Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-04

which removed him from the nerve
raclsing fluctuations of his street ca
fortunes: which insured Molly ant
Bert and himself an entrance into
new life and new opportunities; whlcl
made him safe from Sledge; and yet
he felt no great exultation.
| 1t was relief to him when MOL!
had him called to look at her where
she stood at the head of the stairs II
her bridal gown, fresh and glowing
vision in her pure, shimmering white
| The sight of her gave him thriR O
hopefulness, too: the first of the day
| You're a beauty, Molly" he calico
up to her. 81 declare. l don't see how
l have been lucky enough to keep yor
with me so long as this"
That's nice daddy" she gaily as
: sured him.
Bert came in from the conservatory
for the glimpse of her which he was
to be permitted and naturally he
spoiled the picture by starting to dart
upstairs. an action which had the re-
suit of sending not only Molly and
Fern. but the admiring maids scurry
| ing back to the boudoir, the door OF
which sacred apartment they locked
and bolted and would have barred had
there been any means to do so. Bert
quite properly defeated, came back
down the stairs. and Joined Marley.
"A bridegroom doesn't amount to
much anyhow" he conventionally adj
mitted.
And husband to less" supple,
mented Marley you'll discover by
and by. my boy. that the lords Of ere,
alton are only lords by proxy
You're trying to scare me- pro-
tested Bert
mo, only to encourage you" insist
ed Marley. THE happiest man in the
world is one who finds wife capable
of directing him, and generous enough
to let him think he is doing it all him.
SELF
That's new idea to me" pom
dered Bert, compiacent through con-
descension only, as he stroked his
carefully curled mustache, and re-
fiected upon his own ability.
THE worst of it is you have to grow
old to realize it, Marley gently in
sinuated. Il was a smart man until
my wife died. Won't you have a
drink
mo, thanks refused Bert. walking
disconsolately to the library. Il
promised Molly the minister shouldn't
smell it on my breath
"Afterward, them laughed Marley,
and returning into his den, closed the
door. Just as the bell Of his extension
telephone rang.
Hello Marley hailed the voice OF
Willie Walters. Had your franchises
Cancelled and regranted?"
Don't need it," replied Marley, re-
fleeing instantly that he was out OF
the franchise worry, but curious. new
ertheless. What do you mean?'
The Allerton bill was put through
it's final passage last night" explained
Walters.
"Oh, yes, the Allerton bill smiled
Marley. Il knew all about that
you don't seem to have got in early
on the advantages, remarked Walters,
seeming a story. Its law now,
operative from its passage
at won't hurt anybody chuckied
Marley. There wasn't much or I'M
portance in it."
"Noo" uueried Walters. Just
enough to make political corpse OF
Allerton. They'll embroider that fifty.
year franchise clause on his shroud.
"Franchise clause? / don't unoer-
stand"
IT thought you didn't know the pro-
visions Of the BILL" went On Walters,
delighted to have unearthed new
angle to the story. "The thing is so
beautifully juggled that it automatic.
ally extends all franchises granted
within the. last ten years, to an extra
fifty years Of lifetime. on the same
terms as their original charter
Good" returned Marley. "All my
franchises have been renewed WITHIN
the last ten years" .,
Now know you've been asleep,
reioiced Walters. not that he had any
enmity for Marley, but merely that ne
liked a good story THE Dill, specl-
fically, does not apply to renewals
but to original franchises. why,
yours absolutely expires In three
wears, if that's the case; moreover,
the franchise at the end of that time
belong to Sledge's company
'1mpossible!' gasped Marley.
Get your alarm clock fixed adj
yised Walters. Monday night the
council in secret session, granted
franchises to Sledge's company Gov
ertng every street in the city, includ-
ing-now. listen-including those
streets now covered by franchises
when those franchises expire!
For just a moment, Marley felt the
strength leaving him, spasmodlc I'M
pulse due to an entirely automatic
mental impression that he still owned
the old company.
Its a bald-faced steal!' he hotly
charged indignant at Sledges whole
sale appropriation. ~
ITS a pippin," agreed Walters.
"Fact of the matter is. Marley, that,
unless you completed that consol1da.
tion with Sledge. at the expiration OF
three years he can make you tear up
your rolling stock and other trash.
Did you consolidated
(To be continued.)
Eror,srr Glory