Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-20

\
what? One pair suppose. Why? ?
4 Johnson Boiler grinned almost wick
: eddy.
der that chair and it's been worn!
said he. What's the kid wearing il
bed there?'..
He stepped forward suddenly AMI
jerked back the covers, and Anthony
stepped forward with a sharp excla
nation, for David Prentiss, although
he seemed to slumber between thu
sheets. wore suit of black clothes
and a pair of black shoes, and beside
him black felt hat was crumpled!
| Maybe that COP wasn't the idiot he
seemed. eh?" Johnson Boiler asked.
| Il don't understand it," Anthony
said angrily. David"
The boy merely sighed in his SLEEP
and turned on his back.
"David!' Johnson Boiler snapped
thrusting hard forefnger directly In
to the pit of Davids stomach.
Good gracious!" gasped David
Prentiss, sitting up and staring about
with eyes wide open. What must
have been asleep and"
Anthonys gaze was growing keener
and angrier by the second
Never mind that artistic amaze.
ment, David" he said sourly. what
| were you trying to do?'
"Trying?s echoed David. ITO do?''
"Those are Wilkins clothes. Where
did you get them?'
| '1-dont know
| Eyes, you do" Anthony snapped.
f'You must have found them in his
room. Well?"
David gazed up at him with the
same upfathomable look that had so
disturbed Johnson Boiler in the taxi
cab.
Every WE'LL did find them in his
ROOM he said. II put them on be-
cause l couldn't find my own clothes,
and wanted to get to father
fathel." Johnson Boiler said decisive
~. Better let him go, Anthony
David was on his feet With one
swing.
That's the thing to do with me-
he said heartily. I'm too much of
nuisance to keep around. Mr.. Fry:
I'm so worried about father that
can't think of any thing else. SO now
I'll go and
$50 now you'll stay right here!" An
thony said fiereely.
"Why?" Boiler asked.
| Because I've undertaken to show
this kid the opportunity of his lifetime
and I'll drive it into his internal little
skull if have to chloroform hime and
have a surgeon drill hole to let it
through" Mr.. Fry said quite ire
sponsibly.
David collapsed hopelessly on the
edge of the bed.
II should think you'd be 80 out
of patience with me-" he began
sadly.
81 am, but I'm not going to drop the
job on that account" Anthony said
grimly. "shed those clothes. David
"Tll shed 'em when you go ont"
David said monotonously. I'D rather
undress alone"
Johnson Boilers plump hands were
on his plump hips and he surveyed
his old friend darkly.
"Are you actually going to keep the
youngster here against his willy" he
demanded.
Il ami" snapped Anthony.
Johnson Boiler swallowed his won.
dering rage.
Il hope you get all that's coming to
you!" he said. ~ hope he sues you for
a million dollars and collects every
penny Of it,"
And he turned and thumped out Of
Davids chamber. down the corridor,
and into the living room. across the
living room, and into his own bed
chamber-and there for little he sat
on the edge of the bed and swore
aloud.
Presently he heard Anthony come
through from David's room, muttering
to himself: he heard the switch snap.
and the streak Of light under his door
vanished.
With long, weary groan Johnson
Boiler slipped back to Sunderland,
and presently he was again in Mon.
treal 1t was still winter. and they
we're holding a skiing contest Bea.
trice was there at the top of the slide
and beside her stood tall, foppish
youth with a little blond mustache
He leaned very close to Beatrice as
he spoke, and deyoured her beauty
with his hungry eyes.
In the East the first gray light of
dawn was streaking the skies.
In Anthony Fry's living room, ever
so family. objects just cook shape in
the gloom, coming foggily out of the
inky blackness that had been, even
ten minutes ago. Down the corridor
a door creaked. and minute or more
after the creak the stiffness was
even more pronounced.
Then, had one been awake and
listening. the sottest. lightest shuttle
came from the corridor-paused-
moved on again. There was sharp
intake Of breath and the almost in
audible sound of hand feeling along
the corridor wall, feeling along and
feeling along until it touched the cur.
tains OF the living room
In the wide doorway of the dusky
place an indefinite. strange figure APP
peared and stopped. 1t wore slippers,
several sizes too large. 1t wore bath
robe of gray. so long that its owner
held it up from the floor to avoid trip
ping. 1t wore pajamas, too. and of
these the legs wers upturned almost
one foot-for they were Anthony's pa