Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-13

4Cle vas SOlllclllllS 40 ">i'
as brisk about the stranger. He talked
as one with authority. An air Of com
plete confidence as snugly as his we'll
cut clothes. His voice was by no
means unpleasant. yet it had a GER
tain ring Of command that was not
grateful to the ear.
Miss Constance Brooke. l believe?"
inquired the stranger, as he produced
his card case.
I "Yes-certainly."
I "Mr. William Brooke " glancing at
the young man.
That person nodded.
And Miss Alice?' continued the
stranger, with a nod in the direction Of
the young girl. who had now Joined
the group.
Yes; my sister, supplied the elder
girl.
The stranger took a step forward
and presented a small bit of paste
board. The three Brooke children.
their heads close together, read:
II. HEDGE, e. e.
Then they looked up at the stranger.
He was unfolding a document of fool
soap size. In the lower left-hand corner
they glimpsed q large red seal. The
stranger began to read:
Il, John w. Brooke. during the
period of my absence from home, do
hereby appoint and constitute as head
of my domestic household one Henry
Hedge. the bearer Of this document,
upon whom | confer full authority to
manage said household in every re-
spect, to carr for it, maintain it. guard
1t, and In every manner provide for its
needs and it's secuity. I do designate
guardian of my children, William W.,
Constance T., and Alice and I confer
upon him, during my absence, all such
authority as l possess concerning
them. I do hereby charge my said chill
dren to obey the said Henry Hedge in
all things. and to accord to him that
respect to which he, as their guardian,
is by right entitled. And l do charge
servants. now in my employ or
who may hereafter be in my employ,
obey the said Henry Hedge. so long
as this document shall be Of force and
effect. And I declare that this docu-
ment and its possession by the said
Henry Hedge shall constitute and am
pie authority for him to act as | have
above charged.
"( Signed }
JOHN w. BROOKE.
The three Brooke children spoke not
a word. They simply stared at
Henry Hedge. as though fascinated
by some strange spectacle. He turned
the face of the document toward them
and exhibited the bold signature they
knew so we'll. There was no installing
the handwriting Of John w. Brooke.
Vaguely they observed the names OF
two persons designated as witnesses,
and a third name which was that Of a
notary.
But the thing that riveted their
g~lances was the great seal. 1t stared
out at them from the white paper like
an u%nblinking and menacing red eye,
glowering at them.
Mr.. Hedge produced another docu-
this he also read, in a calm but in
cisive tone:
"My Dear Children:
Il shall be away from home until the
evening of February 10. l am in per-
feet health. My trip is chiefly of a bus.
tness nature. In order to make all
proper provision for your care and
comfort. | am placing a personal repre-
sentative in charge Of my household,
a man in whom ! have complete con-
fidence. My personal attorneys are
charged to communicate with me In
case Of emergency, but under no other
circumstances. 1t will be useless for
you to inquire my whereabouts from
them. I feel that this short separation
will be Of benefit to all of us. and shall
look forward to u reunion with ar
fe%ctionate anticipations.
''In the meanwhile Mr.. Hedge will
be in full and absolute charge. with
the authority that | have conferred
upon him in another document. He is
a man of excellent character. thor
recommended by his employees.
and. | am satisfactorily assured, a
He will reside with you.
and will have full financial RESPONSE
bility in all household and family mat
ters.
It Is needless for me to say that you
will cooperate with him in every way:
I know that o will. Treat him as you
me.
And now. my children. | bid you.
lOl q SlOIl llule, dH eutCtlOLdtC SScA
by.
Your loving father.
John w. Brooke.
That document you may keep
said Mr.. Hedge. as he passed the let
ter to Constance Brooke. The n with
the red seal he replaced in his pocket. !
Still the three Brooke children
spoke no word. Speech was not theirs
for the moment; rather. it was theirs
10 gaze in mute bewilderment at the
bearer of the documents.
They saw a person who was some !
above medium height and OF
frame. The lines Of his head
were angular, an effect heightened by
his almost black hair and the stiff.
uncompromising manner in which II
was brushed straight back past his
ears. His eyes were dark and discon-
certingly steady. His nose was long.
but straight in the bridge and not bad
ly nodded. His lips closed firmly. but
not harshly. There was a faint cleft in
his chin. He was dressed quietly. but
obviously well. AS to his age, 1t was
probably twenty eight or nine.
IA 4