Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-24
ALADDIN of LONDON
or LOD EST AR
/
Copyright rights reserved.
CHAPTER v
nismiSsa1

had apprenticed him in his fourteenth
year Faithful attempts to improve
his position in the works were met,
as 1t would seem, by indifference and
ingratitude. He did his work mech
anically and without enthusiasm.
Had he confessed the truth, he would
have said, 81 was not born to labor
with my hands," A sense of inherit
ted superiority. a sure conviction,
common to youth, that he would be-
come leader of men, conducted "
restlessness and want of inter.
est which he could not master. He
had the desire but not the will to
please his employers.
To such a lad these excursions to
the West End, these pilgrimages 70
the shrine Of the outcast and the
homeless were by way of being q
mental debauch. He rose from them
In the morning as a man may arise
to the remembrance of uniustified ex-
cess, which leaves the mind inert and
the body weary, His daily task pre-
sented itself in a revolving attitude.
Why ha7 he been destined to this
slavery? Why must he set out to his
work at an hour of the chilly morn
Ing WuSl CHS "CSl Eluu was
suffered and asleep and the very
footmen yawned in their beds? II he
had any consolation, it was that the
Others were often before him in that
cunning debauch from the caves
which the dawn compelled The Lady
Sarah would be at Covent Garden by
four o'clock. The Archbishop, who
rarely seemed to- sleep at all, went
off to the Serpenttne for his morning
additions when the clock struck flve
Betty" the pale-faced infant, dis
appeared as soon as the sun was up
and often when Alban awoke in
the cellar, he found himself the only
tenant Of that grim abode. Some
times, indeed and this morning fol-
lowing npon the promise of little Lois
Boriskoff was sue han occasion he
oversight himself altogether and was
shut out from the works for the day.
; This had happened before and had
brought frequent reprimands, He
feared them, and yet had not the will
/ to remember them. r,sat
= Big Ben was striking seven when
he quilted the cellar and London was
awake In earnest. Alban usually
sypent twopence in the luxury of a
wash and brush up" before he went
down to the river; but he FASTENED
on this morning conscious OF his tar.
diness and troubled at she. possible
! consequences. The bright spring
day did little to reassure him.
Weather does not mean very much
to those who labor in heated atmos-
pheres. who have no profit OF the sun
shine nor gift Of the seasons. Alban
thought rather of the fateful clock
, and of the excuses which might paci-
fly the timekeper He had never
stopped to common lies; he would not
stoop to them this day. When, at
the gate of the works, a heavy jowlei
man with a red beard asked him what
T he meant by coming there at such al
hour he answered as frankly that
he did not know.
Been out to supper with the Earl
of Barkin, perhaps" the burly man
suggested. "Well young fellow you
30 up and see Mr.. Tucker. He's par.
ticularly DESTROYS Of making your &C.
quaintance-that he Is. Tell him how
his lordship's dom and don't you
forget the ladies'"
Alban made no reply but crossing
the open yard he mounted a little
flight of stairs and knocked indiffer.
entity at the door of the dreaded ofll"e
thus indicated. An angry voice, bid
ding him come In, did not reassure
him. He found the deputy manager
frank but determined. There could he
no doubt whatever of the issue.
Kennedy he said quietly, II hope
you understand why have sent for
you"
For being late, sir. am very
sorry-I oversight myself" -
My boy, if your work was as hon
est as your tongue your fortune
would be made. am afraid | must
remember. what passed at our last
meeting. You promised me. then
II am quite aware of it, sir. The
real truth is that | can't get up. Tha
work here is distasteful to me-bGt
do my best
The manager shook his head in a
deprecating manner.
I'VE have given you many chances
Kennedy" he rejoined eff it rested
with me, I would give you another
But 1t doesn't rest with met rests
with that necessary person. Example
What would the men say if treated
you as a privileged person? You know
that the work could not go on Fol
the present at any rate. you are sus
pended. must see my directors and
take instructions from them, Now
really, Kennedy, don't you think that
you have been very foolish?"
II suppose So sir. That's what
foolish people generally think. il
must make lot of difference to 70,
whether man comes AT six or sever
even II he does good deal more worf
than the early opFs, | could do wha
you ask me to do in three hours /;
day That's what puzzles me-
The amiable Mr.. Tucker was up n
arms in a moment.
Now come, | cannot discuss ali
stract propositions with you, Our
hours are from six to six. You X
not choose to keep them and, there
fore, you must go. When you are
little more practically inclined | viii
speak to the directors for you. Yo'
may come and tell me so when tina
is the case"
II shall never come and tell you sc
sir. [ wish that could--but it will