Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-18
CHAPTER XII, (Continued).


yves Bit what astonishes me ever
more was the fact that ne oareu u
call. You see the first time | met NH
was this afternoon. | look pains NC
fore he left to tell him never 10 come
again. He disobeyed me. however
do not think he will do SO again. If ne
should forget himself, Horace mas MS
orders , -
Constance fought back a desire to
scream. ~ ~,
"Do understand that you take the
liberty Of deciding what persons snal
enter this house," she demanded.
1T is not a liberty; it is my bus'
ness"
"You insult mel
"Far from it. went to the pains, on
the occasion first saw MN. or sparlhs
have dismissed him on sight. instead
awaited an opportunity to see hltn
alone, as he was leaving =,
81 will receive whom | please!
stormed Constance.
mo. Miss Brooke. You will receive
whom please
There was absolute horror in her
eyes
please be assured that. in general
way" he added quickly. 81 DO not crlt.
icizes your friends. 1t is only an ood
one, here and there. ] have far less
trouble in your case than IN the case
OF your brother Apparently you exer.
else a better natural judgement; ]
cannot call it trained judgment. IN
passing. I will say that l do not think
young Mr.. Witherbee will annoy you
again"
Only the night before Mr.Witheroee,
a male blond who suffered from musl-
cal hallucinaton. had been caller.
"You told him."
mot in person. had no opportuni-
ty, except in your presence. VI
course, had no desire to embarrass
you, sent him postal card THIS
morning"
zone cent, you see. A letter costs
two cents. We must be consistent IN
our economies
Constance felt that she was losing
her reason.
"A postal card!" she screamed
THAT everybody can read!"
The efficiency man shrugged ms
shoulders to indicate that it was mat
ter Of no importance.
"Oh. Oh! / shall go mad"
II think not, Miss Brooke. Possibly
Mr.. Witherbee will, but that might be
rather desirable, inasmuch as it would
probably lead to his confinement. How
ever I have no ill will for him"
81 will not submit!T shrieked Con-
stance.
The efficiency man arose and gtanc'
ed at his watch.
4You-you let my brother have his
friends here, and i"
THAT is just exactly what l was
going to see about, Miss Brooke. Your
brother is Entertaining some friends up
stairs. am about to drop in on them
Constance could have bitten on her
tongue. She felt that she had betray'
ed Billy.
ITS all right" he said, reading her
thoughts. Il was going up anyhow.
knew they were here"
He left Constance in the library,
dumb over the misfortune OF the
Brooke family.
Outside the door Of B1ly's room Fl.
Hedge paused for only an instant,
then knocked twice and entered with
out waiting for a summons.
There were five young men seated
at table, and one of them was Billy
Brooke. It was apparent that none OF
them had heard the knock, and also
that they were stn othvous OF the
presence Of visitor.
You'll have to come again." Billy
said airily, as he pushed two blue
cheeks toward the center Of the table.
Mime are still looking healthy"
"And then some,' said a slender
youth who sat at his left AS he spoke,
be noncha1ant1y showed four blue
chips away from hts stack.
"Fn trot," murmured his nefghhor.
Here too
I'm dead"
Bfl1y sddd tvo-cffps to the spot and
picked up the pack.
"CQdsv he yaNned.
Help the rest" declared the slender
youth YEARLY. These II do me-
Ouch! Gimme three" said the
Deighbor, ecowiing.
"Just the top one" said the next.
The efficiency man had his eyes on
Billy. who tossed aside the deck and
indicated that he was satisfied with
his own portion.
The four young men who had stayed
n we've presently reduced to two. Billy
and the slender one. After two raises,
my called.
Mine are all pink" observed the
slender one in bored voice
Thirty days and a pair OF type
writer's drawled Billy. facing his hand
and reaching for the pot.
H. Hedge stepped into the room and
coughed. Five young men looked up
from their labors and eyed him in as
constituent.
Gambling is not permitted in this
house." he said pleasantly.
The guests looked at Billy, who
arose and faced the intruder
"Why not?" he demanded
Prom what little know Of the mat
ter" remarked r. Hedge, 81 take it you
oave been playing poker Poker is
gambling. 1t is a game of chance.
which involves an interchange OF
money without valuable consideration
being given 1t is an extravaganza and
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