Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-17

Bruce to spring tomorrow. In case
We fail and the affinity letters are
published, she might say that Harrow.
by's epistles got into the Mail once
too often It's only a rough idea-ah
II see you don't like 1t. Well. here's
success to our expedition"
They opened the door Of the Mail
office. ONeill sat behind deck, the
encyclopedia before him, seeking live.
ly material for the morrows issue.
Mr.. Howe hammered at typewriter.
Both of the newspaper men looked up
at the intrusion.
"Ah, gentlemen" said O'Neill, COM
ing forward. What can do for
your"
who are your" Minot asked
what? Can it be? Is my name
not a household word in San Marco?
l am managing editor of the Mall
His eyes lighted on Mr.. Paddock's
giddy attire wv can't possibly let
you give ball here tonight, If that's
what you want"
Very humorous" said Minot But
our wants are far different. / won't
beat around the bush. You have some
letters here written by friend Of
mine to lady he adored-at the mo-
ment. You are going to print them in
tomorrow's Mail unless my friend is
easy enough to pay. you ten thousand
dollars. He isn't going to pay you
anything. We've come for those let
ters-and we'll get them or run you
and your boss out of town in twenty
four hours-you raw little blackmail-
ers!"
"Blackmailers!" Mr.. O'Neill's eyes
seemed to catch fire from his hair.
His face paled 1--WE been in the
newspaper business seventeen years
and nobody ever calld m a blackmail-
er and got away with it. I'm in a gen
erous mood. I'll give you one chance
to take that back
Nonsense. 1t happens to be true
- put in Paddock.
I'm talking to your friend here
O'Neill's breath came fast "I'll at
tend to you, you lily of the field, in a
minute. You-you liar-are you go.
ing to take that back?"
NO. cried Minot.
He saw wild Irishman coming for
him, breathing fire. But the man at
the typewriter leaped up and seized
O'Neill from behind.
STEADY, Bob" he shouted. How
do you know this fellow isn't right?"
Unaccountably the warlike one COL
lapsed into chair.
Damn it. know he's right" he
groaned. That's what makes me
rave. Why didn't you let me punch
him? It would have been some sat
isfaction. OF course he's right
had bunch this was Matchmaking
sheet from the moment my hot fingers
closed on Gonzales money. But so
long as nobody told us, we were all
right"
He glared angrily at Minot.
"You-you killjoy," he cried 'You
skeleton at the feast. You've put US
in lovely fix"
well I'm sorry" said Minot, "but
I don't understand these heroics.'
Its all up now, Harry" moaned
O'Neill. "The free trial Is over and
we've got to send the mattress back
to the factory. Here In this hollow
lotus land, ever to- live and lie re-
clined-I was putting welcome on the
mat for fate like that. Back to the
road for us. That human fish over
in the Chronicle Office was prophet
You look unlucky-maybe they'll
give you jobs on the Mail Remem-
ber."
"Cool off, Bob" Howe said. He
%o DoI HNP
course you don't understand. You
see. we're strangers here. Drifted in
last night broke and hungry, looking
for jobs. We got them-under rather
unusual circumstances. Things look
ed suspicious--the proprietor parted
with money without screaming for
help, and no regular newspaper IS run
like that. But-when you're down
and out, you know"
T understand said Minot smiling.
"And I'm sorry called you what I
did. apologize. And hate to be a
era killjoy. But as matter of
fact, your employer is blackmailer,
and it's best you should know it"
yes put in Paddock. DO you
gentlemen happen to have heard
where the editor of Mr.. Gonzales late
newspaper, published in Havana, is
now?"
1--WE do not" said O'Neill, but may
be you'll tell u.s.
81 will. He's in prison, doing ten
years for blackmail. understand that
Mr.. Gonzale prefers to involve his edi-
tors, rather than himself"
O'Neill came over and held out hi: