Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-12
Next Thursday he repeated
wonderingly,
CHAPTER XXXIf.
A Eeu Small Checks.

| Few SmdIt NnSCN0.
| Bliss awoke on the morning OF the
! 10th of December with curious
little throb of expectation, He lay
with wide-open eyes, looking around
him.
Now that the time had really come
! he could scarcely believe that his year
was over, his priyations actually at an
end.
His thoughts dwelt for a moment
or two only upon the change that the
day would bring him personally.
The wonderful part Of 1t all was
Frances. More wonderful than any
thing was the fact that, ut the end OF
these twelve long months of hardship
and suffering it was of some one else
he thought, and not of himself.
He sprang out of bed and washed
and dressed as carefully as possible.
Then he counted his money. He mad
thirty-two shillings and he owed seven
for his room.
He paid his bill, and at a little after
Ieight o'clock sailed out into the
street. AS he opened the front door
he almost ran into familiar little
figure whose hand was upon the bell.
MRS. Health" he exclaimed.
why, good morning"
1t was TRANSPORTED Mrs. Heath, a
tremulous, beatific Mrs. Heath, with d
touch of heaven in her face and all
the Joy of the world shining out OF
her poor tired eyes.
She clutched at Bliss hand.
tits you sir! It's you that's done
it!' she cried holding his hands tight
lily, deyovring him with her eager gaze,
awe thought 1T out all ways. 1t came
anonymous last night with bank notes
for sixty.hye popnds-and not q wink
of sleep have ! had all night, and I've
changed some Of them, and they're
real, and oh, sir! Oh, Mr.. Bliss! the
children are safe and I can send
Hughie to school, and I--lknow it's
you, and can't say word-my
throat's full. May God bless you!"
The wonder of 1t al seized Bliss.
He saw q new world new horizon.
The tired little woman from Tendon
street had lifted the curtain. He felt
strange tears in his own eyes as he
thrust his arm protectingly through
hers. -
"Dear Mrs. Heath he said, you
were so kind to me. and you taught
me-so much! ] sent you the money.
/ want you to be happy and free from
anxiety all your life. You've done
your share of work, you know. And
ina few days shall bring my wife to
see you.''
You've plenty left for yourself,
sir?" Mrs. Heath asked with very
human nervousness.
Bliss laughed gaily.
81 have more money, Mrs. Heath,
than any man ought to have" he as.
sured her. 'I've wasted good deal
Of it--and a good deal OF myself.
Well come and tell you the story in
a few days. I'm going back to my
own"
III there's a heaven. sir" she
began.
| Bliss wrung her hand a. he hurried
of, but 1t the corner OF the street be
turned to watch her for a moment
She was stepping briskly along home
ward, and her head was a little up
lifted.
With sudden clearness OF vision
he fancied he could read her
thoughts-that he could realize the
crushing weight lifted from her poor.
overtired heart-the sweetness of II
all--the children safe and cared for
the warm, luxurious peace Of her nm
ished struggle for existence.
The little black figure vanished al
most jauntily in the crowd, and Bliss
turned on his way with . laugh that
; was almost q sob. Arrived at the
Offices OF the omnibus company he
made his way at once to the fore
mans ONCE.
Brought you back my check, SIR
he announced. II couldn't find you
last night, and l was driving till past
on o'clock"
"Going to leave us. Bliss?" the
man asked. Il though you were get
ting on so WE'LL
y have come into a little piece Of
good fortune, sir" Bliss explained
Il am going to give up driving foi
the present"
The man stared at him.
"Well. I'm hanged IL yours aint's q
lucky bust" he declared. "Youl
mate, jennings. is going round the
place as If he were stark mad. Some
bloke he never heard OF has sent him
hundred pounds for his kids. Queer
part of 1t is, I tumbled into nifty quid
myself few days ago. And now
you're in luck! Fair ticks be blowed
If it don't"
He glanced little suspiciously at
Bliss, who made his escape as soon as
he could. He breakfasted at q coffee
stall and set off for Frances lodgings
She was just leaving the house a.
he arrived. Her face fell.
"You haven't lost your place
Ernest?" she exclaimed anxiously.
He shook his head.
II am taking holiday" he said
land / want you to take one, too"
Holiday, indeed" she echoed
bitterly. "You know can't do any
thing of the sort"
"On the contrary, l know that you
can and you will" he replied. III
ask nothing more of you in this worlc
dear, | am going to ask you to do az
! tell you today. Please telephone te
your people and tell them that you are
unable to come to work You might
"a III - o.nonl;pnJu NN,,ht