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

nlle QaZeO.
| On the other side of the closed door
he could hear the slow ticking OF the
typewriter which stood on Mr.. Cocker.
Ills desk. The canaries were singing
! vigorously. but the parrot had relap'
sed into silence. Every now and then
he could hear the rattle Of the eleva-
tor. and the hum of traffic from Pic
csdilly was just audible.
So passed the first half hour IN his
new situation. At one o'clock pre-
cisely a neatly dressed waiter climbed
/ the stone stairs, bearing luncheon on
a tray. He stared at Bliss and Bliss
stared at him.
who's that for?" Bliss asked.
your guv'nor," the waiter replied.
"Is he there?"
Bliss knocked at the door and thrust
in his head.
"A waiter is here with luncheon,
sir" he announced.
HE can enter Mr.. Cockerill d.
rected.
The man arranged the tray upon a
table at the side of the desk with the
air OF one accustomed to the task
"You can order from this young
man." Mr.. Cockerill said, "a chop or
steak or cut from the joint, with
cheese and half a pint OF beer. not
more. You must eat in your chair
outside and you may not smoke
Bliss gave his order promptly. ate
his luncheon with astounding appetite
and sat back in his chair afterward
with folded arms. He was beginning
10 realize that this task Of doing moth
ing was not, after all, SO easy.
He read chapter on the peculiar
habits and dietic predictions of bull
finches with great care. He also laid
in a store Of knowledge as to the do
nestle habits of canaries, and the all
ments likely to attack parrot. After
which he became little bored.
He heard with positive relief, at
about four o'clock. the stoppage of the
elevator on the floor below, and the
sound of light footsteps ascending the
final flight Of stairs.
The visitor was lady, young, slim
and, az far as one could tell under her
unusually thick veil, good-looking.
you wish to see Mr.. Cockerill ma
DAM Bliss inquired in his best man
ner
"At once. please" she assented.
What name shall say, madam ?"
"Mr. Cockerill is expecting me-
she replied hastily.
Bliss knocked at the door and an
nounced the visitor. Afterward he
relapsed into his chair and dozed. 1t
was. perhaps. twenty minutes before
the door reopened and the young lady
passed out.
He rose to his feet. 1t was in his
mind to precede her down the stairs
and ring for the elevator. But she
gave him no chance OF carving out his
Intention. For one thing, she passed
out far too quickly. and for another,
he caught CLEAN OF something in her
eye which held him spellbound.
She appeared nervous when she had
arrived; she seemed to depart in a
dream Of terror!
CHAPTER VII.
A Mysterious Business.
Bliss sank slowly back into his
chair and pinched himself to make
sure that he was really awake
At half-past five precisely Mr.. Cock
erill opened the door
81 shall now" he said, "show you
exactly how I like the cages cleaned
Tommy, as you will discover, Is very
particular about sand. and my little
canary there. Jenny. call her, abso-
lutely refuses to sleep in the dark
We have to leave the curtain just a
little open. Bring in some water from
the tap there"
For quarter of an hour Bliss was
instructed in the art of looking after
the birds.
AT the end OF that time Mr. Cocker
ill took up an Immediately brushed
silk hat and, closing his desk. came
out and locked the door Of his room.
Tomorrow morning" he announced
I'VE meet here at nine o'clock. If I
choose to be a little late you will sit
will find the Times on the mat. which
you will kindly not touch, as I prefer
to open it myself. Here is a SOW
ereign. Buy yourself some linen col.
lars and a respectable hat, and ac-
count to me for the change; or, II II
is any convenience to you, you can de.
duct it from your first weeks salary.
wish you good evening"
Bliss followed his employer down
the stairs, little bewildered. He
purchased the collars and the hat, and
after some hesitation. he treated him
self to a packet OF cigarettes. Then
he made his way homeward.
Mrs. Heath, whom he passed climb
ing the many stairs that led to his
room, looked at him little anxious1y.
amy luck. sir?' she asked.
"It's all right, Mrs. Heath" he de-
clared cheerily. I've got job again.
Light porter at twenty-five shillings a
week. Smithson's came out all right
in the long run. shall be able to pay
my rent on Saturday.
you know. II wasn't the money I
was thinking OF so much, Mr.. Bliss"
she said. with pathetic smile; but
any one can see you have not been
used to these privations, and the
breakfasts you've eaten the last few
mornings haven't been enough to keep
a child alive, much less young man
who is tramping about looking for
work all day"