Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-05

petless, curtain1ess room seemed like
sepulchres of good times that were
gone.
II believe I'll wait outside after ALL"
she faltered. He ought to be here
soon and the house is unbearable.
There! I believe I hear q machine
now!"
A touring car stopped at the gate
and a man got out. miss Lowell, I
believe he said, lifting his hat as he
came near II this were the corpora
ton lawyer, he was not only warmly
but exceedingly well dressed and good
looking besides. But Kathleen steel
ed her heart.
"Yes!" she answered abruptly.
He came up on the veranda beside
her. II am Horace Davidson, and I
represent the Burlington and Hartwell
road. But I've no doubt you have
already guessed my identity. I'm
sorry if I kept you waiting. We had
a blowout. Deucedly cold, isn't it?
Shall we go inside?"
1T Is colder in there. Besides, our
business is outside, I believe"
The wind was screaming SO he had
to stand quite close to catch her
words. can uncommonly pretty girl.
by Jove." he said to himself. mot
what I was expecting quite. This IL
no meek little milk-and-water country
girl, I have to deal with. Her wits
promise to be as good as her looks.
| What a color! And what hair!"
A shrill whistle sounded in the dis
lance, and both turned quickly. A
J big interurban trolley a appeared
around the curve of the road and sped
on q raised track across the open
space below them. Both were silent
until 1t disappeared.
"The suit m up next week, I
believe" began Kathleen.
unless you change your mind and
have it withdrawn"
why should II"
ITO begin with, I don't think you
have much chance
rs there no justice in the world,
then? What are courts for?"
Justice" he answered. mo Judge
can see why a strip of track should
do any damage to a farm"
Perhaps he can e it II it is ex-
planned to him that the road got its
right of way under false pretense, that
the track cut my fathers farm in two
to begin with. and that the raising of
it made it impossible to pasture a herd
of cows on one side with the barn on
the other. A culvert would have cost
, us two thousand dollars, and the COM
pany wouldn't pay it. Further-when
he saw in despair that his big dairy
farm was ruined-began to have
visions Of a summer hotel and petition
ed the company for a station. But
that was refused, too. He was ruined
financially and in health. He was too
old to stand the blow, and he died."
Horace Davidson was silent awhile.
Then, why don't you sell the placer"
II would If I could. No one will
have it with that ugly raised track In
the wrong place."
He saw that she was shaking with
emotion and cold. miss Lowell" he
said more kindly, latter all it was
foolish of me to ask you to meet me
out here. We can talk better in my
| office in town. What I really want is
to get a survey of the land, and I
sent for Dawson to meet me here. l
| LQlQh u0 ludy Lave COA1C I'll CAo A0oS
car, SO I'll 30 over and meet him.
There is really no need for your stay
ing, and If you will permit me l shall
be delighted to take you to the sta
ton"
Kathleen accepted his offer and they
rode away in silence.
Thank you, Mr.. Davidson" she
said as she got out of his car. "Of
course, 1t is your duty to the people
whose interests you represent to fight
my case in court. But l cannot help
believe that personally you see the
Justice of my claim for damages. /
don't care about myself-but really
my brother is so little and it's for him
that l. Oh, there! I'm not going to
talk about my troubles any more. 1
think Mr.. Grayson had better do my
talking for me. hate law and courts
and" ..
mot lawyers, I hope!" put in Hor-
ace quickly.
"They are a necessary evil an
swered Kathleen evasively. Thank
you and goodbye"
The next evening, Horace Davidson
was having trouble about a button
! which had disappeared from his over
coat.
Evelyn" he begged his married sis
ter, twill you sew a button on my over
coat if you happen to have anything
at all that will match?"
"Such shiftlessness! Where's your
tailor? Take 1t up to the sewing room
the proper place for such operations.
You'll find some there"
So Horace went upstairs and along
A hall to a remote corner of the great