Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-19
CHAPTER XIV. (Continued.)

They did not hear the timid knock
EAt the dungeon door. But after they
had gone out, Mr.. Starr locked the
door behind them and started back
Through the hall to see If the Kitchen
doors were locked. He distinctly
heard a soft tapping and he smiled.
INFECT" he thought. Then he heard
heomething elsa family whispered
rFAther!"
With a sharp exclamation he unlock
ga ana opened the dungeon door and
Connie fell into his arms, sobblng pit
seously. And he did the only wise
Thing to do under such circumstances.
HE sat down on the hall floor and cud'
Edled the child against his breast. ne
talked to her soothingly until the sobs
uieted and her voice was under con-
troll
I'M Now. tell father" he urged, how
Md YOU get in the dungeon? The
EfWins-" ..l.
"Oh, no, father of course not the
Twins wouldn't do such thing as tnat.
Isl went into the dungeon to pray that
Prudence would get well. AND !
prayed myself to sleep. When woke
ND the door was locked
But you precious child he Wnls-
'lpered, why didn't you call out or
pound on the door,
s..I was afraid 1t would excite Prue
and make her worse she answered
simply. And her fathers kiss was un-
@wontedly tender as he carried her up
stairs to bed. Wv
Nh Prudence slept late the next morn
MnR and when she opened her eyes
her father was sitting beside her.
All right this morning, father she
lknaid. smiling. Are the girls In
HSchool?" l.
sS Moths is Saturday.
l "Oh, of course. Well, bring them
!Eup, want to see them ~
N Just then the distant whistle Of a
sounded through the open
window, but she did not notice her
Fathers sudden start. She nodded up
Hat him again, and repeated, II want
see my girls
M Her father sent them up at once,
ind they stood at the foot Of the bed
with sorry faces, and smiled at her.
Say something" whispered Carol
Kicking Lark SUCCESSFULLY on the foot.
nut Lark was dumb. 1t was Carol who
broke the silence.
! oh, Prudence, do you suppose the
Ndoctors will let me come in and watch
Mhem bandage your head? | want to
begin practicing up, so as to be ready
f7or the next war"
\ Then they laughed and the girls re-
E8lized that Prudence was really alive
and quite as always. They told her
nc Comics sad experience and Pru'
y oence comforted her sweetly.
TT Just proves all over again" she
Neclared, smiling, but with a sigh
hose following that you can't get
Slonx without me to look after you.
4 you'd ever 60 to bed without max
III sure that Connie was safe and
& 6ound?" ..- a.
Downstairs. meanwhile, Mr.. Starr
N0as plotting with Fairy, willing as
instant.
@S Hell surely be in on this train,
EndSyou must keep him down here un-
{n get through with Prudence. l
want to tell her few things before
A0he sees him. Bring him in quietly
HAnd don't let him speak loudly. l do
mot want her to know he Is on hand
Tor Z few minutes. Explain it to the
|SElris, will you?" ..
= After sending the younger girls
1own stairs again, he closed the door
q gPrudence's room and sat down be-
lde her.
Prudence, can't tell you how Bit
Aerly disappointed am in you"
/ Father"
Eyes, I thought you loved us-the
eSiris and me. It never occurred to
me that you considered us bunch Of
T1elhsh, heartless, ungrateful animals!"
sFather!" ..s ..-,
III rs that your idea Of love? Is that
.Oh, father!" s.. y
IT really did hurt me, Prudence.
my dear little girl, how could you
E3end Jerry away, breaking your heart
and his, and ours, too-just because
Eyou thought us such selfish lot that
I've would begrudge you any happiness
%of your own? Don't you think our love