Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-11
Eoening Story
PAWNS!
BY Hope AinsIie.

BY Hope AinsIe.
Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure News.
| - paper Syndicate. }
| James Podderington pulled i'm.
patiently at his fine meerschaum, and
| tapped his foot against the knob Of the
brass andirons. The floor clock had
| chimed eight several minutes before
and Anthony Saxton had not put in an
appearance. This was unusual, for An
thony Saxton was always on time for
their evening game, knowing the testy
temper of his opponent for one thing
and begrudging every minute lost from
their daily battle of paWns for another.
After bit, Mr., Podderington's keen
ear detected the sound of rubber tires
on gravel, and the lines of his
wrinkled old face solftened as he
touched bell. One could never tell at
Anthony's age which game of chess
would be the last, and although he
would not admit it in the least, he had
been worried about his friends lack
of punctuality. ..r1 .s.@5.. a...-
Hello, JIMMY" Anthony, fat and
| VI dOOlCu anu
the room. Sorry I'm late -<.
Mr.. Podderington, busily settling out
the ivory figures upon the board a
servant had just brought, did not look
up. Sorry" he grunted sourly. you
look it! What did you come at all for
if you have to be late? If. you don't
want to play any more, why, ! guess"
"Tut-tut, Jimmy, Don't be so yin
ergary. I'm late because had to send
a telegram. Nellies girl is coming to
visit her granddaddy. l had letter to-
day | haven't seen her since she was
baby and-let's see-how old is she
now?I forget, but she graduated last,
spring. Seems hard to realize that Mel
lie has girl that old! Why it seems
went on Anthony looking reminiscent
ly into the glowing logs. But the other
cut him short. ''%5 f3*' ..''""fr
Are we, or or are we not, going to
have game tonight If you'd rather
have quilting bee, where every one
can talk his head off, we might ar
range it. Walter, please take these
things away. It seems Mr.. Saxon.
Anthony put out protesting hand.
"All right James, I'll play right now
and won't say another word. was on
|ly trying to explain why was late"
and secretly tickled to death"
snapped Mr.. Podderington moving his
queens pawn two PAGES with jerk.
"When your relation arrives that
means an end to all this. hope you
realize,
81 don't see why! ! can bring her
along evenings when it's my turn"
eyes, and nice thing it would be
to have young chit hanging over our
shoulders telling us how to move.
why, you're talking to much now. How
could we play with girl around y
Mr. Saxon looked his wretchedness.
Mr.. Podderington, having planned
foxy move and produced that particu-
lar look of abject humility upon his
.cronie's face that it was his delight
to see. decided to change tactics.
All right, Toney, don't worry Well
fix it some way I have it'll send
for one of Bertha's boys to visit me.
Anything over twenty, say. She's got
four. but blamed il remember how
old they are either Two of them ought
to be able to keep each other out OF
our road, eh? I'll send word first thing
in the morning. There now, drop the
whole thing and play" exclaimed
Grandpa Podderington as he moved
his kings knight a space straight and
one diagonal and pocketed bishop or
Anthony's. "Your novel" he cried ex'
ultantly. And so the game went on.
The week before Mr.. Anthony Sax
ton received the disturbing news; OF
his eranddaughter's visit. Mrs. Tom
Weatherby happened to look out or
her living-room window just as Vir-
ginia Weatherby and Harold Harcourt
parted company Virginia had been
shopping in town and 1t seemed s1gni.
f1cant that she should be delayed until
Harold's train time, that they should
travel home together, and that the
young man should feel called upon to
accompany her to the door.
Mrs. Weahtreby's keen eyes detect
ed something in his manner, and ms
reluctance to let go Of Virginia's hand
at parting, that made her bristle with
indignation. And when Virginia came
in with blazing cheeks and soft, hap
nv light in her deep blue eyes, the
rage in her mothers heart overlooked
its bounds. 4 ~.
Virginia, this nonsense between
YOU and Harold Harcourt has got to
stop. I've told you SO hundred
times. 1t was bad enough to have