Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-11

l was able to get this work to do. But
they pay so poorly; until become ex-
pert it means hardly enough to pay the
rent and for my simple meals. The
worst Of it is that do not possess the
missing volumes. They were given to
me this way and bad to sell them
What was Old Bolts to do? Besides,
unused he, although he was far from
we'll off he always managed to take IN
enough to pay his rent and to buy
enough to eat. More than that he hard
ly needed Still the sight of those fif-
teen volumes was an eyesore.
1t was one warm day in early sum-
mer that the second chapter OF this
little episode occurred. It was pleasant
sitting out Of doors and the second
Inland man was musing, over the Tunes
of his pipe, as he sat in the old rocker
at the door of his shop. Then brisk,
we'll dressed man approached with
suit case.
| Il say, colonel" he began crisply,
1--WE got some books for sale. I'll let
you have them for song. It's more
to have them out of the way than any
thing else that am bringing them to
you. There are fifteen volumes, I'll let
you have them for ten cents apiece.
know that's cheap, bu ito tell you the
truth, they won't be of much use to
you. They are missing volumes. Here
are the first and third volumes OF the
| 'Vicomte de Bragelonne,' he continu-
ed. Il am afraid they won't be OF any
use at ALL" ''~.
! The young man opened the suit case
and took out the handsomely bound
! books. Old Bolts started and Interrupt.
ted the stranger.
And there's the second volume OF
Monte Christo,'" he said, without look
ing at the books. "And the odd num-
bered volumes Of Grote's History OF
| Greece and -"
How did you know" asked the
younger man, amazement written all
over his face.
! The old man led the way inside his
little shop and pointed to the collec.
ton of books he had placed there two
months ago.
| So the matchmaking was begun.
How the second hand man knew that
there was little romance at Issue Is
hard to tell For his life spent among
old furniture and dilapidated kitchen
wares and dusty old books would hard
ly have given him any intuition In al
fairs Of that sort.
He told the young man of the pretty
little girl who had brought the heavy
bundle to him and of his later visit to
her humble quarters.
"She said she would come around to
pay me for the books which I told her
would be of no use to me and J know
she will keep her word. But now she
l I'll h,1yy
twenty-five cents apiece. They are all
in good condition"
mot if l know it - you won't buy
Them" said the young man. III pay
you seventy-flve cents for each OF your
volumes If you say 80. Where did you
say the girl was staying?'
In a minute more the young man was
off and it was not till two or three
hours later that he returned.
II thought l would explain how it
happened" he said on his return. "You
see Miss Mead and I were engaged and
it was all my fault that we were separ-
ated. I went my way and she went
hers. I have been lucky and she had
no end of misfortune. We had given
the books to each other for presents.
1t was little whim Of ours to give
alternate volumes so that when we had
little home of our own they would be
complete. And she had to sell her
books to pay for that sewing machine
and I decided to sell mine Just because
I couldn't bear the sight OF them any
more. They reminded me OF the fool
| had been and made me more angry
with nv luck because I could not find
her. But you have been the match
maker and you are going to be the
guest of honor at the wedding supper.
What a strange world this Is when
gruff old chap like you plays Cupids
first mate"