Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-12


"Seven years is a long time, you
know. We had much else to think
about in Egypt than old dinners else
where"
Bishop appeared struck by an in
SEPARATION. He clapped his cup into
its saucer with a sudden bang.
Hang it, man, you must have been
here in the days Of Lady Evelyn. Re
member her, don't your
"Would I be likely to forget?' the
captain parted. Out of the tail OF
his eye he had fash of Jane Ger
sons white face, Of her eyes seeking
his with a palpitant, hunted look. The
message of her eyes brought to him
an instant of grace In sore trial.
Seven years of Egypt-or Of hot
ter place-cou1dn't make a man for
get her!" The major Was rafting on
for the benefit of those who had not
come under the spell Of the charmer
s'Sir David Craigen's wife, and as love
ly a woman as ever came out from
England. Every man on the Rock
lost his heart that spring. Wood
house, even in three months time you
must have fallen like the rest of us. y
'Id rather not incriminate myself y
Woodhouse smiled sagely as he pas
sed his cup to Lady Crandall to be re-
filled.
Don't blame you,' Bishop caught
him up. "A most outrageous flirt, and
there was the devil to pay. Broken
hearts were as thick on the Rock that
year as strawberries in May, includ
ing poor Craigen's. And after one
young subaltern tried to kill himself
YOU'LL remember that, Woodhouse-
Sir David packed the fair charmer on
to England. Then he simply ate his
heart out and-died."
what an affecting picture!" Jane
commented. zone lone woman cap
turing the garrison Of Gibraltar
General Crandall rose to set his
CUP on the tea wagon. With the most
casual air in the world, he addressed
himself to- Woodhouse:
when Sid David died, many Of his
effects were left in this house to await
their proper owners disposition, and
Lady Craigen has Observation-Disclosures
about claiming them. Among them
was the portraiat Of Lady Craigen
herself which still hangs in this room.
Have you recognized it, Captain"
Woodhouse, whose mind had been
leaping forward, vainly trying to
divine the object of the Lady Evelyn
lead, now knew, and the Knowledge
left him beyond his resources. He
recognized the moment of his unmask'
Ing But the mans nerve was steady,
even in extremity. He rose and turn
ed to face the rear wall Of the library,
against the tapestry Of which hung
four oil portraits in their deep old
frames Of heavy gold. Three OF these
were women A fourth, also the like
ness of a woman, hung over the fire
place. Chances were four to one
against blind choice.
As Woodhouse slowly lifted his
eyes to the line Of portraits, he no.
ticed that Jane had moved to place
the broad tent shade Of floor lamp
on it's tall standard of mahogany be
tween herself and the other two men
so that her face was momentar1ly
screened from them. She looked
quickly at the portrait over the man
tel and away again. Woodhouse
knowing himself the object of two
pairs Of hostile eyes, made his survey
deliberately, with purpose increasing
the tension of the moment. His eyes
ranged the line Of portraits on the
rear wall, then turned to that one
over the fireplace.
"Ah, yes, rather good likeness, eh
Major?" He drawled his Identified
ton with a disinterested air.
Crandall's manner underwent In
slant change. His former slightly
strained punctiliousness gave way tic
naturalness and easy spirits. One
would have said he was advocate for
a man on trial, for whom the jury
had just pronounced, mot proven.
Scotch verdict, yes, but one accept
able enough to the governor Of Glib
raltar The desk telephone sounded
just then, and General Crandall an
swered. After listening briefly, nc
gave the orders, DRESS flags!" and
hung up the receiver.
" Fleets just entering the harbor.
signal tower reports" he explained
to the others. Miss Gerson, If you
care to step here to the window you'll
see something quite worth WHILE
Jane. light hearted almost to the
point of mild hysteria at the notice
able relaxation of strain denoting dan
ger passed. bounded to double
French window giving on a balcony
and commanding a view Of all the
bay to the Spanish shore. She ex
claimed, in awe: .. 1,. b..
"Ships-ships! Hundreds of them
Why, General, what
"The Mediterranean fleet. young
woman, bound home to protect tho