Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-04
cHAPTER XII. (Continued. )

AROUND WH0Tc LIE uOS udIhcu, iouue
footprints. They led to the trellis
right up into your room. The trellis
too showed some person, or persons
had climbed up. for some of the
boughs were broken. Deny now. Il
you can, you had visitors last night,
she challenged him.
Bob didn't deny; he lay there help
less.
"Of course" she said with another
giggle; 81 might let you say you'll
think it over. might not press you
too hard at once for an answer.
don't want you to reply; This is SO
sudden or anything like that She
got up suddenly with a little delirious
laugh. "But simply can't wait. You
look So handsome when you're cross
Besides, it will be SO exciting to be
engaged to e-a-"
Society burglar" grimly.
"That's it. I've never been engaged
to a burglar before"
"But you have been engaged
"Oh yet. Lots of times. But not
like this. This feels as If It might
lead
ITO the altar" satirically.
Eyes"
But suppose I got caught?-that is.
n really enjoyed the distinction OF
being a burglar which am not?'
Then, of course. never knew
YOU deceived me-poor innocent AS
well as the rest of the world. And
there would be columns and columns
IN the papers. And some people
vould pity me. but most people would
4 envy me. And I'd visit YOU IN jail
with a handkerchief to be my eyes
and be snap-shotted that way. And I'd
at IN 4 dark corner in the court, look.
ing pale and interesting. And the lady
renorters would interview me and
publish my picture with yours-'Hand'
some Bob. the swell society yeggman.
Member of one of the Oldest families,
etc And-and-"
"Great Scott" cried Bob. She had
that publicity bee worse than .Gee-gee.
IN another moment she'd be setting
the day. Shall we-an!-retrace our
steps?"
It was getting late. The hours had
gone by somehow and as she offered
no objections, they "retraced. For
some time now she was silent Per
haps she was imagining herself too
happy for words. Once or twice she
cast a sidelong glance shyly at Bob.
It was the look OF a capricious slave
owner .metamorphosed through the
power OF love, into yielding and de-
pendent young maiden. Bob was sup
posed to be the brutal conqueror.
Meanwhile that young man strobe
along unheedingly. He didn't mind
any little branches or bushes that hap
ened to stand in his way and plowed
right through them. 1t would have
been the same II he had met that his
toric bramble bush. A thousand
scratches more or less, wouldn't count.
you can put your arm around me
now" she observed5 with another mu-
steal but dctestable giggle, as they
passed through grove, not very far
from the house st Is quite customary
here. you know
He didn't know, but he obeyed.
What else could he do? Il
Now say something. Her voice
had once more that ownership accent.
what do you want me to say"'
None too graciously.
"The usual thing! Those three
words that make the world 60 around
"But I don't" Even a worm will
turn.
"You will" Softly.
~ won't"
y"Oh. YES you will" More softly
Then with sigh: This is the place,
Under this oak, carved all over with
hearts and things. Do It,"
What" He looked down on lips
red as cherries.
Are you going to-"
"And IL I don't?' he challenged her.
Finger prints!' she said. Foot.
marks.
did-the way a bird pecks at q cherry
/ She Strengthened with another
giggle. Our frst!" she said.
Hope you're satisfied" he. remark
ed grudgingly.
1T will do for beginning. Oh
dear! some one saw us!' He looked
around with start, his unresponsive
arm slipping from about plant waist
II don't see any one
"He's lodged behind tree. think
It was Dickie. And-yes, there are one
or two other men. They-they seem
to be lodging, too" Bob saw them
now. One, he was sure, was the com
modore.
Funny performance, isn't it," he
said, with sickly, grin.
"Perhaps-?" She looked at him
with genuine awe in the Temperament
tai eyes. He read her thought; she
thought believed they had come fo1
him" She appeared positively start
led, and yes, sedulous! Maybe, she
was discovering in herself little Bit
Of that really. truly feeling.
"oh!" she said "They mustn't,
"Don't you worry he treasured
her. II think can safely promise
you they won't do what you expect
them to- II
you mean" joyouslyS you have
way to circumvent then1?" She was
sure now he had; the aristocratic
burglars always have. He would prob
ably have long and varied career be
fore him yet.
~ mean just what ! say. But
think they want to talk with me? In