Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-11

...~... I Y
wedged in the jam of terrified thou
sands battling for place on the chan
mel steamers? Was her fine self rell'
ance UNFOLDING her, Or had the crisis
sapped her courage and thrown her
back on the common heiplessness OF
women before disaster?
Captain Woodhouse, the self-sufticl'
ent and aloof, whose training had
been all toward suppression Of every
instinct save that in the line OF duty,
was surprised at himself. That a little
American ~inconnu-a business per-
son." he would have styled her under
conditions less personal-should nave
come into his life in this definite way
was, I'd say the least. highly Irregular.
lie mar tried to swing his reason
as a club against his heart-and failed
m%iserably. No, the fine brave spirit
that looked out of those big brown
eyes would not be argued out OF court
Jane Gerson was a girl who was Oil
ferent, and that very difference was
altogether alluring. Woodhouse
caught himself going over the incl
dents of their meeting. Fondly he re-
viewed scraps of their conversation
on the train, lingering on the pat
slang she used so unconsciously.
Was it possible Jane Gerson ever
had a thought for Captain Woodhouse?
The man WINGED a little at this specu-
lation. Had it been fair of him when
he so glibly practiced a deception or
her? II she knew what his present
business was. would she understand;
would she approve? Could this little
! American ever know, or believe, 1na'
some sorts of service were honor
able?
Just before the Castle Claire raised
the breakwater Of Alexandria came a
wireless. which vas posted at the
head of the saloon companionway:.
Germany declares war on Russia
German flying column reported NOV
ing through Luxembourg on Belgium
The fire was set to the grain.
Upon landing, Captain Warehouses;
first business was to go to a hotel on
the Grand Square, which is the favor
tie stopping place of officers coming
down from the Nile country. He
fought his way through the predatory
hordes Of yelling donkey boys and OBJ
sequious dragomans at the door, and
entered the palm shaded court, which
served as Office and lounge. Wood
house paused for a second behind
! screen of palm leaves and cast a Qu1cR
/ eye around the court. None OF the
loungers there was known to him. He
strobe to the desk. .~.
"Ah. sir, a room with bath, overlook
ing the gardens on the north side
very cool" The Greek clerk behind
the desk smiled a welcome.
"Perhaps," Woodhouse answered
shortly, and he turned tho register
around to read the names Of the re
cent Corners. On the first page he
found nothing to interest him: bu'
among the arrivals Of the day before
he saw this entry: &C. G. Woodhouse
Capt. Sig. Service; Wady Halfa." AT
ter it was entered the room number;
"210." $50. ~'r
Woodhouse read right over the
name and turned another page a b1'
impatiently. This he scanned witt
seeming eagerness, while the clerl
stood with pen poised.
"Um! When is the first boat out To-
Gibraltar?'' Woodhouse asked :.
well, sir, the Princess Mary is du%
to sail at dawn day after tomorrow
the Greek answered judiciously. "Sht
Is reported at Port Said today. but, o
course, the war" Woodhouse turned
away. 49,
But you wish a room. sir-nic'
room. with bath, overlooking-'
mo"
you expected to find a friend
them"
Not here Woodhouse returned
bruskly, and passed out into the blind
ing square.
He strobe swiftly around the STATUE
Of Mehemet Ali and plunged into tn
bedlam crowd filing a side street
With sure of direction, n
threaded the narrow alleyways ant
by-streets until he had come to tn
higher part of the mongrel city, nea
the Rosetta gate. There he turne'
into a little French hotel, situated ia
from the disordered pulse of the city
heart: a sort of pension, it was
known only to the occasional discrin
mating tourist. Maitre Mouquer
was proud Of the anonymity his nous
preserved, and abhorred poor, drive
Cooks slaves as he would a plague
In his Cap de Liberte n was lost t
all the world Of Alexandria.
Thither the captains baggage ha
been sent direct from the steamer
After a glass with Maitre Mouquer
; and a half hours discussion of tn
days great news, Woodhouse pleade
a touch of the sun. and went to hi
room. There he remained, until tn
gold of sunset had faded from tn
Mosque Of Omar's great dome and a