Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-27
Eueniing Story
MR.. ANNEsLEY's NAP.
BY Joan 6ugby.
{ Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

Bert" said Helen Annesley at
breakfast, what time did you get
home?"
Bout four maybe half-past!"
"You look it,,
"Just how"
"Seedy. You need sleep
81 know it." he groaned. 81 wish to
thunder the governor was at home. I'd
sleep all day. But here I've to go to
the blame store and be tormented for
an hour"
Its your own fault You should
have come home earlier"
1T wasn't my fault. l took Myrtle to
the dance and she wouldn't thing of
| leaving. l was nearly dead"
Look here. BERTHE. You've got to
! pull yourself together. Peggy Brice is
coming today and I'm counting on you.
/ In the first place can't you meet her
at three and come home early
! Send Patrick with the car
When I visited her, her brother
met Ifle. Moreover, he was perfect
anger TO me the whole time.
, Bert was thoughtful. II might man
age it, sis; but I'll have to have some
sleep somehow Three, did you say?'
"Three-five at the Pennsylvania sta
! ton. No use describing her. Just pick
out the prettiest girl you see.'
"I'll find her.
| So Bert went to the store.
As the morning wore on his patience
and endurance wore out. He had inter
viewed buyers and wrangled with
travelling statesmen until his naturally
rather decent disposition was in tat
tiers. There was one thing the Lord
spared Job he said hopelessly. DE
partment stores had not been invest
ed
| When he returned from lunch he
was delighted to see that the anteroom
to his office was empty. Not sign Of
la single commercial traveller with his
ominous case of samples. SO he call
ed Johnny Stebhs, who had two rows
of brass buttons down the front of his
diminutive Jacket
Johnny, are there one or two of
you?"
, Zone. sir
rWell. I'd have said two, Johnny
that's how sleepy am. Now it's up to
you whether get nap or not. Two
good solid hours, So if any of those
people come drummers. you know.
tell them I'm dead and don't let them
view the remains, either. If they insist,
send them to Barlowe or Martin"
Yes, sir!"
Here's a dollar. Now you stay by
that out side door and don't let any
one in"
In two minutes Bert was snoring
But the anteroom was very warm.
and Johnny was very tired. His little
legs had been trottinB all morning.
Alas, he, too. was soon in the land O.
Nod.
And then-as fairies come when
folks are asleep-she came.
+ She was pretty and little and taste
fully dressed. and she carried a
satchel. She asked for Mr.. Annesley's
office and was directed politely. She
its two rows of highbacked seats fac.
ing each other and to her surprise
found only a small boy asleep.
On the door opposite was the word
Private" She went over and knocked
timidly There was no answer. Then
she knocked again. This time some.
thing came to her, but through the
door it was incoherent. She hesitated :
probably some one had said Come
in although it didn't just sound like
it. Then, reasoning that it was foolish
to be so timid, she turned the knob
and entered.
+ snore greeted her. She started in
surprise. and turning she saw the
leather couch on which lay a man
asleep, and again came the incoherent
muttering of one exhausted. The girl
saw her mistake. She had intruded I'M
Willingly and started to tip-toe out
But her bag knocked against a light
brentwood chair, the chair tipped. rock
ed and, in spite of her terrific effort to
catch it. went over and hit Mr.. All
nesley on the side of the head.
He sat up instantly, rubbing the in
jured spot and then, seeing some one
in the room>>sprang to his feet.
who did that?"
The girl was backing frightened in
to corner ''I-Im afraid did"