Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-17
TIE CURIOUS QUEST
of MIR. Err NEST BLISS
bv E. PHILLIPS OPPENHElM


the she'd Then you can feed the pony
There's load of these here taters t.
take down to the Mile End Road as
soon as I've finished sorting en-"
Bliss passed through hideously I'm
tidy sitting room, on the table Of
which were the remnants Of long
completed meal and jug Of beer
three-parts empty.
The woman hesitated
ave SUPP" she asked
Thank you very much Bliss re-
piled
She divided the remainder Of the
beer into two glasses, and was OBJ
viously much impressed by the man
ner in which Bliss drank her health.
Il dunno" she said despondently
"as this job II suit yer!; They're
mostly rough lot down here, and If
yer don't get on with EN- up at Co
vent Garden, they knocks yer about
something frightful. I'm fair sick of
the rough doings and I'm not saying
as it isn't treat to ave some one
round who don't look as though he'd
be supping beer and wanting to fight
all day long. My old man was fair
terror right up to the end. This way"
She led him past an appalling-look-
| ing kitchen into tiny backyard, at
the further end of which was tumble
down shed.
You'll find the pony there, and the
food" she told him." also the harness
and the trolley. If you'll just fed him
I'll get on with the sortin'''
Bliss spent the next half-hour feed
ing and grooming detected looking
pony. At the end Of that time he
glanced round to find his employer
leaning in a conversational manner
over the half-door.
"Andier at yer work than ex-
pected," she admitted tolerantly.
you'll make the beast vain if you get
combing i'm like that"
Bliss desisted from his labors.
"Wot cher looking for now" she
asked.
IT was looking for tap and bit
of SOAP, Bliss replied, ANY place
where / could get wash
"Wot cher want to wash in the
middle Of the day for?" she demanded
suspiciously.
Bliss remained speechless. The ques-
ton seemed unanswerable.
She drew a little away from the
door.
There's tap in the back Kitchen"
she said with mild sarcasm Come
on, I'll show it to yer. Be careful you
don't get yer boots muddy in the yard.
Want to brush yer air, too?"
Bliss laughed good-naturedly.
"1'll harness up the pony first" he
Il l4I oil tfnr
much. only, you see, the last job
was in my employer was rather par
ticular."
Makes body feel quite uncomfort-
able" Mrs Mott declared feeling
about for any more stray buttons.
Bring you round the pony to the
front and I'll help you load up"
Bliss obeyed her Instructions. In
about half an hours time they had the
cart loaded.
Mrs. Mott, little breathless with
her exertions, stepped back upon the
pavement and produced from some
mysterious portion Of her attire a
small leather purse.
you'll get Bill Simons to sign the
receipt you've got with you for them
taters, and you'll have to stand 'em
pint afterward," she explained. count
ing out four coppers and handing
them to Bliss. "Only one pint, mind.
Don't stay about. cos there's another
job or two to be done ere afore
dark"
Bliss raised his hat politely.
81 will be back promptly, madam"
he promised as he drove off, leaving
her staring after him open-mouthed.
Bliss carried out his Instructions.
and delivered the potatoes at an es-
tablishment of similar character to
Mrs. Motifs, but smaller. When the
last sack had been emptied and
weighed, he was pomptly conducted to
an adjacent public-house by a malo-
dorous individual, who, in the inter-
walls Of assuaging his thirst, stared at
his companion and muttered incoher-
ent expressions under his breath.
On the return to the scene of his
labors, Bliss found Mrs Mott enter
tanning a small company of neighbors
to whom she was explaining the cir
cumstances connected with Mr.. Motifs
hurried disappearance
She introduced Bliss with slightly
self-conscious air.
'"This is the new young man." she
announced. I've 'ad to get in some
one, for 1 couldn't go up to market my
self, or drive the pony round
mot to be thought of, my DEAR
one of her sympathizers.
Game to me from the labor bu-
reau' Mrs. Mott continued, little
affecting not to notice a
sly wink from the next-door neighbor
land a very civil-spoken and we'll
young man he seems to be.
Anyway, I'm going to give i'm a trial"
Bliss, aware that he was the sub
ject of some mirthful conversation,
hurried off into the yard. Mrs. Mott
sought him out presently. =.
They've got over me-, she de-
clared. "I'm going to change. my
things, take a fish supper, and 60 to a
picture palace with them. It's not
every night as / makes so free; but
It's lonesome sitting by oneself. II
you'd care" she went on. little hest
tatingly, "to come along"
.Jf or, 70 he at CpvoDt "a rdeD at