Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-06-04

Pelted with eggs. But you cant
pelt any sixty-four eggs down me-
David she said reproachfully, q
must confess that you don't sound
very sick. The doctor says, Take him
west and am taking you il ever
get rid of these eggs. But do think
it would be more appropriate to take
you to a vaudeville show where you
might coin some of this extravagant
humor. There's a market for 1t, you
know
Here comes Mrs. Safer, with GOV.
cred basket" announced David, glanc'
ing from the window. II just wonder
If the dear kind woman is bringing me
few fresh eggs. You know the doc
tor advised me to eat fresh eggs and
Carol clutched her curly head in de.
spair. Observation-Disclosures" she
crowed.
"Yousm 'Cut.cut cut-ca-duck-et,'
reproved David.
Mrs, Safer paused outside the manse
door in blank establishment. Dear,
precious David so terribly i'll, and poor
little Carol getting ready to take him
away to strange and awful country,
and the world full Of sadness and
weeping and crashing of teeth, and
yet-from the open window Of the
manse came the clear ring Of Carols
laughter, followed closely by David's
deeper voice. What in the world was
there to laugh at, since tuberculosis
had raped at the manse door?
They we're young, Of course, and
they were still in love-that helped.
And they had the deathless courage Of
the young and loving. But Mrs. Safer
bet a dollar she wouldn't waste any
time laughing II tuberculosis were
stalking through her home.
Come In" said Carol, in answer to
her second ring. I'VE saw you from
the window, but l was Laughing so I
was ashamed to open the door. David's
so silly, Mrs. Safer. Since he isn't
obliged to strain his mental capacity
by thinking up sermons, he has devel-
oped quite funny streak Oh, did you
bring us some nice fresh eggs? How
dear Of you. Yes, the doctor said he
must eat lots Of them"
'They were just laid yesterday"
said Mrs. Safer complacently "And
said to myself, Nice fresh eggs like
these are too good for anybody less
than a preacher So brought them.
There's just half dozen-he ought to
eat that many in one day"
ooh, yes, easily. He is very fond
of egg-nog."
David spluttered feebly among ths
pillows. ooh, easily" he echoed help
1essly.
II knew a woman that ate eighteen
eggs every day" said Mrs, Safer en-
couragingly. "she got well and
weighed 23G pounds and then she had
apoplexy and died." i
David turned on Carol reproachfully.
There you see! That's what comes
of eating raw eggs" Then he added
suspiciously, Maybe you knew 1t be-
fore and have been enticing me to
raw eggs on purpose"
Both Carol and David seized this
silly pretext to relieve their feelings
and laughed SO heartily that good Mrs.
Safer was quite concerned for. them.
She had heard it sometimes affected
folks like that-a great nervous or
mental shock. She looked at them
very anxiously indeed.
care you selling your furniture
pretty well?~ she asked nervously.
ooh, just fine. Mr. Barker at the
drug store has promised to fumigate
everything after we are gone, SO we
won't scatter any germs in our wake.
Carol spoke hurriedly, her heart swell.
ing with pity as she saw the sudden
convulsive clutching of David's hands
beneath the covers. "Mr Daniels has
a list Of who bought what and will
see that everything is delivered in
good shape. Only, we take the money
ourselves in advance. Now look at
this chair, Mrs. Sater-a lovely chair,
she ratified, thinking wretchedly Of
that contraction Of David's hands and
chair. 1t isn't sold yet. 1t cost us
eight seventy-f1ve one year age, and
we are selling it for the mere pittance
Of five dollars even-we make it even
because we haven't any change. A
most beautiful chair, an article to
grace any home, constant reminder
Of us, chair in which great men have
sat-Mr. Daniels, and Mr.. Baldwin,
and the horrible gas collector who has
made life wretched for every one in
the Heights, and--al1 for five dollars,
Mrs. Safer. Can you resist it?"
Carols voice took on new ring as
she saw the shadow leave David's
eyes, and his lips curve into laughter
again.
Well, swan, Mrs. Duke, If you don't
beat all. Yes, I'll take that chair. 1t
may not be worth five dollars, but you
are"
Carol ostentatiously collected the
five dollars, doubled it carefully into
a tiny bit, and tied 1t IN the corner of
her handkerchief.
My money, Mr.. David Arnold Duke.
and l shall buy candy and talcum with
it."
Then she ran into the adjoining
room to answer the telephone.
Mrs. Safer looked about her hesitat-
ingly and leaned forward.
David" she said in a low voice,
Carol ought to 80 home to her father