Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-28

IucSlSleu lndL curve.
Mrs. Heath set down the tray again
IAN expression of anxiety clouded he1
face
You are feeling all right. sir?' she
faltered "A bit Of luck hasn't turned
your brain. or nothing of that sort?"
| Bliss laughed cheerfully.
| Not it," he replied. AS a matter
of fact, Mrs. Heath, am not so sure
about the luck. These aren't clothes
I've got on; it's livery
Got job as waiter, eh?" Mrs.
Heath suggested hopefully. II had
a young fellow here once used to earn
his two pounds a week regular at
Gattis. Lawks"
Bliss had produced silk hat and a
white muffler and was drawing on a
pair of white gloves.
Where might you be going, sir, like
that?" she asked.
! ITO look for adventures, Mrs.
Heath Bliss replied. I'm going to
wander a little way into the world
know nothing about"
Well, I wish you luck in the new
job, sir whatever 1t may be- Mrs.
Heath declared. finally preparing to
! depart IF I'd known you'd been 60
! ing out like that I'd have brought you
something better than bread and but
! ter for your tea
/ IF have any luck. Mrs HEATH
Bliss told her. as he accompanied her
to the head Of hte stairs, Il am ex-
pecting to get supper out of the job.
! Bliss found motor omnibus which
6an0cit06 tn, i~hh or 80
Leicester Square, and at few min
utes before nine O'Clock he sauntered
into the promenade at the Empire.
The place was fairly we'll filled. and
he found himself studying the faces of
the passers-by with an entirely new in
terest. He amused himself trying to
classify them-sheep, goats, neutrals.
OF the former there was only one
young man he found himself able to
accept without hesitation. He was
tall, with round face and high
color; a badly brushed silk hat; a
shirt from which one stud kept con-
tinually disappearing; made-up
black tie. and dress coat He had
red hands and he wore no gloves. He
carried himself badly, and he was
smoking Virginian cigarettes.
Bliss tracked him down to the cigar
stall, where he found him negotiating
the purchase of shilling cigar.
Curiously enough. fate made things
easy. The young man was. without
doubt, clumsy, and in turning little
abruptly he broke his cigar upon Bliss
elbow.
"My fault entirely" Bliss declared.
You must let me replace that"
Couldn't think of IT," the young
man protested.
II must insist" Bliss continued,
selecting one himself from the box
UNLESS you have any special favorite,
think you will like these. Rather a
dull ballet, isn't it?'
The young man was shy at first and
seemed at the point of sheering off
after few more amenities. Sud
denly, however, he changed his mind.
Like to sit DOWN." he asked.
81 took couple Of stalls. but my
friend was not able to come"
Bliss promptly accepted the invita-
ton. The young man produced a
card and became confidential His
name was Sturgess; his father was a
hosiery manufacturer in the Midlands;
he had come up to London, on business
and stayed to see the football match
at the Crystal Palace. He knew moth |
learn,
He accepted Bliss invitation to
supper without hesitation. and talked |
throughout that meal with the noisy |
high spirits of young men of his class. |
He became detected, however, when
the lights were lowered.
Rotten place, London" he re-
marked. Nothing to do after half
past twelve Have you ever been to
Paris?"
''Once or twice. Bliss told him.
IT'S well enough, but London's only |
dull if you don't know your way
about
How the mischief is anyone Who
only comes up once month to fnd
their way about?" grumbled the
young man whose name was Sturgess
Mr.. Sturgess. who played his cards
we'll. seemed uneasy. He
glanced continually around the room.
Don't any of these people play for
higher stakes?" he asked.
Mr.. Fancourt shook his head
"a penny's about our limit" he
replied Were none of us wealthy"
"a little game of poker?'' Sturgess
En-
Mr. Fancourt shook his head firmly.
Couldn't be done; dead against the
rules. Besides, hate poker
Mr. Sturgess relapsed into silence.
Half an hour later he received three
and sixpence, the balance Of his win
1ings, and prepared to depart. Bliss
at sign from Mr.. Fancourt, remain
ed
See you again some time. hope"
Mr.. Sturgess said. eff you're ever
Town our way"
''I'll look you up Bliss promised
The door swung to and Mr.. Stur-
CESS departed. Bliss strolled back to
where Mrs. Fortescue and Fancourt
we're seated side by side. Mr.. Fan.
court motioned him to sit down on
he settee.
I'm not blaming you in the least,
\ I