Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-31
ting, at me young man, but III take


the tsixpenny 'orth of gin cold"
Bliss entered on his new occupation
the same afternoon, and the first ten
days passed not unpleasantly. The
livery provided for him when he was
sent out to drive kept him warm, and
although he had one or two narrow
escapes, he managed to get through
his first few jobs without misadven-
lures.
! He even received with gratitude a
tip of half crown from physician
whom he took on his rounds, shil-
ling fSom a spinster lady whom he
took from Hyde Park Square to a
meeting at Richmond and back again;
and five shillings from young man
of his acquaintance who engaged him
for the evening, and kept him waiting
for two hours outside his own favorite
restaurant.
His new position provided him, be-
yond doubt, with more time for re.
Election than any of his previous es-
says into industrial life. For hours
! together he watched the great human
tide of London sweep along her pave
ments. He saw the people who COM
| prised it, from their own point OF
view.
Faces into which before he would
never have glanced for a moment
awakened in him now a peculiar and
real sympathy. He felt himself curl
ously out of touch with the world he
had quilted.
Though there were times when he
longed almost Historically for the lux
uries and comforts which he had left
behind him. there were also times
when he thought with aversion of the
daily routine of his past life.
On his evenings off he turned DELHI.
erately toward the East End for his
amusement He patronized the huge
music halls in the outlying districts Of
London. Often he walked the streets
and open spaces where the throngs
were greatest
He made few promiscuous &C.
quaintances, none of whom, however,
survived the first half-hour or so Of
conversation Yet all the time he
was very lonely.
One night, in Drury Lane, he came
face to face with Frances.
AT last" he cried almost exult.
antly.
k'hC SoNC It'll ACA AioAa.
That's all very WELL" she said
to see me?"
II came last Sunday he replied.
1.-The house was closed
She nodded
"You happened to come just when
there was no one there, them she re-
marked. "I'd left my address for you.
Where are you going to now?"
He realized with sudden start that
she was paler and not so we'll dressed.
TITS my evening off," he declared.
Il was Just going to have something
to eat and try for the gallery of the
Lyceum afterward What about your
give just left work." she told him.
II was just going back to my new
rooms
Come with me and have some din
ner," he begged.
She shook her head doubtfully.
There's little place in the next
street where we can dine for ten
pence" he went on eagerly Lets go
along there and we can have a talk.
can manage the theatre, too, if you
like; anyhow. we can go to picture
palace"
W may pay for my own dinner
she stipulated.
He laughed and they turned away
together. He led to the little place
he knew Ola tiny eating house in a
back street, where. for some reason or
other, everything was clean and
window was sometimes opened.
"You see." she explained. setting
down the menu 81 left Mr.. Masters,
and l didn't find another place till
last week"
"You left Mr.. Masters?" he gasped
She nodded.
Il couldn't help it, she said. III
perhaps tell you about it some day
They were both hungry. and they
frankly abandoned conversation while
they ate their soup. Bliss was count
ing the coins In his trousers pocket
with che fingers of his right hand.
(To ha continued \