Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-21

reasonable"
Again Mary hesitated causing hi
blood to CONCEAL.
! Very well. Then get rid Of hin
now!" she said sharply. III he eve1
came down here and found me, all the
explaining in the world would never
help!'
HE will not" Anthony said impa
tiently. Bob isn't the sort to stray
about ones apartment and"
And from the corridor came:
She's gone, Boiler! Johnson, she's
'gone!"
And steps. came in their direction
too, and while Mary Dalton turned tc
fame, Anthony Fry turned to ice. He
was coming and coming steadily. and
the door was open fully two inches
He was abreast Of them now and
faithful Johnson Boiler apparently
was with him, for they hoard
"Wel, wouldn't 60 wandering
around like that, old man. Come bach
and sit down and wen talk it over"
'I7l sit here on the window-seat!
Robert Vining painted.
Don't do that" Mr.. Boiler pro
Tested. mo, not there, Bobby! That's
weak and likely to 80 down in q heap
with you!"
The steps ceased. Through ten ter
rible seconds Anthony Fry and lovely
Mary stood listening to the painting Of
the afflicted youth. Then:
my God, Johnson" he cried wildly.
II want to look over the whole
world at once for her! want to look
into every room In this place and
then tear out and look"
Eyes, but you couldn't do that,
Johnson Boiler assured him soothing
| ly. ''Now, cut out the msdhouse talk,
old man. and come back Have one
Of Anthonys good, strong cigars and
I'll dig out that brandy he keeps for
his best friends. Don't 30 nosing
around these rooms!' said johnson
Boiler, and simultaneously they
caught the shiver in his voice and
saw the door move Is Winnings hand
landed on the knob. "Just control
yourself and come back"
Robert Vining laughed hideously
and helplessly.
II suppose I'm making an ass OF my
self'' said his weak voice. Il can't
help it! On my soul, I can't help it.
Give me a shot Of the brandy, though,
and maybe III steady bit!"
Something like one hundred years
passed: then the hand slid from the
door and they could hear johnson
Boiler leading the sufferer gently
away from the shock Of his whole
lifetime. Mary, her eyes closed for q
moment, gripped herself and spoke
very softly:
"Mr. Fry, if-tf you don't get that
boy out Of here and then lind way Of
sending me home-if you don't do it
instantly, I'm going out there to Bob
and tell that you brought me here
and kept mo here all night against my
will! After that, whatever hsppens
well, it just happens"
Life returned to Anthooy's frozen
Il win GOT" he msnased to say, and
he went.
The brandy was already within
Robert vining, yet it seemed to have
made small difference In his condi-
ton. The young mans eyes were
wild and rolling: they rested on An
thony for . moment as il they had
seen him before but could not quito
place him.
"You-you've been telephonine!"
he said.
mot yet" said Anthony, ''but II
you'll run along and do your share,
I'll think up ways Of helping you"
my share?". vining echoed.
Mentally, he was not more than
half himself. Anthony Fry, therefore,
grew very firm and very stern, pleas
antly certain that Robert was paying
no heed to his pallor or the uncon-
trollable shake that had come to his
hands.
IT the iii has really disappeared, !"
be said steadily, your part is not to
be sitting here and whining for help.
Robert. Why don't you get out and
hustle and see II you can't get track
Of her. Have you gone to all her
friends?'
'Eh! MOI"
Then 10 now!" said Anthony Fry.
You Know her girl friends? Get after
the most intimate 1t 6rst-aod get
about it,"
Here he scovled snd Robert vinink
rising. shook himself together.
You're right, Anthony he said.
I'm an ass; I've host my head COM
pletely this last hour. IL caught 1t
from her father, I think; tho mans
going about Ike an infuriated bull,
swearing to KIN everybody in the
world il Mary isn't returned and-but
you're right, old chap. Thank you for
efpa dvin0 ma" RnhArt concluded