Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-07
CHAPTER V-(Continued.)

blSS, Win HIS olu Sio'hSo AZ -
brown paper parcel under his arm.
new dignity in his carriage and two
pounds in his left hand trousers
pocket, was walking steadily east
ward.
CHAPTER WI
A Dream Of Terror.
Bliss stood before the window OF his
attic, gazing down upon one of the
busy streets in the neighborhood or
st. Pancras.
f Behind him, his landlady was busy
9clearing away his meager breakfast.
Below, the rain-soaked streets were
thronged with an ever increasing
stream of people and a tangled chaos
]: Of MISUNDERSTANDING vehicles. A
astunted row Of smoke blackened trees
tstood like dreary sentinels before
medley of deected-looking tenement
houses. The horizon was gray and
shurky
IN. Perhaps, for the first time in his
life, Bliss realized the intense depres'
sion that comes Of sheer ugliness.
~. you'll excuse my reminding you,
,ssir, but it's gone eight o'clock. y
ia Bliss turned suddenly round. His
landlady was standing with the tray
In her hands, preparing to leave the
room. She was small. thin woman.
Her face was sharpened with the
stress of many anxieties Her gray
chair was brushed uncompromisingly
back from her forehead.
IA Nevertheless. there was kindness
IN her tone. kindness even in her
Cad eyes and tired mouth. She looked
at her lodger as though she almost
j dreaded to hear his reply.
mo hurry for me this morning,
Mrs. Heath" Bliss said Il have had
y 10 leave that first Job Of mine
"a She sighed as she rested the tray
L for a moment on the edge Of the table.
"It's bad luck SIR" she said simply.
Rotten" Bliss agreed.
TITS q wretched morning to go out
looking for work. she went on. "You
haven't any idea OF post, sup
pose?''
Bliss shook his head grimly
ITO tell you the truth. Mrs.
Heath" he said 1t isn't very often I've
found myself in this position, and
am not sure that go about the bust
ness the right way. What do your
dodgers do as q rule when they want
job"
"They try either labor bureau or
a registry Office" Mrs. Heath told
him, according to their means and
the sort Of job they want"
give weeks salary in my pocket
and I don't owe you anything, do l
Mrs Health"
"You know I'm not thinking about
that, sir she declared reproachfully.
7 mi vii IN q
registry ONCE" he decided. Tell me
q good one. Mrs. Heath.
She paused for moment to reflect.
ut depends a little on the sort OF
post you're looking for she said.
'NCw. what you want. sir, is some.
thing light and gentlemanly; any one
can see you weren't made for hard
work Besides there is something
ABOUT your appearance. Why, when
your clothes are brushed up, and
you've got clean collar on. any one
might take you for a gentleman.
should try for something light, sir"
III it comes" Bliss remarked
thoughtfully, TO a contest between
brain an muscle am not really sure,
IN my case, which would win. Let
me give myself the benefit Of the
doubt and say brain.
"Then you try smithson's, corner
Of Endell street." Mrs. Heath advised.
'T know young fellow got job there
twenty-four shilling week, and kept
Il for two years"
Bliss took up his hat
"Smithson's 1t shall be- he de-
clared. land here's luck. Mrs Heath"
The luck came slowly For four
successive mornings Bliss spent the
0seater part OF his day either waiting
about Smithson's or making long and
purposeless tramps In search OF a sit.
uation.
once was greater than usual He
stood for half an hour in cue Of men
OF all ages and conditions. Every now
and then he moved few steps for
ward.
In the end his turn came He leaned
across the counter of the inquiry
once and was confronted by an
anemic looking young man who wore
spectacles and a general air of dis
traction.
"You back again" he exclaimed,
as he recognized Bliss why, have
given you a dozen names in the last
four days
Done my best" Bliss answered
promptly. Il was five minutes too late
for the last job"
The young man scrubbed a name
on q piece Of paper and handed it
across the counter.
Look here" he said "If you can't
bring that of, you'd better try another
once. You've had your value out OF
this one"
GIVE tried for every job you've
given me- Bliss protested. I've good
references. and I'm not particular
about wages. 1t isn't my fault if they
are all filed up before I get there"
We'll, hop 1t now the young man
advised. Don't show yourself here
unless you're prepared to plank down
another fee"
Bliss marched out into the street,
glanced at the piece of paper in his
hand, and set off steadily westward.
In something less than an hour he
arrived at his destination He paused