Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-20

edy of the German barber with grow
ing ire, and now he stepped up to the
sergeant truculently.
Seems to me you're not giving
Fritz here a square deal, II you van
! to know what I think" he clustered.
Nov, In my country" The sergeant
turned on him sharply.
"Who are you-and what are you
doing in Gib?" he snapped. A moan
from Mrs. Sherman. who threw her
self in her daughters arms. :,
Kitty, your fathers gone and got
himself arrested again!"
"Who am II" Sherman echoed with
dignity. my name, young fellow, is
Henry J. Sherman, and l live In Re
vance, Illynoy. I'm an American cltl-
zen, and you can't" -,
your passports-quick!' The SER
geant held out his hand imperiously.
"Oh, that's all right, young fellow;
I've got 'em, all right" Kewanee's
leading light began to tumble in the
spacious breast pocket of his long
tailed coat. AS he CROPPED through a
packet Of papers and letters, ne kept
up q running fire OF comment and eX-
position:
Had 'em this afternoon, all right
Here; no, that's my letter Of credit. 1t
would buy Main street at home, but
can't get a ham sandwich on It here.
This is-no; that's my only sons
little girl, Emmaline, taken the day
she was four years old. Fancy little
girl, Ell? Now, that's funny l can't
here's that list of geegaws J. was to
buy for my partner in the Empire
Mills, flour and b~uckwheat. Guess
he'll have to whistle for 'em Now
don't get impatient, young fellow.
Husbands sakes, mother, that let
ter you gave me to mail, in Algy-
kiras-Ah, here you are. all proper
and scientific enough as passports go,
l guess i ..
The sergeant whisked the. heavily
creased document from Sherman's
hand, scanned 1t hastily, aud gave 1t
hack. without a word. The outraged
American tucked up his chin and gave
the sergeant glare for glare. .
IF you ever come to Kewanee,
young fellow he snorted, "1ll be
happy to show you our new jail" .
"Close in! March,. commanded the
sergeant. The guard surrounded the
hepless barber and wheeled through
the door, their guns hedging his white
Jacket about inexorably. Sherman's
hands spread his coat tails wide apart,
and he rocked back and forth on heels
and toes his eyes smoldering.
Come on, father"-Kitty had slip
ped her hand through her dads arm.
and was imparting direct strategy IN
a low voice-"weTl take mother down
the street to look at the shops and
rake her forget our troubles. They've
got some wonderful Moroccan bazaars
in town; Baedeker says So"
"shops. did you say" Mrs. Sherman
perked up at once, forgetting her grief
un0er the superior lure,
Eyes. mother. Come on. let's 60
down and look 'em over" Sherman's
good humor was quite restored. He
pinched Kitty's arm in compliment for
her guile. maybe they'll let us look
at their stuff without charging any
thing; but we couldn't buy a postage
stamp, remember"
They sailed out into the crowded
street and lost themselves amid the
scourings of Africa and south Europe.
Almer was alone in the office.
The proprietor idgeted. He walked
to the door and looked down the
street in the direction Of the quays.
He pulled his watch from his pocket
and compared it with the blue face of
the Dutch clock or the wall. His
pudgy hands clasped and unclasped
themselves behind his back
ly. An Arab hotel porter and rune
at the docks came swinging through
the front door with a small steamer
trunk on his shoulders, and Almer
started forward expectantly. Behind
the porter came a tall well-knit man,
dressed in quiet travelling suit-the
Captain Woodhouse who had sailed
from Alexandria as a passenger on
board the Princess Mary.
He paused for an instant as his
eyes met those of the proprietor. AL.
mer bowed and fastened behind the
desk. Woodhouse setepped up to the
register and scanned 1t casually.
"a room, sir?" Almer held out a
pen invitingly.
(To be continued.)