Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-24
Euening Story
MYSTERIOUS NElGHBOR.
BY Louise oliver,
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

Newspaper Synd1cate.)
Mrs. Green. what does Mr.. Davis
do for living?"
"Why l don't know, Miss Wilson.
He's just so nice his niceness seems
to cover everything, and if ever was
curious about it I got over 1t long ago.
Some folks have enough money with
out working"
Yes, I know, but 1t seems so queer
the way he lives, l mean. Out all night,
or at least until and 3 o'clock, and
sleeping any old time at all. My room
Is next to his and can hear him come
in"
After you've been in New York a
while you'll get used to that. Why
the cabarets don't get good start until
midnight. Don't worry about the Sec
ond-foor front, Miss Wilson. I never
had a better paying boarder, and al
ways a month in advance and a kind
word and smile at that. Sometimes
don't see him for week at a time.
He comes and he goes, but he don't
bother any one"
Winifred dropped the argument with
out giving her real reason for inquir.
ing. She too, liked her merry, happy
go-lucky neighbor and she was afraid
of doing him an injustice. Here's my
money for next week, Mrs. Green.
Those were nice melons we had for
breakfast" And, putting on her sailor
hat, she started for the Office.
1t had happened this way: The
night before, while getting some copy
&1 In ~ hor
writer had locked. She tried to fix it,
but things went wrong and before she
knew it the whole affair was out OF
commission.
ooh, pshaw!" she cried, pushing and
Juggling this way and that What shall
I do? Carpenter won't be bothered
with long hand and this has to be at
the office in an hour" .... .. .
Just then she heard a step in the
hall. There's Mr. Davis l wonder If
he can do anything?" 49,
She flew to her door and opened 1t,
"Mr. Davis!" she called. But he had
entered his own room and was just
shutting the door.
Eyes," he answered. instantly open
ing 1t again. What can I do for you.
Miss Wilson.
And while Winifred was trying to
explain her predicament, she was also
trying hard not to betray the fact that
she saw an automatic gun and some
queer looking instruments that he was
in the act Of transferring from his
pocket to a table near the door.
certainly I'll come. I'm a regular
Mr.. Fixit. was just thinking of hang.
out shingle 'Typewriters Repaired
While You Watt"
Winifred laughed-but she saw him
throw newspaper carelessly over the
things on the table and kick black
bag from view with his feet.
He was as good as his word though,
and the typewriter was soon put into
working trim again. When the door
had closed, Winifred looked at the
blank panels with her heart beating
high and her cheeks strangely flushed.
Was this stranger wizard? Had he
bewitched her. His voice! His laugh!
His eyes! She went back to her work,
but her fingers seemed stiff and awk-
ward and the words wouldn't come
right.
Had she known it, Ed Davis, too, was
looking back at the panels as though
trying to conjure up another picture of
her gray blue eyes, sweet, serious
smile and color that came and went
provokingly. Then his own eyes be-
came serious as he thought Of what
she might have seen when she called
him. He went into his own room and
closed the door.
Miss Wilson," called Carpenter next
day, there's a card to the Pride-Pamis.
ton wedding. Suppose you go up there
today and write things up. It's to be
out Of doors at four so go early and
do the grounds first Later get list
of the presents-better still. see them
for yourself and describe them, who
they're from and so on. Give 1t a
column IDS
So Winifred in a dark blue silk suit
and hat. took a train for Hampton
Hill that beautiful afternoon in\ early
fall The trees were turning russell,
red and gold, but the sky was as blue
as June and the air warm and spring.
like
Arrived at Valmonda, the home of
the Prides. -Winifred was given the
permission of her hostess to wander
where she would. Lists Of the guests
were provided her, names Of decora-