Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-08

of the cousins. One day the elder
sister observed frankly:
1--WE consider Mr.. Kirkwood a very
fine boy"
Don't you think I'm rather nice
girl, Cousin Phoebe laughed Betty
with telltale flush.
Perhaps it will be wise for me-. to-
write to your parents"
| Then Miss Phoebe sighed gently
and readjusted her glasses.
| II suppose I ought to warn you
against love at first sight," she con-
tinued
"But as you never loved at first
sight or second sight or any other
sight, how can you, Cousin Phoebe?"
At this the gentle old woman
smiled feebly.
! Ford Kirkwcod is fine young
man, but he has no money she went
on dutifully.
Nor have l. Papa might manage
| to give me check for hundred dol
lars for wedding gift but it would
strain his bank account to do it,"
Then, throwing her arms about Miss
Phoebe and giving her a reasauring
kiss, she added more seriously:
II shall not fall in love. dear cousin.
shall not elope. l shall never marry
- at least not until -
Until when, Betty?'
Until find treasure declared
the girl as If she meant it.
Betty did not reveal the fact to any
body that she regarded the prospect
| of securing the treasure as well de-
fined possibility In her soul she be-
lieved there was a treasure in that
garrett, but how was she to take the
first step toward finding it, with that
region closed to her? She felt like
demanding the privilege of explora-
ton, but still she bided her time.
! Her opportunity came suddenly.
There came a day when the sisters
were called away on a matter Of bust
ness which demanded their personal
attention.
~ am so afraid you will be lonely
said the elder sister alphabetically.
1--WE shall be away at least three
hours
ooh, no; l can take a long walk
and then read while after coming
back" said Betty, trying hard to keep
her voice steady.
Scarcely was the vehicle bearing
the sisters out of sight when Betty
flew to the garrett Once within the
forbidden treasure house she stood
for a long five minutes feasting her
eyes. Then she selected the Oldest
and most battered trunk Of the ed
tire lot for inspection
oftore ou6 dnc,1nnnfc7 WhV thA
trunk was full to repletion with them.
There Swere deeds, mortgages, re-
ceipts, bills of sale, private letters,
grants and what not, and the girl had
only a glimmering of what had once
been their legal value. Three hours
had gone by and the return OF tho
sisters might be expected at any mo-
ment when she selected parchmens
almost at random, replaced the others
in the trunk and left the fascinating
spot.
It was not until she was safe in
her room at night that the girl had
an opportunity to examine the parch'
ment She found very little to re
ward her. The writing was that OF
an illiterate man, badly scrawled,
some parts of it faded hopelessly.
After puzzling over it until her eyes
smarted she put the illegible thing In
her handbag with the sleepy con-
clusion:
Nobody but an old pirate could
have written a hand like that, and Of
course If he was a pirate he must
have written about treasure.
shall ask Mr.. Kirkwood to help to
unravel it,
When he saw it Ford Kirkwood
agreed with Betty that 1t was tho
work of an old pirate, but he adj
mitted frankly that he was not an
adept at deciphering hieroglyphics.
TT will have to be DONE" said
Betty determinedly, before - before
"why not postpone it until"
"Until?"
until after we are married" he
finished heriocally.
"But have promised Cousin
Phoebe I shall never marry until I
have found treasure" she said with
! a great attempt to be serious.
"Well, haven't you found me?" ha
suggested brazenly. "And have
found you - the most precious treas
ure of ALL" he added gallantly.
WILSON PLAYS GOLF.
Cornish. N. H.. July 6.-Weather
conditions being favorable this morn
ing. President Wilson went out for
a round of golf. Later after devoting
: IL h,,c{ ~ NJ