Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-06
CHAPTER l.
The TemerIty Of Bob.

CHAPTER l.
The TemerIty Of Bob.
ut can't be done"
"Of course 1t can"
IA man couldn't survive the or
deal"
could do it myself
The scene was the University club
The talk spread over good deal Of
4 space, as talk will when pink cock
tails, or green gardens in a glass
confront, or are in front Of the
talkees. Dickie said it couldn't be
done and Bob said it was possible and
that he could do 1t. He might no,
have felt such confidence had 1t not
been for the verdant stimulation. He
could have done anything just then
90 Why not this particular feat OF
stunt? And who was this temerar1ous
ono and what was he like?
Az an excellent specimen of a mas
culine young animal, genus homo, BOD
Bennett was good to look on. Some
OF those young ladies who wave ban
ners when young men strain their
backs and their arms and their legs
In tho cause Of learning, had, In the
DAYS Of the not remote past, dubbed
him sub rosa. the "blue-eyed Apollo.
Some OF the fellows not SO eupnemis-
tically inclined had, however, during
that same glorious period, found ire
uuent occasion to refer to MIN less
classically. II more truthfully, as "tnat
darn fool, Bob Bennett" That was
on account of a streak OF witness III
him. for he was free bold creature,
was Bob. Conventional bars and gates
chafed him. He may have looked IKE
! "blue-eyed Apollo" but his spirit
had the wings Of wild goose, than
which there are no faster birds-for
Wild goose is the biplane OF the en-
pyrean.
Now that Bob had ceased the chase
for learning and was out In the wide
world. he should have acquired an ad-
ditfonal sobriquet-that of "Impecunl-
gu. Bob It would have fitted his
pecuniary condition very nicely once
he had had great expectations. ouI
alas!-dad had just come cropper.
They had sheared him on the street.
The world in general didn't kno"
about It yet, but Bob did
laWe're broke, Bob" said dad that
very morning
.That's all right, Gov" said Bob.
"Can you get up?"
q can't even procure a pair OF
crutches to hobble with, answered
dad.
.sNeyer mind observed Bob mag
unanimously. you've done pretty well
by me up to date. Don't you worry
sor reproach yourself. I'm not gong
ito heap abuse on those gray halrs.
Thanks Bob" Coolly. y m not
worrying. You see, it's up to you
now"
..Me! Bob stared.
eyes. You see believe in the Japa-
snese method"
whats that?' Uneasily.
Is equity of a child to support his par.
sent when said child is grown up"
u, Bob whistled. Say, Gov. do you
mean it,"
..1'Pon honor." Gheerfully.
~ never did like the Japanese,
from bob. soto voce. Blame lot OF
heathens-that' what they are!''
owe got q dollar or two that owe
tucked away where no one can tind
III except me- went on dad. unm1ndrui
81 Bob's little coliloquy. That Will
have to last until you come to the res
cue"
Gee, I'm glad you were thought
mi enough for that calculated the
Young man. "Sure you can keep II
hidden
burglars couldn't And it," said dad
.let alone my creditors
God bless them! But 1t won't last
long. Rob. Bear that in mind. It'll be
81 mighty short respite
"Oh. I'll not forget it. Tiff It's not
m impertinence, may ask what you
are going to do, dad?'
aI'm contemplating fishing trip.
first Of all, and after that-quien sabe?
Some pleasure suitable to my retired
condition will undoubtedly suggest IT.
self. / may take up the study of phil
iosophy. Confucius has always inter
ested me. They say it takes forty
years to read him and then forty years
to digest what you have read. The
occupation would, no doubt, prove ade.
inuate, But don't concern yourself
about that. dear boy. III get on. You
owe me large debt of gratitude. I'm
sthrusting q great responsibility on
Won. It should be the making OF
YOU Bob had his secret doubts. Get
out and hustle, dear boy. It's up TO
you, now!'' And he spread out ms
hands. in care-free fashion and smiled
blandly. No Buddha could have ap,
peared more Complementary instead
gof d lotus flower, Bobs dad held In MS
hand long black weed, the puf1ng
81 which seemed to afford large mea.
sure OF ecstatic satisfaction. 60!
He waved the free hand. MY bless
ing on your efforts"
Bob started to go, and then he ling
erred. Perhaps" he said. you can
tell me what / am going to do?'
Don't know" Cheerfully.
s ..What can I do?" Hopelessly
Couldn't say
II don't know anything
"Ha! hal Dad laughed, as If son
had sprung a joke. Well that is
condition experience will remove. Ex-
lperience and hard knocks" he added.
Bob swore softly His head was
humming. No heroic purpose to get
r,t and a pht his way moved him. he