Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-10

enough to hear every word from the
other corner. And If they walked
Gene was dragged of by the firm slen'
der fingers of the friendly twins and
Fairy and the professor walked drear
lily along in the rear, talking namely
about the weather-and wondering
what the twins were talking about.
And the week passed. Gene finally
fell of In his attendance and the twins
took much needed rest. On Friday
afternoon they flattered themselves
that all was well. Gene was not com
ing, Fairy was in the hammock wait
ing for the professor So the twins
Rugged each other gleefully and went
to the haymow to discuss the strain
and struggle Of the week. And then
"Why, the big mutt" cried Carol,
in her annoyance ignoring the Metho'
dist grammatical boundaries. here
comes that bubbling Babler this min.
ute. And he said he was going to New
London for the day. Now we'll have
to chase down there and shoe him of
before Duckie comes" The twins
growing and grumbling, gathered
themselves up and started. But they
started too reluctantly, too leisurely
They were not In time.
Fairy sat up in the hammock with
cry of surprise, but not vexation,
when Genes angry countenance ap-
peared before her.
Look here, Fairy" he began,
what's the Joke? Are your fingers
itching to get hold Of that four thou
sand year the twins are eternally
Dragging about? Are you trying to
throw yourself into the old school
teachers pocketbook, or what?"
Don't be silly, Gene she said.
come and sit down and"
"Sit down, your grandmother" he
snapped still agrily. "Old Double D.
D. will be bobbing up in a minute and
the twin'll drag me off to hear about
coming, isn't he?"
I-guess he is" she said confused
Lets cut and run. will your he
suggested hopefully. I'VE can be out
of sight before-Come on, Fairy, be
good to me. I haven't had a glimpse
or touch of you the whole week.
What do you reckon came down here
for? Come on. Let's beat it." He
looked around with worried air.
Hurry, or the twins'll get u.s."
Fairy hesitated and was lost. Gene
grabbed her hand and the next instant
laughing, they were crawling under
the fence at the south corner of the
parsonage lawn just as the twins ap-
peared at the barn door. They stop
ped. They gasped They stared at
each other in dismay.
1T was put up job" declared Car
oil.
Now what'll we do? But Babies
got more sense than thought he had,
must confess. Do you suppose he
was kidnapping herr"
Carol snorted derisively "Kidnap-
ing nothing! She was ahead when
saw 'em. Whatll we tell the profess
sor?"
Two humbled gentle twins greeted
the professor some fifteen minutes
later.
We're so sorry Carol explained
family. "Babbie came and he and
ally SucSS SAcy AdO OIL CIAdAO
somewhere Weythink they'll be back
very soon. Fairy will be SO sorry"
The professor smiled and looked
quite bright.
yes, but we're sure they'll be back
that is, we're almost sure" Carol,
remembering the mode of their depar-
ture, felt far less assurance on that
point thai she could have wished.
We'll, that's too bad he said cheer
fully But my loss is Babler's gain.
/ suppose we ought in Christian de-
cency to give him the afternoon. Let's
go out to the creek for a stroll our
selves, shall we? That'll leave him a
clear field when they return. You
think they'll be back soon, do you?"
He looked down the road hopefully,
but whether hopeful they would re.
turn or wouldn't, the twins could not
have told. At any rate. he seemed
quite impatient until they were ready
to start, and then, very gaily, the three
wended their way out the pretty coun-
try road toward the creek and Black
bird lane They had good time, the
twins always did insist that income on
earth was quite so entertaining as
dear old Duckie, but in her heart Carol
registered solemn vow to have it out
with Fairy when she got back. She
had no opportunity that night. Fairy
and Gene telephoned that they would
not be home for dinner, and the pro-
fessor had gone, and the twins were
sleeping soundly when Fairy crept
softly UP the stairs.
But Carol did not forget her vow.
Early the next morning she stalked
grimly into Fairy's room. where Fairy
was conscientiously bringing order out
Of the chaos in her bureau drawers, a
thing Fairy always did after perfect
ly happy day. Carol knew that, and
it was with genuine reproach in her
voice that she spoke at last, after
standing for some two minutes watch
ing Fairy as she deity twirled long
ribbons about her fingers and then laid
them in methodical piles in separate
corners of the drawers.
Fairy" she said sadly. you don't