Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-18

| T am not baby" protested Phyllis
holly.
| Perhaps not in years, but you are
| in things pertaining to this wicked ole
world" sagely remarked her brother
Frederick, two years l. senior.
But if I cannot be trusted with jew
els, why did dad give them to me?
guess after girls out she Is supposed
to be old enough to take care Of her
self and her belongings. l am tired Of
being treated like baby. Why at
school We"
AT school you hadn't jewels Besides
dad didn't expect you to be trotting
them all over creation to all your house
parties and things, where you have to
make trips alone on the train"
"All right, Methusaleh, or is 1t Sol
ONION? I'll ask mother Unless you have
already assured her that 1t isn't safe Tor
your kid sister to go out without q
nurse" e-
Appealed to, Mrs. Price thought
Frederick was right. And, consulted IN
turn, Mr.. Price decided so, too 1t ended
in family council Of war, with Syl-
vester Smith present.
Sylvester Smith was college friend
Of Frederick, senior In the latters
freshman year and much older. But
they had had a life saving seance one
time-either Frederick had saved Syl-
vester or the other way round-but II
had cemented the friendship SO II
doesn't matter
Since then Sylvester Smith had beer
frequent visitor at the Prices-and
Phyllis was afraid Of him, although he
was big and handsome and very nice
indeed. He had sent candy to Phyllis al
school until the string OF little brass
spoons that came in each box reached
from the chandelier to the floor and
Phyllis was confronted by dyspepsia
But she knew that he thought of her
only as Fred's little sister, and it rank
led. The worst Of 1t was that gradua
ton and long dresses and just lately
her coming out party had not made a
bit of difference to him. He seemed to
think her as much of a child as ever
and it was humiliating, to say the
least to have him happen in just now.
Phyllis sat belligerently silent while
the others related narrowing incidents
of train robberies and hapless maidens
who lost things.
But men can be robbed as easily as
girls" she cut in finally, "and they are
too. They are dreadfully careless about
things and lose tons of stuff that they
do not tell about, so that nobody knows
the difference Girls are honest and tell
everything"
Sylvester came to the rescue-that
is. Phyllis thought he was going to
when he began. He looked so big and
capable, standing with his back to the
blazing logs. his hands behind him.
II do not believe you need to be
alarmed about Phyllis taking her jew
elry But, after all, Mr.. Price, as you
would be the real loser if anything
should happen to your ten or fifteen
thousand dollars worth Of things, reg
istered mail and express are both safe,
of course. But I have a better plan. !
am going to Providence myself on Fri
day on some insurance business and
shall be delighted to play messenger. !
will take Phyllis pearls if you like"
1.-THE very thing" nodded Msr. Price
|approvingly.
Gully" commended Frederick.
THAT is fine idea" assented Mr..
Price.
Phyllis flung out Of the room. She
had been betrayed.
Phyllis preferred daylight ride. sc
she took the Friday morning train. The
Pullman was fairly well filed, but
there was no one whom she knew
Frederick said "Goodby" as the train
pulled out Ct the station Al the same
moment, a man catapulted on to the
platform at the opposite end of the car
Still painting from his exertion, he
glanced at the section numbers anc
dropped into the seat directly ir
front of PHYLLIS. without noticing her