Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-11
CHAPTER Ix-(continued.)

CHAPTER IX-(continued.)
you WILL" Mary said controllins
herself with visible difficulty. You've
made me stand enough since las
night and there are some things
cannot-some things / will not ever
try to stand! l tell you honestly ina
IL Rob isn't out of this fiat in Two
minutes I'm going into fit OF hys
terics that will have the reserves Pill
ing into this sanctified hotel just az
surely as the sun is shining
miss Mary" faltered Anthem!
Fry.
Mary.s hands clenched in the mos
peculiar manner.
Hadn't you better make the bes'
of those two minutes?" she asked
breathlessly.
His quiet smile was gone now;
lines appeared in Anthony's counte'
nance as he looked at her-and then
wasting no further time in aimless
comment, he turned and tottered into
the corridor. Mary meant just what
SIZE said.
Robert vining and johnson Boiler
we're sprawling in the deep chairs, op'
posite one another, smoking comfort.
ably and giving every evidence OF
having settled down for consider
able session. Young Mr.. Vining
zYinned through the smoke at his old
or friend.
"Sit down, Anthony" said ne.
Were just going over the thing
round by round, to see If either OF us
can remember worse fight for the
money. We're working on round
two. Just now"
Anthony smiled strangely and laid a
dramatic hand upon his brow.
twill not join the discussion he
said
.Eh? WHAT'S the natter Robert
asked, sitting up.
Headache! One of the-er-head-
aches that make my life burden"
Anthony groaned.
Il never knew you had 'em" young
Mf. vfnfng said with mystified
smile
.sNeither did IT, johnson Boiler con-
trfbuted healthfuily.
did you have it before you talked
10 Wilkins, there?" pursued Robert,
who owned a really keen mind.
ETH was Ju6t CVnu1h5 On'
mo bad news, old chap?" V1ning
said crossing his legs the other way.
Anthony shook his head and smiled
again, indicating suffering that was
not all stimulated.
mo just the-er-headache.' he
said. "Comes on suddenly. you know.
and settled in the back Of my head
and neck. There is only one thing that
can be done for it and that is a
steady massage. Perhaps you'd do
that for me Johnson"
Sure" said johnson Boiler, whose
eyes shot two questions to the sec
ond. "Sit down and we can go on
talking while rub
well, have to lie down for this"
Anthony explained. "On the bed, you
know, and it's-well, it is likely to
take an hour or more. You wouldn't
care to wait around, Bob?'
Mr., vining gazed steadily at him.
No refined intuition was necessary to
tell Anthony that it was not his morn
ing for tactful dismissals. This ef-
fort, evidently, had carried the deli
cate touch of a blow from baseball
bat. for Robert, flushing slightly,
spoke with unpleasant crispness:
mo, couldn't wait I'm sure. And
while don't understand it, of course,
I'm sure sorry to have intruded.
Goodbye
'You-haven't intruded." Anthony
cried Only"
well, don't bother explaining"
said young Mr.. Vining. II beg your
pardon for breaking in and-good
morning"
Whevewith he stalked out to the
corridor, removed his hat from the
rack without the assistance of Will
kins and opened the door himself.
closed it after him with careful lack
Of force that was more expressive
than any slam.
~Gone OF mad" johnson Boiler
ODid.
Il can't help IT," Anthony said
mise.ably.
"Nice chap, too! Too bad to offend
him that way" Mr.. Boiler pursued
meditatively. Friends are few and
far between in this sad old world An
thony, and queer dick like you
rich or poor-has trouble hanging on
&c the few he makes. Oh, don't !
mean to be nasty, you know: I'm just
telling you. Wen, come and have
your head rubbed"
Anthony collapsed into his chair.
There's nothing wrong with my
head" he said. "That was the first
lie could think Of. Johnson. to get i
him out of here. He had to go!" !
WHY
''She said So" Anthony informed
him, with a CHASTITY little smile,
"Shes engaged to him.
''To Bob vining?"
"Yes"
Johnson Boiler whistled softly and, |
elevating his eyebrows, thrust his !
hands into his trouser pockets and
looked at Anthony with new com
TOO bad, that" said he. "Too !,
bad for you that il should have been
P chap of the Vining type
What does that mean"
We'll sooner or later, he may find ,
out just what you've done to that /
girl Boiler went on contemplatiyely
IT'S just about as she says. too If