Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-25


doing nothing whatever, even now
and when three seconds had passed
Beatrice whirled abruptly on the only
other possible source Of Information
present, which happened to be WIKI.
ms.
you were herea" she said swiftly.
you answer me: who was the WON
an?"
'The-the woman, ma'am?" wiki
ms repeated.
Beatrice came nearer and looked up
at him, and there was that in her
eyes which sent Wilkins back q full
pace.
"You-you ereature!" Beatrice said.
what woman was In this apartment
last night?"
Now, as it cllanoed, Wilkins was Tar
more intelligent than he looked. Give
him the mere hint to a situation and
he could lumber through somehow.
Only little while ago, when Hobart
Hitchin came upon them, he had
caught the key to this affair-so he
smiled quite conh<1eutly and bowed.
CHAPTER XII.
The Crash.
Now It was the turn Of Beatrice to
become rigid.
She did not even wink, those first
few seconds. She looked straight at
Wilkins, searching his soul; and VIII
kins,. pleasantly conscious Of having
done the right thing web, preserved
his quiet, respectful smile and won
dered just which lady this newest
might be.
He was telling the truth. He was
telling the horrible, the incredible
truth-and although those eyes Of
Mrs. Boilers might have suggested
that she was capable Of passionate
murder if goaded far enough, they be.
lied her actions just now. One slim.
white hand went to her throat for
moment, as if to ease her breathing
but when she spoke her tone was
very low, very quiet indeed:
mrs. Boiler was here?'
Eyes. madam" wilkins responded
in round tones.
"All last night?''
"Er-yes, madam. She"
Johnson Boiler returned to life!
Johnson Boiler, with a thick, sense
less shout, bounded forward and
landed directly between Wilkins and
his beloved as he snarled:
Say, you-you lying dog! You"
Let him alone!" his wife said
quickly. Permit him to tell the
truth"
Hes not telling you the TRUTH
cried Johnson Boiler. Hes lying!
He-why wilkins, I'll smash your face
into so many nasty little pieces that
ri beg pardon, sir!" Wilkins said
hastily. "The-lady that was here
There was no lady here!" Mr.
Boiler shouted.
Wilkins put his hands. ~
. well. the lady that was eating
sir, after q manner Of
speaking" he stammered. Her that
was introduced as Mrs Boiler, which
caused me to take It, str, that She
"Say! said there was no lady
here and there was no lady here! Get
that, you putty faced IDIOT" Johnson
Boiler cried frantically, for he was be-
yond reason What do you mean BY
there and lying and habblmg
about some woman-s
Again wilkins intelligence mani
Tested itself To be perfect servant,
one's teeth must remain IN place and
one's face must be free from bruises.
after a brief, intent look at
Johnson Boilers fists, turned and ned.
$50 this" said Mrs. johnson Boiler
with deadly calm. sis what happens
when you think I've gone away!"
Her husband turned upon her and
,hrew out hts hands.
"Beatrice!" he cried. II swear 10
you"
Don't touch me, you filthy Great
lre!" said his Beatrice. ~I-couldn't
nave thought it. You seemed differ |
INT from other men!"
This woman" johnson Boiler
ioundered, and then caught An
.hony's cold eye, Il was an amused
Eye, too, and the sneer was In It; and |
Johnson Boiler pointed at its owner |
and said Eff there was a |
woman here, blame him."
Beatrice Boiler looked Anthony Fry |
Up and down, and her lips cur,ed.
IT do-a lfttle!" she said bitterly. |,
i We ucFeT CdIcu tcAy "uCu AU yV8,
Mr.. Fry, but-oh, why did you do !
hat? You know as well as l know
hat Johnson isn't that-that sort Of
/ man! If he wanted to come here !
Ind stay with you, couldn't you have I,
)een, just for once-decent?
Madam" .thundered Anthony Fry,
when breath came to him.
There was no music in .Beatr1ces
augh: an INCREASED saw goes
Trough hardwood more sweetly.
Spare yourself the effort Of that
ighteous rage" she said. IT know |
our sanity type of man SO well. and
we begged Johnson to have nothing
o do with you"
"And I give you my word" John !
on Boiler began.
THAT he brought the woman here?"
Lis wife asked.
"Yes."
"And you remained" finished John.
ION Boilers better half. where is
he?"
''She isn't here now!'' came almost
from Anthony.
Opca more paatrica launched