Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-22

land good old dad. Bob could smile
at il now-if he could smile at any
thing. He certainly had been num-
skull. Dad, pulling in f1sn some
where, was probably still chuckllns
|! to himself, and wondering how BOD
would work out the problem.
J Dad was always just like that When
IT was boy" he confided to Miss Ger
aid now standing more than ever IKE
a marble lady in the moonlight he
would propose the contrariest things!
ALWAYS trying and testing me. Guess
that's why he acted so happy when ne
went broke. Thought it would make
man of me- BY jove, that's II! why
he was as care-free as BOY Win d
new top!".
WAS he. indeed?" said Miss Gerald
| studying Mr.. Robert Bennett with eyes
hat looked very deep now beneath
the imperious brows. How nice!
Oh that tone was distant. 1t might
have been waited from one who stood
on an iceberg.
isn't it?' Bob heaved sigh. I'm
not afraid of you any more he said.
f; now that I've got that off my chest.
Again Miss Gerald shivered slightly,
but whether at the slang or not, was
not apparent. ;,
you cant brighten me any more, :
said Bob
"But why said Miss Gerald, did
you tell me at all, of dads-as you
call him-charming suggestion"
Had to. Didn't you ask me?' IN
faint surprise. Then he remembered
she didn't know he had to tell the
truth. That made him look rather
foolish-or 'imbecile." in the light OF
all those other proceedings. MISS
Gerald's brow contracted once more:
Again she might be asking hersei1
if Master Robert was acting? was
this but gigantic bombastic. Quixotic
posing" after all? 1t was too extra
ordinary to speak of such things as ne
had spoken Of, to her! Did ne only
want to appear different? Did ne seek
to combine Apollo with Bernard shaw
in his attitude toward society? Or
had he been reading Chesterton ana
was he but striving to present IN MS
own personality futurist's effect OF
upside-downness? Miss Gerald felt
now the way she had at the modern.
lists exhibition, when she had gazed
and gazed at what was apparently a
load of wood falling downstairs, and
some one had told her to find the lady.
It was about as difficult tonight to
find the real Mr. Bennett-the happy
go-lucky Bob Bennett of last month
or last week-as it had been to find
that lady where appeared only chaotic
kindling wood.
Miss Gerald let the cool air fan her
brow for a few moments. This young
man was. at least, exhilarating. she
felt a little dizzy. Meanwhile BOD
looked at her with that sad silly smile.
"You can't ask me any questions
that will disconcert me now he
boasted.
Miss Gerald looked at him squareiy'
"Will you marry me?' she SAID:
| It was a coup. Her father had Deen
capable of just such coups as that. he
would hit the enemy In the most unex'
pected manner in the most unexpect'
ed quarter, and thus overwhelm his
foes Miss Gerald might not mean 1t;
she most likely, only said it. Under
! the circumstances, to get at the truth
! herself, she was justified in saying al
most anything. If he were but pos
ing. she would prick the bubble OF nls
pretense. II those grandiloquent, and
! to her. totally unnecessary protesta
lions didn't mean anything, she wish
ed TO know 1t. He would never, never
marry her-wouldn't he? Or, possibly
her question was but part OF plan
or general campaign, on her part, 70
test his sanity? Six persons-real
competents, too!-had affirmed ina.
he wasn't Gust right" Be that as II
may, Miss Gerald dropped this bomn
| in Master Bob's camp and waited the
effect with mien serene.
J Her query worked the expected hav
loc all right. Bob's jaw fell Then
his eyes began to flash with new
fierce love-light. He couldn't help 1t
Marry her? Great Scott!-She, ask
ing him, if he would? He felt MS
pulses beating faster and the plooo
pumping in his veins His arms Went
out-very eager, strong, prlmlt1ve
arms they looked-that cave-man
kind! Arms that seize reslst!ess
maidens and enfold them. willy-n1liy!
Miss Gerald really should have felt
much alarmed, especially as there was
so much doubt as to Bob's sanity. It's
bad enough to be alone with an or
binary crazy man, but a crazy man
who is in love with one? That Is cal:
culated to be rather unusual ana
thrilling experience.
However, though Miss Gerald may
have entertained few secret fears
and possible regrets for her own
somewhat mad precipitancy, she man.
aged to maintain fair semblance OF
composure. She had the courage 10
"stand by" the coup She was a tall
! lily that seems to hold itself unafraid
before the breaking Of the tempest
She did not even draw back, though
she threw her head back slightly. And
in her eyes was challenge. Not
love challenge, though Bob could not
discern that, His own gaze was too
i blurred.
| ITO be continued)