Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-20

o.
I was too much accustomed to see men
look at me askance to have cared how
any one looked at me here It seems
to me worse to look ashamed than to
look afraid.
l took a chair, from . pile in one
corner (they seemed to have been
hired for the occasion from some I'M
dertaker) and sat myself at ease to
await Developments. I waited the full
hour during which tho only interrupt
tions were rings ut the boil, the en-
trance from another room Of the serv-
ant who had opened the door for me,
and the admittance Of other candi-
dates for lifelong independence BY
the time r1ckety little alarm clock on
shelf ~ the harness closet showed
five O'Clock, the big room was full,
and men sat with chair touching chair.
There were seventy-two Of US.
Atone minute past five the servant
came out again from the other room
and locked the folding doors. Then he
worked his way about the room, and
touched a man at random. The man
got to his feet, his face paling and
flushing by turn and followed the
servant out Of the room. The door was
closed behind him.
Three minutes afterward another Of
US was summoned in the same way,
and so 1t continued. Tho interviews
lasted about two minutes each, al
though some were much shorter and
some took nearly five It was an hour
and a half before the company had
gone through the little door and my
turn. came. I had quite expected to be
among the last, and was just hitching
my chair aside to allow the summoner
to pass when he touched me on the
shoulder.
arose and squared my shoulders.
threading my way after him among
the chairs, and, as he held open the
door, gave strengthening touch to
my tie and stepped before him into
the next room. He followed me, clos
/ ing the door after him.
"The man who came on the even
hour" he announced. t
II II was the small room common to
many city stables, the sanctum Of the
head .coachman, where bits and robes
are usually kept. A large pine table
blocked the room In the middle. and
at the farther side Of 1t sat one OF
the strangest, men that ! had ever
seen. His shoulders were drawn about
his ears. a-d his hard little eyes were
almost hidden under the extraordi.
harry, long gray bush Of eyebrows that
shot down over them. His nose was
wide and long, the. only fat thing in
the shrunken leanness of his face. His
II lips and chin were long also. but the
lips set tightly. while the flesh OF the
~ ~ ayhA a
spoke 1t was this that seemed to move
rather than the lips
What Is your name?" The voice
was low and soft.
Mason Ellsworth" answered, and
squared nv shoulders while he was
writing 1t down on a slip before him.
I "Collepe?"
I yale"
GLASS;"
! $50"
"step nearer to the window and
turn so that may see you thorough
lly." 2s ~ ,.sr'
I went over to the window and
turned myself about like a clothiers
dummy.
THAT is sufficient, Ellsworth" he
Bald when"I had turned twice around
for his inspection: "you won't do"
WHY" I asked sharply. for I had
seldom been treated so abruptly be-
fore I had removed my gloves.
THAT is my affair, sir. Peters, open
the door for the gentleman"
turned to the door with heavy
heart 1t seemed I would not even pass
muster among the broken men who
answered doubtful Personals" But
as put on my hat. the old man at the
table recalled me sharply.
stop moment, Ellsworth" he
said. "Whyf were you tempted to
answer such dubious advertise
ment?'
"That is my affair" answered; for
I had had enough Of this abrupt In.
quisition.
s, The old man grinned widely and his
chin trembled like rabbits. ION the
contrary It is very much my affair
Answer my question"
4 I was thoroughly angry. What right
had this silver-voiced old ape to tor
ture me II he had already determined
my unfitness. stepped over to the
table and slowly drew off my gloves,
stretching my hands across the table
to him The servant. by the door,
caught his breath sibilantly.
/, "sit down, Ellsworth" said the old
gentleman softly: perhaps we can ar.
range matters after all"
{ | sat down wonderingly. Why should
the world be turned topsy-turvy? Why
should the very thing that had stood
in the way Of my fortune all my life
suddenly turn seemingly to my advan.
taee? oueerly enough. liked the old
man at the table less than ever.
|determined not to advance one step in
the affair until had sifted it's honesty
to the very bottom. to question this
strange man as sharply and directly
as he questioned me. After all manual
labor was still open to me; l was as
free to refuse him as he had been to
dismiss me.
II would rather know your name be-
fort / permit you to ask further CUES
TONS" said.
The old man frowned. and then
nodded slowly. "You shall know my