF rare
beauty, so rare, indeed, that to Jack
there seemed no means of doing it
justice except in Dorothy's company.
Bereft of that, he went home, took out
his car, and went for an aimless run
into the country. He avoided the
country club lest he should seem to be
trailing Dorothy and Ardmore, who
would probably stop there for tea.
With little thought of speed regula-
lions or little interest in which turn
he took where roads diverged, he rush
ed on. The short afternoon faded be-
hind brilliant sunset that was fol-
lowed almost Immediately by darkness
and fast moving clouds overspread the
entire sky.
Rounding a corner at pretty good
pace, Jack had to bring his car to an
abrupt stop to avoid danger of COLI
ing with two disabled cars which were
standing facing each other, with dead
engines and anxious passengers. Jack
recognized the one headed for the city
as Ardmore's. He promptly offered
any possible aid, and his heart beats
broke all speed records when the task
assigned him was to take Dorothy
cityward lest the approaching STORM
break before the damaged car could
be repaired sufficiently to make the
trip.
With wicked thankfulness that his
little gray roadster could accommo-
date but one passenger, Jack handed
Dorothy in and drove off feeling luck
Ter than Aladdin when his lamp was
at it's best. He noted the little details
of Dorothys account of the accident,
but made her reiterate her assurance
of her own complete escape from in
jury. Rejecting that though Fate