Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-03
CHAPTER V.
Fruits of Enterprise.

street, with Inn ana tne PACKING CASE
following close behind.
He walked rapidly at first and with
out any precise idea Of his destination
Tim who had grown used to inactivity
was beginning to feel somewhat ag
grieved.
"How far might you be going, sir?'
he cried out presently, pauslng to wipe
the Precipitation from his forehead.
Bliss stopped short upon the pave
ment.
sorry; I'd forgotten all about you,
he said 4 have one or two calls to
pay before I want the stove. No need
for YOU to come with me. Look here!
Do YOU know st. James Street,"
do YOU mean st. James's street
right nm the west end?" Tim demand
ed ruefully
That's the one. Can you find your
way there without me? You can take
your own time and wait for me outside
No. 37-name of Broadbent, house
agents. shall be there in less than
an hour" .,
Tim wiped his forehead and with
surprising lack Of delicacy. referred TO
the impossibility Of getting to ST.
James's street without refreshment j.
With a sigh. Bliss thrust his HAND
into his trousers ocket and glanced
At the contents. He was possessed OF
two shillings and ninepence halfpenny,
with nothing more to come until Sat
urdav morning. He handed the nine
pence halfpenny to the porter.
"Mind you're there he enjoined.
cts important
From the first Bliss proceeded on
his new campaign with total and al
most contemptuous disregard OF dl1n-
culties. When he arrived ~ MS pa.k-
er's an hour after closing time ne sim,
ply rang the bell at the side door untll
he was admitted. The mention OF MS
name made the rest easy.
When the young man at the estate
agents in st. James's Street scoffed at
the idea OF letting an empty shop IN
Regent street for anything under
term OF years, Bliss brushed him out
NJ the way, and, with handful OF
hank notes, arranged the matter
promptly with the head Of the firm.
A few minutes later, accompanied by
the clerk carrying the keys and follow
Cd nv Tim wheeling the truck. he made
his way to the lower part of Regent
street and took temporary possession
of the new premises he had selected.
The packing case was deposited on the
boarded space in front OF the plate
xiass window. The young man, after
showing them the whereabouts OF the
electric lights and other small details
departed.
bliss closed the door after him and
returned to Tim.
Look here, Tim. you understand
these stoves, don't your he asked.
4 understand them all right" Tim
replied, "but what the mischief's our
little game here?"
you'll see fast enough tomorrow
morning." Bliss told him. What
want you to do now is to unpack the
cooking stove, fix it well in front OF
the window. and get ready to start 1t
roing at eight o'clock tomorrow morn
ing You leave the rest to me-"
Tim scratched his head obviously.
There's a bit of fuel and some oil
and polishing needed" he remarked,
ito do it Justice"
From his right hand pocket Bliss
produced couple Of sovereisns.
Take these, Tim he directed, and
buy anything you want to keep the
thing going. And listen! don't want
Won TO return to the city until ! give
the word. Well see II we can make
this go first. shall be here at eight
o'clock in the morning, too"
Tim departed wonderingly, and Bliss
followed him a few moments later. In
his right hand pocket he had three
hundred and fifty pounds in bank notes
and little loose gold. the property OF
Ernest Bliss ESQ, millionaire: in his
left hand pocket he had exactly two
shillings, the sum which represented
every penny In the world possessed by
Mr.. Ernest Bliss. town traveller to the
Arm of Masters & Co.. cooking stove
patentees and manufacturers.
It was Just the hour when the streets
OF the great city are most attractive,
both to the foreigner and to the born
I ondoner of Bliss's type and habits.
Around him fared the soft lights
which he had once found so irresistible
The subtle charm OF the West End,
which no human being has yet exactly
defined. with its restaurants de luxe,
Its music, It's gaily dressed women,
stole into his blood.
He was full Of poignant reminis-
cences. Six weeks pr;vations were
suddenly forgotten. He stood between
The entrances of two famous restaur-
ants. After all just one dinner might
20 down to the expenses of launching !
The Alpha Cooking Stove. 1t was fool
Ssh to be so quixotic.
And even then, while he hesitated,
he was suddenly clutched by the arm.
He was conscious of the perfume OF
violets and the soft touch of furs, the
lash Of pair OF dark eyes close to
his. and very familiar voice.
III ii isn't Ernest-Ernest Bliss!
You little wretch! Where have you |
,een for the last month? Hilda, just
ook here!
The two girls who had alighted
rom taxi almost held him captive.
"Not once at the theater," the little
adv who had spoken to him first con-
inued reproachfully. mot once in the
.afe at the Milan, not once, even.
rave you sent the car for us! Come
o dinner at Oddy's and tell us what