Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-08


The man has a heart av stone" an
nounced Mary presently.
Hes wicked man." assented
Elvira.
Wicked, is it? Niver let me hear We
say thot again. 'Tis sin to be sittin
In Ejudymint, Elvira. He's ejjicated
which is more nor you an me, an he's
gintleman born. Tis wicked av We
to call him wicked
Mary. devoted another period to
gloomy reflection.
"'Tis wicked crool the way he
drives her. she declared presently.
But It's quare, too, the way she
smiles at him. IT'S Horace says thot.
Like enough he's lynn, maybe. IT'S
wan av his ways. An did We mind him
this monday, whin he comes down
from upstairs an says thot the poor
dear is maxim out reports. like you
an me an the rist av US, an putin
thin in boxes an drawers an in
veliopes, ag'inst the Day OF Judg-
mint?
Perhaps he was lynn" admitted
Elvira.
Lynn, 'Tis like he was tellin' the
truth! How is it ye're so quick to call
it lynn? Twas Alice dear was tellin'
me the same thing hersilf An why
shouldn't it be thrue? I've no patience
with We Elvira."
Matilda looked up from her sewing,
an unmistakable sign that her New
England conscience was in ferment.
II have heard him speak to Miss
Connie" she averred. Tin way that
no gentleman would address lady"
Mary snorted.
There We co. she said. "'Tis GIN
tleman this an lady thot. How is it We
know so much about the ginthry. Ma
tilda? Don't be forgittin' ye're a wurr-
kin woman. Gintleman! W'ud We call
Giovanni q gintleman? Like enough.
Aye, an Garibaldi. the wan he does be
talkin' about. IT'S not for We to be
tellin' how a gintleman sphakes to a
lady. 'Tis for none ave us.
Matilda curled her lips and resumed
her sewing.
"He has the manners az a Dublin
hack-dhriver," added Mary after due
thought. AN the day he towld me to
punch the clock, IL 1t wasn't | was
lady, thered be wan scientist sayin'
'Docther, is 1t like I'll walk AGAIN."
There was something approaching
CONSERVATION upstairs as we'll. AL
though Alice and Billy watched the
campaign and kept the great secret.
their misgivings Of final success were
not to be allayed Their own fate was
SO directly involved that frequent re.
commissioners were necessary.
Alice proved to be the most efficient
spy. She reported to Billy on number
Of occasions that the relations be.
tween H. Hedge and his secretary
were Of the most cordial character
Alice was impatient at repeated evi.
dences of amicable hours between the
chief plotter and the victim. She still
had confidence in her sister. who us.
ually achieved what she set out to
perform; but 1t seemed to Alice that
the patience Of Constance was some.
thing more than human.
Billy was less persistent in his OBJ
servations but such as he made were
to the same general effect. Once, he
resolved, for the sake Of better op-
portunity to watch the battle, that he
would assume his clerkship. But the
resolution melted away when he tried
10 steel himself for the final degrade.
ion. He told himself it was not hor.
ror Of work per Sc; merely shrinking
from work per Hedge
A most extraordinary day came
when Constance, having been exces-
sively diligent during whole fore
noon. remarked after luncheon that, If
Mr.. Hedge did not absolutely require
her assistance for few hours. she
would attend to some matters of shop
ping.
'eady consent. but he went to the
length Of suggesting that he
also had certain errands which called
him outside the house. and suggested
hat he might be permitted" to &C.
company her SO far as their paths CO.
NEEDED. Might be permitted!
Constance could with difnculty be.
ieve her ears. He was delivering him
self into her hands, Could he go shop
Ding with her? He could-and a radi
INT smile went with the permission.
The occasion, being of moment
'us character. required the services Of
he Brooke limousine. Alice, from an
upper window, witnessed the de.
,arture. which was effected with the
ull expeditionary escort OF chauffeur
md footman. She stared until the big
ar disappeared from sight down the
venue then flung herself weakly into
| big chair and INDUCED in a long
period Of thought.
Constance began the campaign with
eints intended to conceal major oper
ltions, and at the same time to test
he resistance Of the enemy. Gloves
we're a feint, for instance. The enemy
ollowed her into the glove-shop. He
lid not intend to be obtrusive, but he
ppeared to be interested in gloves.
lie watched, accepted the selection
nee he made suggestion which was,
# course, accepted on the spot.
Constance laid aside several pairs.
fter deliberate examination of
many dozen, and then casually in
uired the price. She frowned doubt
ulIy when the amount wps mentioned