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

Se~3
pelt any sixty-four eggs down me-"
David she said reproachfully, 81
must confess that you don't sound
very sick. The doctor says, Take him
west and am taking youeif I ever
get rid Of these eggs. But I do think
1t 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 it, you
know"
Here comes Mrs Safer, with a Gov
cred basket" announced David, glanc
ing from the window. II just wonder
If the dear kind woman is bringing me
a few fresh eggs. You know the doc
tor advised me to eat fresh eggs and
Carol clutched her curly head in de-
spair. "Cock-a-doodle-doo she
crowed.
you mean, Observation-Disclosures u
reproved David.
Mrs. Safer paused outside the manse
door in blank establishment. Dear
precious David so terribly Ill, and poor
little Carol getting ready to take him
away to strange and awful country
and the world full Of sadness and
weeping and gnashing 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 were 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 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. eve saw you from
the window, but ! was laughing so
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 preacher So i 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 thu
pillows. ooh, easily" he echoed help.
lessly.
81 knew woman that ate eighteen
eggs every day. said Mrs Safer en-
couragingly. "She got we'll and
weighed 230 pounds and then she had
apopleXy and died"
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.
"Are 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
the darkening Of his eyes. "a splendid
chair. 1t isn't sold yet 1t cost us
eight seventy.f1ve one year ago, and
we are selling 1t 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-alr 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
tiny bit, and tied it in the corner OF
her handkerchief.
MY money, MI David Arnold Duke
and shall buy candy and talcum with
it,"
Then she ran into the adjoining
room to answer the telephone.
Mrs. Safer looked about her hesitat
in oil opd 1aopod forward