Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-31

well, you might have said a worse
thing than that" he told her sadly.
81 mean-I-"
"She did say it," cried the twins
I'm sleepy Just like that"
"Oh, Comics the girl for senti.
ment," exclaimed Lark. Sleepy is not
a romantic word and it's not senti-
mental feeling, but it can be drawled
out so it sounds little mushy at least
T sleep. my love, to dream of thee
for instance. But Connie didn't do 1t
that way. Nix. Just plain sleep, and
little sense.
well. it would make you SICK" de.
clared Connie, wrinkling up her nose
to express her disgust. Are boys al
ways like that, father?"
Don't ask me- he hedged promptly.
How should know?"
ooh, Connie. how can you! There's
father-now, he never cared to kiss
the girls even in his bad and balmy
days, did you, daddy? Oh, no, father
was all for the strictly orthodox even
in his youth"
Mr.. Starr returned precipitately to
his mail and the twins calmly resumed
the discussion where it had been in.
terrupted.
A little later a quick exclamation
from their father made them turn to
him inquiringly.
Its shame" he said. and again:
I"What a shame!"
The girls waited expectantly. When
he only continued frowning at the let.
ter in his hand, Carol spoke up bright.
ly, Eyes, isn't it,"
Even then he did not look up and
real concern settled over their express.
sive faces. Father! Can't you see
we're listening?"
He looked up, vaguely at first then
smiling. "Ah, reused your curiosity.
did l? Well. it's just another phase Of
this eternal boy question"
Carol leaned forward ingratiatingly.
Now indeed. we are all absorption"
"Why,-ft a letter from Andrew
/ Hedges--an old college chum Of mine.
His son is going west and Andy is
sending him around this way to see
me and meet my family. He'll be here
this afternoon Isn't 1t a .shame?"
isn't it Iovely?" exclaimed Carol.
eve can use him to make Jim Forrest
|
date?" And she rose up and kissed her
father.
"Will you kindly get back to your
seat, young lady, and not interfere
with my thoughts?" he reproved her
sternly but with twinkling eyes. "The
trouble is have to go to Fl. Madison
on the noon train for that Epworth
league convention. I'd like to see that
boy. Andy's done well, guess I've
always heard SO. He's a millionaire,
they say"
For long second his daughters
gazed at him speechlessly.
Then, "A millionaire's son." Lark
faltered feebly.
Yes
why on earth didn't you say so in
the first place." demanded Carol.
What difference does that make?"
1T makes all the difference in the
world All A millionaire's son. She
looked at Lark with keen speculative
eyes. Good looking, l suppose,
young, of course, and impressionable.
A millionaire's son."
But | have to 60 to Fl. Madison.
am on the program tonight. There's
the puzzle.
ooh, father. you can leave him to
u.s." volunteered Lark.
I'm afraid you mightn't carry it off
well. You're so likely to run by fits
and jumps, you know. ! should hate
it If things went badly
"Oh, father, things couldn't go bad
! w." protested Carol. We'll be lovely.
Just lovely A millionaire's son! Oh,
yes, daddy, you can trust him to us
all right"
At last he caught the drift of their
enthusiasm. "Ah! l see! That fatal
charm. You're sure you'll treat him
nicely?"
"Oh, yes, father SO sure. mil
lionaire's son. We've never even seen
one yet"
Now look here, girls. fix the house
UP and carry it off the best you can. l
have a lot of old friends in Cleveland
and want them to think I've got the
dandiest little family on EARTH
Dandiest! Father, you will forget
yourself in the pulpit some day-you
surely will And when we take such
pains with you, too, can't understand
where you get it! The people you as
sociate with, l suppose"
"Do your best, girls. I'm hoping for
good report. III be gone until the
end of the week, since I'm on for the
last night, too. Will you do your
best?'
After his departure, Carol gathered
the family forces about her without a
moments delay.
"A millionaire's son." she prefaced
her remarks. and as she had expected,
was rewarded with immediate atten-
ton. Now. for darling fathers sake,
we've got to manage this thing the
very best we can We have to make
this Andy Hedges, millionaires son,
mink we're just about All right. for
. fathers sake We must have a gor-
geous dinner, to start with. Wen