Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-27
CHAPTER XXI. (Continued.)

Ticket window.
Give me box for tonight h
grunted.
Sorry, Mr.. Sledge,' replied the ticl
" OF seller, sincerely apologize. 18th
only ones we have left are on the ga
lery floor, and those are so undesil
able that we never make any attemp
4 to sell them
II got to have downstairs box,
insisted Sledge. Fix it,"
II don't see how | cam proteste
the ticket seller.
The treasurer of the theater. tall,
ing in the rear end of the lobby witt
the manager of the Avon Shakesperi
an Repertoire company, came forward
with calm authority.
Anything we can do for you?" h
offered to the man who had settlet
his difficulties with the fire commits
sioner
"Mr. Sledge wants downstairs DO,
for troi"ht ard we have none left,
explained the ticket seller.
>ync has them?' the treasurer
wanted to know.
'.~ 7----,c" Waivers family has box
A; G. W. Horton has B: party from
Tux, to.el Abbott
Did they take up their tickets yet?'
interrupted the treasurer
No." returned the boX-offlce man,
displaying the envelope which held
them. .'The Abbott telephoned for
them. as usual, and"
Hand EN- gallery box directed
the treasurer. and passed the tickets
\ into Sledge's hand.
Thanks" grunted Sledge, and
stuffed the tickets in his pocket.
Don't mention it, returned the
treasurer as nonchalantly. and walked
back to the manager of the company.
What kind of a show is this?' ask
ed sledge
Rotten" the ticket man informed
him, tucking the impossible gallery
box seats into an envelope for the
Hotel Abbott party. ITS highbrow
stuff. Hamlet"
.Hunh!" grunted sledge. ANY
music?"
Orchestra. Ophelia sings. but you'd
think she was having her teeth fixed
s'Hunh." observed Sledge again, and
walked out.
Two blocks up the street. On his
way to the Occident, he stopped at
an automobile sales room.
s'This working?"- he inquired, point
ing to the shining big limousine which
occupied the center Of the floor
"All it needs is gasoline" replied
the salesman.
.Put some red roses in that flower
thing, and send it up Sledge direct
ed
About dinner timer" surmised the
salesman. Possibly I'd better send
it up before, Mr.. Sledge. It has some
improvements your man might want
to look into
"Ill send Billy down." decided
.sledge
He turned to go when, in the ad-
Joining window, he caught sight of a
little. low, colonial coupe, with seat
ing capacity for three. 1t was Of an
exouisitely beautiful shape. with
small, latticed window-panes and
dainty lace curtains. He walked slow
" toward it,, his habitually cold gray
eyes Frightening, and as he stood be-
fore it. he thrust his hands deep in his
pockets and positively laughed aloud.
"That's our newest ladies' car eX'
planned the salesman, following him.
"The women are crazy about them;
self-starting, electric lights inside,
shopping flaps everywhere, adjustable
satin seat coverings and all the latest
boudoir Improvements
Sledge scarcely heard him. He was
still laughing. Nothing he had ever
seen had struck him so humorously
as the "cuteness'' of this car.
"It's SWELL" he chuckled. "Got a
red one?"
"No, they're only made in black
the salesman told him. THE color
effects are obtained by the cushion !
coverings and silk curtains
"Put red ones in this. Got another
one?"
There's one just being set up in the
shop" stated the oyerjoyed salesman.
"It's an order
make that one blue
DO you want them this afternoon?'
asked the clerk, figuring that it was
worth while to put off the other Gus
toner.
"Sure!" said Sledge. Right away
.'Ill get busy Immediately" prom
ised the salesman, delirious with hap |
Diness. Where do they go?"
MOLLY Marley gets the red one.
The blue ones for her friend Fern.
Nix on who sent EN-
They'll want to know" the sales
man insisted
Jaw. tell 'em Frank Marley
He dropped out as stolidly as ne
had come in, and headed for the Occi-
dent, but, halfway there, he turned
back and stopped at florists.
What are they wearing to Ham
let?" he wanted to know.
1T de>ends largely on the lady's
costume" the florist explained.
Il get YOU returned Sledge, with
a worried expression. Say, you make
ND eight or ten fussy bouquets, all
different kinds. Send 'e1n out TO
Frank Marleys house in time for the
theater."
Just across the street from the for
lists was the largest jewelry shop in
town. and the display in its windows
gave him an idea. He strobe in. ask