Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-09
The Best of Chester
A TALE OF RED ROSES
BY George Randolph Chester
Auther Of Col. Rich Quick WsI1ngford. tic.
Copyrighted Tho Boebs Merrill Compeav
CHAPTER XXXvH. CONTINUED. }

CHAPTER XXXV1I. (Continued)
The thin butler, who was now cross
eyed. came through the hall to the
front door which he opened, and a
second later he was sitting in the UNI
brella rack.
"Say. youse!' beloved the voice OF
Sledge, as his huge bulk, followed by
/ Tommy Reeler, slammed back
through the hall, filling the perspec'
tive like ferry crowding into her
dock. us it all over?"
Fern was the first one to recover
from the shock
mo" she said meekly. but her eyes
danced of the devil as they met those
OF Tommy Reeler.
"Then it's off," yelled sledge, and
grabbed the startled Molly by the
wrist.
. Bert endeavored to throw himself
in between the two. and to face
Sledge, but that experienced old ward
leader. who had not forgotten the
training of his early days, gave him
a quick elbow in the pit of the stom-
ach. and Bert doubled up in the middle
I like a jack-knife, and dropped heels
ZIP on a couch, clawing for breath,
while Sledge, as resistless as an auSa
ray, dragged the struggling Mola'
.adily toward the front door.
Opposite the library he met with an
sxpected defender The tall young
,cher threw himself under the big
bodily avoided the pile-driver ell
80 grabbed Sledge around the neck
wts Ills steel-like left wrist, and with
his right fist poked him in the jaw.
Sledge shook his head and spluttered,
as he would in shower bath. but new
er let 70 Of Molly's wrist, and plodded
on toward the front door, trying TO
force off the clutch of the tall young
minister with his mighty left arm.
The minister. whose heart was par
ticularly in his work, because this was
the first opportunity he had ever en-
loved to wallop man in a righteous
cause. industrtously slammed Sledge
on his other jaw, and the smack was
like a kiss at country dance.
Tommy Reeler who had been clear
ing the legs of the limp butler out of
the path of progress, now sprang on
the minister's back, and pinioned his
busy arms from behind, while S!edge
steadily dragged them all toward the
front door, with Molly now screaming,
and Nina. her arms about her mis-
tress waist, jerking her from behind
"Mina!" cried Molly. Let go!
You're pulling my arm in tWo!'
The weight Of Tommy Reeler told at
last. The minister's hold on Sledge's
neck loosened, and he and Tommy
tumbled back with a thud into the
middle OF the parlor. rolling under the
very chandelier which was to have
been the pivot Of the wedding. Tom
my, who had risen to be a boss con-
tractor largely through muscular will,
enjoyed lively tussle with the young
minister, but luck favored him, and
he landed on top.
''Now, you behaved" he painted. with
his hand at the minister's throat. and
his fist held in convenient range for
microscopical scrutiny. 81 don't want
you to start anything with me. be-
cause daren't punch preacher
With as steady a progress as if he
had been marching behind hearse,
Sledge dragged Molly out of the hall,
and across the porch, and to the door
Of his waiting limousine. into which
he pulled her with the same careful
force as man landing a particularly
game bass.
Home, Billy he chuekled to the
driver.