Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-29

foot guardsmen are taught to maneuv'
err among spindle-legged tables and
to perform almost impossible feats
without damage to crockery.
Miss Dolly now Unanswered so as
to draw Bob aside In the hall to have
a word or two before he got to bacon
and eggs. What she said didn't I'M
prove his appetite.
I'm SO disappointed in. you," she
began in low voice.
He asked why, though not because
he really cared to know.
AFTER that hint of mine!" she ex-
planned reproachfully. about Mrs.
vanderpoops bronze diamond.
meant"
81 fear do not understand you, y
said Bob colby.
She bent nearer. "Of course, l
thought it would disappear she muir
INJURED. II expected you to execute
one of those clever coups, and so
went purposely to Mrs. VanderpooPs
room on some pretext this morning
to learn II it was gone. But it wasn't.
l cleverly led the conversation up to
1t and she showed 1t to me-"
Great Scott" he exclaimed. Did
you think she wouldn't have it to
show you? That it had found its way
into my pockets"
"Of course" she answered. and
you are quite sure you haven't it after
all?" she asked suspiciously.
"How could I when you saw"
"Oh. you might have substituted a
counterfeit brooch just like it for
Bob groaned. "You certainly have
absorbed those plays" he remarked.
~ expected whole lot of things
would be gone," she went on, land,
with disappointment
no one has missed anything. It's
Quite tame Did you get discouraged
because you. failed to land the loot
is that the word?-in my case? And
did you then just go prosaicaliy to
bed?'
81 certainly went to bed, though
there was nothing prosaic about the
procedure"
and yet what dull night it must
have been for you!"
"I shouldn't call it that"
"No?" She shifted the conversation.
"Who do you suppose has come?
Dickie Donnelly. Said he had arrived
in town on some business and took
advantage of the opportunity to make
a little call on me. incidentally. ne
seems interested in you. Said he
would make it a point to see you al
ter you got down. He's out on the
veranda smoking now, guess. He
wanted to talk to me but | made an
excuse to shoe him away He isn't
half so exciting as you are, you know.
I'm quite positive now couldn't mar
ry him and annex his old chimneys to
ours, for all the world. Chimneys are
such commonplace means to Hveli-
hood, Mr.. Bennett, don't you think ?
They are so ugly and dependable. Not
at all romantic and precarious! They
Just smoke and you get richer. There
isn't a single thrill in whole forest
of chimneys. But I mustn't really
keen you from your breakfast any
longer" she added with sudden sedu-
lousness I've quite planned what
we're going to do today"
you have?" With a slight accent
on the first word.
Eyes" she assured him quietly. $50
run along now"
The slave, glad to get away, started
to obey, when-"One moment" SAID
Miss Dolly as if seized with an after
thought. "Dickie asked about you so
particularly that it occurred to me
that-Well, do you think he harbors
any suspicions?'
"Suspicions?"
Eyes; do you imagine he, too, by
any chance, may have guessed-you
know" And Dolly again drew closer,
her eyes beaming with new excite
ment.
Bob looked disagreeable. but he had
to reply. I'm sure he doesn't think
what you do" he answered illhumor-
eddy. 49,,
Dolly looked relieved, but still
slightly dubious. She didn't appear
to notice that lack of appreciation IN
Bob's manner for her interest in his
welfare. well, you'd better see him, =
she said in the tone of one who mas
already established herself to the post
of secret adviser Hes bent on an
interview with you. Says it's bust
ness. And speaking about business.
what business could he possibly have
in that dinky little town? Unless he
wanted to buy the whole village! His
conduct Is, to say the least, slightly
mysterious. Dickie may prove rae
tor to be reckoned with"
That's true enough" assented Bob,
and went in to breakfast.
The temperamental little thing gaz-
ed after him approvingly; she quite
g'oried in her big burglar. 1t was so
nice to know something no one else
knew to be little wiser than all the
rest Of the world, including the police
and the detective force! Bob must be
terribly resourceful and subtle, to
have deceived them all so thoroughly.
He only seemed little dense at times,
lust to keep up the deception. 1t was
q part of the role He wouldn't even
let her, who knew his secret. see I'M
der the surface and she liked him all
the better for his reticence. 1t lent
piouancy to the situation and added
zest to the game Dickies manner
had certainly seemed to her unduly
sober He appeared to have some,
thing on his mind, though of course he
was awfully eager and joyous about