Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
THE CURIOUS QUEST
1 of MR.. ERNEST BLISS
E. PHILLIPS OPPENHE
Copyright The Frank a. Munsey Co

hundred-We eight" he sand tentatively
But l know a friend-he hath a real
shop, but beth no money to part with
he would give an ORDER too"
Il think one ut time," Bliss sug-
gested..
The man sighed regretfully.
you get thothe heelth down here
thith afternoon he said, "and I'll
thee you at Uneven O'Clock at the
Goat'th Head round the corner"
That's I'LL right Bliss agreed.
Bliss made his way back to the
tumble-down little factory in Fins
bury. He found his friend, the manu-
facturer Of heels, sitting in what he
was pleased to call his office.
Bliss banged the samples down.
Thank you very much" he said.
81 can't sell any of your beastly
heels.''
Get any offers7"
Bliss produced the order.
There's gentleman here" he an
,nounced, "a Mr.. Marcus, willing to
buy three hundred weight, numbers
sevens and fives, at elevenpence.''
Come, come, that's a start"
He PROPOSES Bliss continued,
ito dispose Of them at sixpence some.
where or other, and he and I divide
the proceeds. That's the only offer
I've had. He's waiting down at his
warehouse for the heels"
Mr.. Anus Morgan grinned and re-
garded his new traveller with little
more interest.
Lots of that sort about he re.
marked. I'm not one of those mugs,
though. who deliver stuff without ma.
king proper inquiries"
Anyway" Bliss concluded, 81 am
very much obliged to you for the op.'
portunity, but this jobs no use to me.
wish you good morning.
Mr. Amos Morgan scratched his
chin for a moment. He was large
untidy looking man. coatless and col.
larless, with the sleeves of his some.
what grimy flannel shirt rolled up to
his elbows. He had spent some years
in the United States and betrayed
traces of his transatlantic sojourn.
I Hold on a minute" he said Lets
have a look at your list"
BLISS handed it to him. Mr.. Morgan
glanced it down
prices a bit stiff" he remarked.
$50 / gathered Bliss agreed dryly
Rather a fools job for me, wasn't
it?' he added. thinking of his weary
feet and of the notifications of tho
ITS my way of testing chap Mr..
Morgan asserted.
II call it beastly way Bliss re.
joined with emphasis.
Maybe, and maybe not" was the
reply. However, if you haven't
found another job and you want to
stick at this. you can quote twenty
per cent off those prices and I'll give
you another list of names. Will you
take it on?"
Bliss hesitated. 1t was nearly half.
past one. about the hour when six
months ago he would have taken an
aperitif and strolled into the fashion
able restaurant of the moment in Lon.
don, to be welcomed by bowling
maitre d'hote1 and tempted with all
the delicacfes which the mans ingenu-
lty could suggest.
IF you'll advance me shilling out
of my commission to get some din.
ner," he proposed, "I'll have another
try
Mr.. Morgan received the suggestion
enthusiasm. His hand, how
ever, slowly dived into his trouser-
pocket.
'1ll fbe frank with you, young
man." he said. You're about at the
end of your tether, and so am l. I'll
advance you your shilling, but you've
got to sell some heels before Satur-
day. There's the wages to pay and
leather bill"
'I'll do my BEST Bliss promised.
"but you must remember that I've
had no experience of this sort of thing.
don't know whether they're pulling
my leg or not when they tell me about
prices"
you don't need to know any
thing Mr.. Morgan declared. You've
got your bottom prices now and I
want cash less five per cent for the
stuff. Now. IF you're ready III come
along and take a bite with YOU
Bliss sat opposite his employer at
small table in neighboring restau-
rant. In the front window was de-
jected looking ham and decoration
Of sausages on string.
The interior Of the place was scarce
|y more inviting. The tables were
nothing but boards laid crosswise on
trestles. The menu was written on
slate and passed from hand to hand.
The table-cloth was coarse Inadequate
and grimy.
And yet, curiosity enough, neither
these things nor his unwashed COM
panion., whose table manners were
frankly nonexistent. affected Bliss
appetite. thing which had so often
been ministered to in vain by the most
chefs.
He ate Irish stew, and he drank
beer-a beverage which short time
ago he would have declared poison
put of q tankard When he had finish (
ed he made a cigarette from some
fragments of tobacco and took up his
bag.
"I'll see what can do he prom.
sed
you've got to sell some of those
heels his employer grunted. Good !
uck!''
Bliss spent an Afternoon the mem.
Dry of which in later days often made
him shiver Once more he was
snapped at by small boys through