Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-02
CHAPTER XVIII.
Merely Hall Crown


Bliss, who was crossing the Strand on
his way to the nearest labor bureau
glanced up quickly.
The thing which he had dreaded so
long had happened at last. He recog-
nized the speaker with a sinking heart
Dick Honerton, a very smart young
man about town, one Of his quondam
companions, man whom every one
seemed to know and no one knew any.
thing about.
He was dressed, as usual, in the
height Of fashion, and although he
grasped Bliss heartily by the hand. 1t
was obvious that he was struggling
with an immense establishment.
my dear fcllow!' he exclaimed.
"Why, do you know that rou are one
of the mysteries Of London? Where
have you been to? What's happened?
What's the meaning Of it all?"
II didn't know that there was any
mystery about it." Bliss replied evas,
lively. II thought that every one had
heard Of my misfortunes."
The young man coughed He had
too much tact. however, to be at COM
plete loss.
$50 it's true. is it. that you've lost
all your tin. old chap" he remarked
compassionately. "No reason why
you should slip away and hide,
though! I'm quite certain that some
of your old pals, would like to have "a
chance Of doing something for you"
Very kind, I'm sure" Bliss NUT
tered. "All the same, I've a feeling
that now have to earn my own living
I'd rather do 1t among different class
Of people,"
"It's really as bad as that, is it?'
Honerton observed, with polite regret
Bliss assented gloomily. Since the
day when, in accordance with the
terms Of his unwritten wager, he had
been obliged, to their Joint and pro.
found regret. to sever his connection
the last fortnight applying 70 situa-
tons an hour too late; missing others
because OF some trifling disqualified
ton.
He was left at that moment with
less than a shilling in his pocket, and
the rent OF his room due on the fol-
lowing day.
His clothes, too. had suffered. He
had torn his coat, and Mrs Heaths at
tempts at repairing it were distinctly
amateurish. There was hole in the
sole OF his boot. mercifully concealed
but Of which he was. none the less
acutely conscious The bottoms Of
his trousers were frayed. The nap
had worn Off his clothes through too
frequent brushings The hand Of pow
erty had him now closely in it's grip
His face was little pinched For
two mornings he had been obliged to
deny himself the luxury Of shave.
Worst OF all, he had not dared to go
near Frances for more than q week.
Not all his optimism could have ex.
planned away his almost pitiful condi-
ton, and the one thing he dreaded
more than anything else in life was
that she should lose that little flame
Of hope which he had strlven so des.
perately to keep alight.
SO long as they did not meet, he
was safe. He had her promise that
she would do nothing without giving
him warning. SO he contented him
self with sending her cheerful little
notes and explaining that he was too
hour from his work.
at is bad as it can be- he sighed.
I've had job as chauffeur I'm
looking for another now"
Dick Honerton was a young man
who lived by his wits, an astute per-
son who prlded himself that he had
no heart and little conscience. how.
ever, to belle himself.
Come and have drink, old fellow. :"
he invited
Bliss looked down at his clothes.
They were as neat as they could be
made. but they became HIS present
station in life. He was painfully con.
scious again OF that hole In the sole Of
his boot. Honerton thrust an under
standing arm through his.
Don't be fool" he said. We'll
go across to Ransome's. You won't
see soul there you know, and II
you'll forgive my saying so. you look
as IL stiff whisky and soda would do
you good"
"A very stiff one Bliss admitted,
with dry biscuit. would do me a
great deal of good
They entered popular bar In the