Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-23

~. dlCld S ISbGI SlS6pS.
The misty air swan luminous with
the light of electric signs as with the
radiance of some lurid and sinister
moon. The voice of London sounded
in Kirkwood's ears like the ominous
purring of a somnolent brute beast,
resting, gorged and satiated, ere ris-
ing again to devour. To devour--.
Stranded!
Distracted, he searched pocket after
pocket, locating his watch, cigar and
cigarette cases, match box, penknife
all the minutiae of pocket hard
ware affected by civilized man; with
old letters, card case, square en-
velope containing his steamer ticket;
but no sovereign purse His small
change pocket held less than three
shillings-two and eight, to be exact
and brass key, which he failed to
recognize as one of his belongings.
And that was all. At sometime dur
ing the night he had lost Cor been
cunningly bereft of that little purse
of chamois skin containing the three
golden sovereigns which he had been
outstanding to pay his steamer ex-
penses, and which, if only he had
them now, would stand between him
and starvation and night in the
streets.
And searching his heart, he found
it trimming with gratitude to Null
ready for having relieved him Of the
necessity Of settling with the cabby
"Vagabond?' said Kirkwood mus
ingly. "Vagabond?" He repeated the
word softly number of times, to get
the exact flavor of it, and found it lit
tie to his taste. And yet
He thrust both hands deep in his
trouser pockets and stared purposely
into space, twisting his eyebrows out
Of alignment and crookedly protruding
his lower lip.
If Brentwick were only in town!
But he wasn't, and wouldn't be with
in the week.
mo good waiting here" he con-
Guided. Composing his face he re-en-
tered the station. There were his
trunks, of course. He couldn't leave
them standing on the station platform
forever.
He found the luggage room and i'll
terviewed mechanically courteous
attendant. who. as the result of pro.
found deliberation, advised him to try
his luck at the lost-luggage room
across the station. He accepted the
advice; it was foregone conclusion
that his effects had been conveyed
to the Tilbury dock; they could not
have been loaded into the luggage van
without his personal supervision.
Still, anything was liable to happen
when his unlucky star was in the as
cendant.
He found them in the lost-luggage
ROOM
A clerk helped him identify the ar
ticles and ultimately chucl1led with a
perfunctory note: "Sixpence cash,
please"
"I-ah-pardon?
"Sixpence each, the fixed charge.
sir. For every twenty-four hours or
fraction thereof, sixpence per parcel"
ooh, thank you so MUCH" said
Kirl1wood sweetly 81 will call tomor-
row."
VERY good. sir. Thank you, sir"
anrb todldsmile OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Five times sixpence is two-and-six, y
Kirkwood computed making his way
hastily out of the station, lest a worse
LillS DcIdll lllll. 1SO, DlSSS
your heart!-not while two and eight
represent the sum total Of my for
tune"
He wandered out into the night; ne
could not linger round the station till
dawn; and what profit to him if he
did? Even were he to ransom his
trunks, one can scarcely change ones;
clothing in public waiting room.
Somewhere, in the distance a great
clock chimed single stroke, freight.
ed sore with melancholy. 1t knelled
the passing Of the half-hour after mid
night: a witching hour, when every
public shuts up tight, and gentlemen
in top-hats and evening dress arc
doomed to. pace the. pave till day
| (barring they have homes or visible
means Of support)-till day, when
pawnshops open and such personal ei
fects as watches and hammered silver
cigar cases may be hypothecated
Sable garments fluttering, Care fell
into step with Philip Kirkwood; Care
the memorable slipped a skeleton arm
through his and would not be denied
Care the jade clung affectionately tc
! his side, refusing to be Tilted.
| AL, Sou lIOueoll Sou NouAd loi b
me?" chuckled the fleshless lips BY
his ear "But no, my boy; I'm with
YOU now, for e--er and a day. Misery
loves company and it wouldn't ps
pretty of me to desert you in this ex
tremity, would 1t? Come, let us be
guile the hours till dawn with CONVEX
sation. Here's q sprightly subject
What are you going to do, Mr.. Kirk
wood? What are you going to do?"
But Kirkwood merely shook stub
born head and gazed straight before
him, walking fast through ways HI
did not recognize, and pretending no
to hear None the less the sense o
Cares solicitous query struck like (;
pain into his consciousness. What wa
he to do?
An hour passed.
4 Denied the opportunity to satisf
its beast hunger and thirst, humanit
goes off to it's beds. In that hour Lon
don quieted wonderfully: the street
achieved an effect Of deeper DARK
ness; the skies, lowering, looked dow:
with blush less livid for the shame
lessness Of man; cab ranks lengthel
ed; solitary footsteps added unit
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