Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-30


firmly as he advanced I'm going tt
make man of you'll"
you can't!'' said David thinly.
Il can, boy! Believe me, / cant
Mr.. Boiler smiled Get out of that
robe!"
u He was advancing. Ten seconds
more and he would lay violent hands
on David, and Anthony Fry, with g
wrench that racked his very soul
hurled back every emotion and con
t1fved really quiet smile. More
even; when he spoke it was in the
ly tried in patience.
"You mean we'll, old chap" he said
laying firm hand on Johnson Boil
ler's arm. ''but you're crank on this
gymnastic business Don't be absurd
please-you're fairly frightening the
boy. Later on, perhaps, when he is
more accustomed to you and the sur
roundings, and all that sort of thing,
you may take him in hand. Just now
it is we'll past seven o'clock, and I'm
hungry. Come to your senses and get
dressed, Johnson, if only as a favor
His eye was firm and steady; and
having faced it for a moment, John.
son Boiler shrugged his shoulders
again. AS yet he had not inflicted
even one bruise on David. but press
ing the matter now was likely to do
mo more than excite Anthony. And
there was still time.
| AS head of his particular wooden
concern. Johnson Boiler could well
spend the whole morning away from
the Office, so that it gained him the
chance of hammering the boy to a
jelly and busting him from John Boil.
ler's temporary home. Mr.. Boiler,
therefore. sighed a little disappoint-
ment as he said:
kid through his first PAGES naked. OF
course, because then one"
Eyes, some other time, doubtless, +"
Anthony said hastily. Get along now,
Johnson and dress"
They were alone again, Anthony
and David.
! David's color was decidedly higher,
and his eyes burned with a mixture
OF fright and indignation, while, the
bathrobe was clutched defensively
about his throat Anthony himself
had lost his pallor, and on his high
thoughtful forehead a glistening glaze
had come into being. He dabbed it
away with his handkerchief and
glanced fearfully toward the door.
This is-er-most embarrassing"
he breathed.
"It is for met said the apparent
David. whats the matter with that
MANI"
"He has his own ideas about most
things" Anthony said with shudder.
However, he is out of the way now
and-er-the next thing is to get you
out, also"
/, "Well?"
II am sorry. Miss Mary, truly sorry
If it displeases you," Anthony went on
carefully, "but there is really only one
way for you to leave quite safely.
This house you see, is rather different
from other houses. It would be pos
sible to send for your-ah-proper
clothing and have you leave as the
doubtless prepossessing young woman
that you are; but to do that you
would have to pass through the Office
down stairs, and the elevator men
would know that you came from this
apartment"
"Ah?" said Mary, without express.
sion.
"And inasmuch as every one here
knows that l am not married, and
that / have no female relatives or
even friends Of your age, the-ah-
very painful inference"
Il see," said Mary, as he paused and
flushed. eco on
She was not exactly helpful jsitting
there and staring at Anthony with her
great, deep-blue eyes. They were
very beautiful eyes, doubtless, but
they caused Anthony's mind to stag
ger as he labored on.
"There are back stairs, of course
/, but to pass them it would be neces.
sary to meet servants and employees
Of the house in half dozen places;
believe there is even gate keeper of
some sort below and-oh, the back
stairs would not be at all possible!"
said Anthony as he pushed the button
for Wilkins. II deplore the necessity
of sending you out as you came, Miss
Mary, but-er-Wilkins! Mr.. Prem
tiss' clothes, if you please"
What of them, sir?" Wilkins asked
blankly.
Bring them here"
Butt can't do that, Mr.. Fry"
"Why not Anthony asked crisply
"You told me to dispose of them
last night sir. I've thrown them OUT"
Anthony caught his breath.
where have you thrown them?"
"Out with the other refuse of the
day, sir-in the dumbwaiter.
"Then-well, never mind. That is
all. Wilkins said Anthony Fry, his
voice thickening somewhat.
| The invaluable one retired with
last disappearing glance at the frowzy
David, and Anthony's forehead wrink.
led. David, the while, sat hunched on
the bed and seemed altogether unaf.