Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-24
but think that you have. So good

contraction of the brows while he
asked himself If astute rivals might
not have been tampering with this
young fellow and trying to buy the
firms secrets. An instant's ref1ec-
ton, however, treasured him. Alban
had no SECRETS worth the name to
sell, and did he possess them, money
would not buy them. Half mad but
entirely honest" was Mr.. fuckers
comment, 'he will either make for
tune or throw, himself over London
Bridge" y
Alban had been quite truthful when
he said that he had manythings in
his mind, but this confession did not
mean to signify . possibility of now
employment In honest truth, he had
hardly left the gates, of the great
yard when he realized how hopeless
his position was OF last weeks
wages but a few ,shillings remained
in his pocket. He knew. no one to
whom he might offer such serv!cc5 as
he had to give. The works had
taught him the elements Of mechant-
cal engineering and common sense
told him that skilled labor rarely
went begging if the laborer We're
worthy his hire. None the less, the
prospect Of touting for such employ
ment affrighted him beyond words.
He felt that he could not again abase
himself for few paltry shillings a
week. The ambition to make of this
misfortune a stepping stone to better
things rested on no greater security
than his pride and yet 1t would not be
wholly conquered. He spent a long
morning by the riverside planning
schemes so futile that even the boys
mind rejected them The old copy
book maxims REQUIRED to h1me and
were treated with derision. He kenw
that he would never become Lord
Mayor of London-after prosperous
career in dingy Office which he had
formerly swept out with house
maids broom.
The lower reaches OF the Thames
are world OF themselves; peopled
by nation Of aliens; endless In the
variety Of their life; Astounding IN
weird and beautiful pictures which
even the landsman can appreciate. Al
ban rarely tired of that panorama Of
sWirling waters and drifting hunks and
the majestic shapes Of resting ships.
And upon such tay as this which
had made an idler Of him, their Inter
est i~rreased tenfolds; and to this
Their. asbadded wonder which had
never. corae into MS life before. For
surely, he argued, this great river was
the high road to an Ell Dorado of
which he had dreamed; to that
shadowy land Of valley and OF noun
| tain which his. Imagination SO ardently
| desired. Let, a, man find employment
upon the deck Of one of those splendid
ships and henceforth the whole world
would be open, to him. Alban debated
this as a possible career, and as he
thought of 1t the spell OF the craving
for new sights and scenes afar
mastered him to the exclusion of all
other thoughts. Who was to forbid
MIN; who had the right to stand be,
tween him and his world hunger SO
irresistibly?s When a voice within
whispered girls name in his ear, he
could have laughed aloud for very
derision A fine thing that ne should
talk of the love of women or let his
plans be Influenced for the sake of a
pretty face! Why, he would be a
beggar, himself in a week, it might
be without single copper In his
pocket or a roof to shelter him! And
he was Just the sort of man to live on
woman's earnings-just the one to
cast tho glove to fortune and Of his
| desperation achieve the final madness.
No. no, he must leave London. The
city had done with nim-he had never
been 80 sure Of anything in all his
life.
1t was an heroic resolution, and
shame that hunger should SO NAL
treat it. When twelve o'clock struck
and Alban remembered how poor a
breakfast he mad. made. he did not
think it necessary to abandon any of
his old habits, at least not Immediate
~; and he went, as he usually had
done. to the shabby dining room in
Union street where he and Lois mad
taken their dinners together for many
month past. Borskoff's daughter
was already at table and waiting for
him when he entered; he thought that
she was unusually pale and that her
expectancy was not that of common
occasion Was 1t possible that she
also mad news to tell hin1-news as
momentous as his own? Alban feared
to ask her. and hanging his cap on
peg above their table without word
he sat down and began to study the
greasy menu.
What's the luck, Alb dear-why dc
you look like that"
Little Lois asked the question
struck by his odd manner and ap.
pearance.
He answered her with surprising
candor-for the sudden determination
came to him that he must tell Lois
mo luck at all Lois"
/ why, you don't mean"
| Il do, and that's straight. There
is no further need Of my services
You've got the sack?"
! 1.-THE whole of it. Lois-and nov
I'm selling 1t cheap
| The girl laughed aloud. but there
were tears in her eyes while she die
SO. What day for them both She
was angry almost with him for telling
her.
why. il father amt a-gettin' or
the prophet line-he said you would
Alb. So help me rummy. l was tha
angry with him I couldn't hear my
self speak. And now it's all come
true. Why, Alb. dear-and | wanted