Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-23
ALICE DEVINE
Bv EDGAR JEPSON
Copyright 1916 BY The Bohbs- Merrill Co.

She looked at me as though she did
not know quite what unpleasant thing
to say as if l was too aggravatine
for words She opened her lips; Their
she shut then and said nothing.
Of course, it was cheek; but was
glad to have given her the warning.
suppose however. that that was why
she let Walsh make peace with her
and seemed more friendly with him
than ever. It really looked as If he
would win out and marry her 1t would
be a great pity: she was far too deli.
cate and sensitive to be the wife OF
that scowling scnndrel She might be
happy with him for couple of months
at the outside; then it would be the
usual neglect and other women.
1t was very annoying. 1t worried
me and made me restless. Things grew
so tasteless - polo, and motoring and
even being the complete house agent,
and running Garthoyle Gardens. Bac-
carat was rather better: though ! had
to be careful to play sitting with my
back to Alice, that l might not see her
and Walsh together. I felt so helpless
to prevent her making mess o.
things. Yet somehow / could not get
it out of my head that she did not real
ly care for Walsh that she was just
friendly with him and no more. Won
dered how he would take it when he
found out that it was so. l was afraid
he might make himself violently I'M
pleasant. could only hope that |
might be at hand when he did, for
did not think that, even if she went to
Scruton, he would be of much help to
her. The whole business was very an.
noying.
Then. one evening noticed that
they had had another QUARREL for
Walsh came scowllng to the baccarat
table and did not go near her for an
hour; then they seemed to make it up.
The next afternoon I went down to
Wembly Park for some polo practise
AS l motored into the Gardens, on my
return, saw small and rather ragged
boy hurrying along the pavement and
] recognized Alice's protege, Robs.
pierre Briggs, the anarchist. I stop
ped the car and called to him.
He came running up and cried: "Mr.
Garth, it's Miss Alice! She's bin car
ried awye!"
Carried away. What do you mean?"
said.
IT'S Sir Theerbald Walsh-'m what's
a baronit. e an Miss Alice took us to
Chipperfield Common in is motor, the
syme as you did. An we got outer the
car, an e shoves a 'andful Of money
silver-inter my and, an catches old
of Miss Alice an pulls 'er back inter
the car. An she tells i'm ter let 'er
go. An she calls out ter me: Go to
Mr.. Scruton, Garthoyle Gardens, Rob
bic, an tell inn An the car goes orr
an leaves us there. An I gives Cher
lie most of the money. an l run most
of the wye to Kings Langley station,
an tryne to London come in, an
come by it to Euston, an got ere in
a bus; an there. amt copper abart
an can't find which is Mr. Scruton's
'ouse!"
He was white and breathless and
ready to cry. I babe him jump into the
car. and ran round the triangle to Scru-
toms.
We were taken straight to him in his
smoking room anG found him sleeping
peacefully in an easy chair.
Our entrance woke him. and sad
1--WE nice news for you, Scruton. That
BLACKBOARD Walsh has kidnapped Miss
Devine."
kidnapped? What the deuce are you
talking about he cried, waking up
thoroughly.
l told him Robespierres story of the
abduction.
81 wouldn't have had this happen for
"Alice's all the kith and kin I've got
10, <Io vi
them? How are ,ge to get at the
swine?"
He was growing if anything blacker
than Walsh was after had said few
kind words to him.
We'll there's a chance" said
walsh has house near Primer and
happen to know that he uses it in his
love affairs. Now. Primers on the way
between Chipperneld and London. It's
any odds that he's taken her there. He
doesn't know that I know anything
about it. We might try it on the
chance My cars at the door"
by jove. It's chance! Quite
good chance" cried Scruton.
He ran across the room to bureau,
opened a drawer, took revolver from
it, and thrust it into his hip pocket, say.
ing: 81 always feel more comfortable
carrying gun when there's trouble
about
gathered that he had not spent all
his life in quiet New Zealand. We hur-
ried out to the cal gave Robespierre
tenner for his promptitude: and Scru-
ton and jumped into the tonneau
When I want the best got out of it,
leave it to CASTOR | do not drive It
myself then. | told him to get to Pin.
ner as fast as he could; and he Sc.
her going as we settled back in our
seats
Then Scruton turned to me and said:
What does Walsh mean by it2 What
the devil does he mean by it
HE sticks at nothing where wo-
man is concerned. | should have
thought you knew that" | said
Does he think that I'm the kind Of
man to have my womankind kidnapped
If any harm has come to Alice, I'll
throttle HIM"
IF he's taken her TO The Cedars We
shall be in plenty of time. She won't
have come to any harm" I said. But
Walsh is very sidey; he thinks that,
where a commoner like you is concern
.l prificb ho rppD oap do