Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-27
x.
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.t 4 III uAAO0Ay NOAAAo y, .M.
CHAPTE-. x.
A Visit to q Lady.
Turning to consider the ~never-stale
fortunes of one Of fates bean bags
Mr.. Billy Capper, elected from the
Hotel Splendide. took little umbrage
at such treatment; 1t was not an un-
common experience, and. besides. a
quiet triumph that would not be damp
ened by tribes filled his soul. Cheer
fully he pushed through the motley
crowd on waterproof street down to
the lower levels Of the city by the
Line Wall. where the roosts of sailors
and warrens of quondam adventures
off all the seven seas made far more
congenial atmosphere than that of the
.Splendide's hollow p%retense. He chose
"a hosiery more commensurate with
his slender purse than Almcr's,
though as q matter of fact the ques-
ton Of paying a hotel bill was FUR
thest from Billy Cappers thoughts;
such formal transactions he avoided
whenever feasible. The proprietor OF
the San Roc, where Capper took a
room. had such al evil eye that his
new guest made a mental note that
perhaps he might have to leave his
bag behind when he decamped. Cap
e abhorred violence-to his own
person.
Alone over a glass OF thin wine
the champagne days, alas! had been
too feeting-Capper took stock Of his
situation and conned the develop
ments he hoped to be the instrument
for starting. To begin with, finances
were wretchedly bad. and that was a
circumstance so near the ordinary
for Capper that he shuddered as he
pulled a gold guinea and a few silver
bits from his pocket. and mechanical
ly. counted them owe OF the three
hundred marks Louisa-pretty snake!
had given him in the Cafe Richie
and the expense money he had re-
ceived from her the following day to
cover his expedition to Alexandria for
the Wilhelmstrasse naught but this
paltry residue! That second cabin
ticket on the Princess Mary had TAX
en- the last big bite from his hoard,
and. here he was in this black-and-tan
town with quid and a little more be-
tween himself and the old starved.dog
life.
I. But-and Capper narrowed his
eyes and sagely wagged his head
there'd be something fat coming.
When he got knee to knee with the
governor general Of the Rock and told
him what he, Billy Capper, knew
about the identity of Captain Wood
house, newly transferred to the sig
nal service at Gibraltar, why, II there
wasn't a cool fifty pounds or a matter
of that as honorarium from a gener'
Gus government Billy Capper had
missed hissquess; that's all.
81 say, Governor, of course this is
very handsome of you, but l didn't
come to tell what I know for gold.
I'm a loyal Englishman, and I've done
what I have for the good of the old
flag"
"Quite right, Mr.. Capper; quite
right. But you will please accept
this little gift as an inadequate recog'
milton of your loyalty. Your name
shall be mentioned in my dispatches
home"
3 Capper rehearsed this Hypothetical
dialogue with relish. He could even
catch the involuntary gasp of aston
ishment from the governor when that
responsible officer in his majesty's
service heard the words Capper would
whisper to him; could see the com
mander Of the Rock open a drawer
in his desk and take therefrom a thick
white sheaf of banknotes-count
them. Then-ah, thcn-the first train
for Paris and the delights of Paris
at war time prices.
The little spy anticipated no diff
Guilty in gaining audience with the
governor. Before he had been fifteen
| minutes off the Princess Mary he had
heard the name Of the present incum'
/ bent of Government House. Gran
dsll-Sir George Crandall; the same
! who had been in command OF the tcrts
at Rangoon back in '99. Oh, yes
lCapper knew him, and he made nc
ID. -..laa. NNE.n. M.a-M t.-Erta #EH ..-