Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-03
THE CURIOUS QUEST
of MIR. ERNEST BLISS
bv E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Co.

clothes"
There was one more fateful mo
ment Of hesitation. Then working
girl. with pale cheeks and tiret
walk passed them with her heat
turned toward the skies.
Bliss was suddenly conscious Of {
wave of Renaissance. an addee
strength of purpose, something which
rang in his tone and gave his voice {
new quality.
Sorry girls" he said firmly, "bu
all those things are off for me at the
present moment Look here, we are
old friends. You won't be offended
Kitty, I know"
He thrust two or three notes from
his right-hand trouserpocket into the
girls hand
There he concluded. Run along
and have your dinner and buy your
selves some flowers. I've some bust
ness I must look after"
The girl looked at him wonderingly
She had known a somewhat dissipated
boy: she was suddenly conscious that
now she was talking to man.
Come and have dinner with us at
least" she begged you can run
away afterward.'
He shook his head. He had already
drawn himself free.
Il am dining elsewhere" he de-
clared with a grim smile, as he
thought Of the two shillings which re.
posed in his left-hand pocket. so
long. girls!'
He hurried off breathing quickly
like a man who has had a merciful
escape from some misfortune. He
dined for tenpence in Soho and lit.
tie later he let himself into his fiat In
Arleton street with curious sense Of
unfamiliarity in his surroundings.
Cloves came forward at the sound
of the key, and saluted his master
without the least sign of surprise.
Have you dined, sir?" was his
only question.
Bliss nodded.
Come into my dressing-room at
once he directed. 81 want to change
into some morning Clothes
There are three baskets full of
letters that l have not known what to
do with, sir, which Mr.. Crawley has
sent back here Private letters and in.
vitations.''
"They must watt Bliss replied
shortly. Il am not ready to deal with
them yet"
Hal-an-hour later he left the fiat
with an only half-stifled sigh of regret
as he passed out from its warm, lux.
urious comfort into the drizzling rain
of the streets. He slept that night in
the hard little bed in his attic, and at
eight o'clock the next morning he let
Tim into the shop in Regent street.
BY ten o'clock a good many of his
notes had gone, but the stove was
and white clad chef was
busy cooking upon it. An enormous
stock of provisions was there in re-
serve, carpet was upon the floor,
and Bliss himself was seated before
Derby desk, in tail coat, dark gray
trousers and silk hat sucking
large cigar in full view of the passers
by.
In the window was huge, hastily
printed placard:
FREE MEALS FOR THE AUNGRYl
COOKED UPON THE FAMOUS
ALPHA COOKING STOVE.
In less than an hours time a COM
had to be engaged to look
after the door. and two policemen
were on duty outside regulating the
crowd. The chef had to be relieved
by an assistant.
Constant streams Of provisions were
arriving. and the long table set out at
the back Of the shop by furnishing
firm was occupied all the time by a
strange looking crowd Of wayfarers.
Bliss sat at his desk busily writing
apparently up to his eyes in business,
but secretly little uneasy. So far.
not single bona-fde inquiry had
been made with regard to the stove.
Toward three o'clock, however. a
young man who had driven up in taxi
touched him on the shoulder.
Are you in charge here?' he asked.
81 am" Bliss admitted.
Whats tho price of your stove
the young man inquired.
bliss glanced at the card which the
former handed to him. The name
printed upon it was that of Ellermans.
Ltd. the largest wholesale stores in
he country.
''The price to you wholesale Is
thirteen and half guineas." Bliss
said. ''but I am not sure how far we
,an book orders. We get good deal
more from the retail people. and
metals going up. as you know, to say
nothing Of the chances Of strike"
We'll stock a score at thirteen and
| half, ten off," the representative Of
Illermans, Ltd, suggested.
Bliss sighed as he wrote out the
order and received it back signed.
1--WE are not here for this sort Of
he remarked. ''This was
ust an idea of ours to strengthen the
hands of our retail customers. We
ire not in position exactly to look
or fresh business until our new
works are finished"
The buyer looked at him curiously.
pretty enterprising firm. yours"
Bliss shrugged his shoulders.
This sort Of thing pays nowadays.
You will excuse me, won't you?
There are one or two other buyers
although I'm sure I don't
NOW what l can say to them
His visitor promptly buttonholed
lin.
wait moment he insisted. Lets
Il, Ill Few,