Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-26
CHAPTER I (Continued.)

time In my life had an occupation.
settled down to prepare for it gloom
lily. l moved from Mount Street tt
my uncle's house in Garthoyle Garden:
Number 10. As l have said, the Gar
dens are a triangle Of twenty-ons
houses, seven houses on either side
and seven at the base. They look on &
triangular garden in the middle, o.
which all the occupants Of the houses
have the USE Number 10 is in the cen
ter Of the base of the triangle; and il
affords good view Of the whole Of it
Ny uncle had made the library on the
first floor his watch tower; and l am
sorry to say that he carried his vigi
lance to the point of having two pairs
of extremely powerful field glasses on
little table beside the window at
which he used to sit. say that l am
sorry, because when l picked up the
largest pair and turned them on Mum.
Der 8, not only got perfect view of
the Luddingtons at lunch, but also ]
got perfect view of their being acrl-
monious with one another. 1t is hard
~ fair that one should know so much
about ones tenants.
It was quite plain to me that to be
. real house agent must have an Of
ice; and 1t was also quite plain that 1t
must be In the house, so that could
always step into 1t without having to
make tiresome journey. I decided
that would not use the library, as my
uncle had done, but that I would fit
up pleasant room on the ground floor
looking out on the garden at the back
Of the house, as complete Office with
desks, pigeonholes and safe. did
not bother Jack about this; I was pay
ing him for legal help. / motored up
into Oxford street and along it till
found q likely looking shop, and there
ordered everything that seemed right.
When the room had been fitted up,
had all the books and documents con.
nected with the Gardens moved into
1t from the Offices OF Messrs. Siddle
and Wodgett, who had acted as my
uncle's house agents.
When they had all been brought in
and put tidily away, and at last stood
In my own complete Office, I had
proud sense of being truly one of the
workers of the world. Then it oc-
CURED to me that needed some one
to work the typewriter; could not do
it myself-not properly. l tried.
Jack told me the best way to get
some one was to advertise; and l ad-
vertised for a lady typist, stenographer
and bookkeeper, as he suggested. But
he was not at hand when Iiwrote out
that advertisement and we. had not dis
cussed the question Ut salary. There
fore 1 offered three guineas a week. |
which seemed to me fair to begin with
/ got my first experience of what a |
hard life house agents is.
l invited applicants for the post to !
call at ten. At nine, when got up,
heard good deal of noise out In the |
Gardens, and I observed that Mowart, !
my man, was pale and scared. Mowart /
Is not allowed to speak to me before |
breakfast.
But saw that he was dying to speak
and said: Whats the matter with
you. Mowart? Has there been an
earthquake In the night?"
mo, your Lordship. But there's
some young persons waiting to see
your Lordship," said Mowart.
That's all right. l advertised for
them" said
There's a good many young persons
your Lordship," said Mowart in
shaky voice.
went to the window and my eyes
and mouth opened wide as gazed I
down on surging, seething sea of
vide spreading hats. Among them rose
scores OF policemen's helmets and a
column of police was marching into the
triangle through its apex. For mo-
ment thought had assembled round
my door half England's womanhood,
and all the Metropolitan police.
Amt 1t awful, your Lordship?" said
3owart over my shoulder. And
could scarcely hear him for the volume
II shrill sound which rose from that fe-
nale sea.
His voice recalled me to myself r.
lemembered that in great emergencies
England looks to her peers, and with
IN effort got my mouth shut.
Il shall have wide choice" said
calmly; and l went to my bath. l did
not trust my chin to Mowart's hands
hat morning; they were too shaky.
= When came downstairs, found an ,
depector Of police, three policemen j
md Tour newspaper reporters. all wild !
'yedS in the hall They seemed to be !
n about the state Of men leading /,
orlorn hope They could not keep ,,
till; they shuffled about and danced.
Inc Inspector Wrung MS hands and Z,
aid "Oh, my Lord, this Is worse than !
unragettes; and it's nothing to what $
I'll be when the trains come in from :
he Midlands and the North Three :
uineas a week! What is your Lord 7
hip going to do?" :
Il suppose must interview them I
fter breakfast" said calmly.
"All them thousands?" asked the in a
pector. +
"If have to do it to get what +
ant" said calmly. And I went in t
, breakfast.
At breakfast. Richards, my uncle's q
ID butler, was in such an emotional h
,ndition. Gathering dishes and drop I
Ing plates, that l had to pause to as n
Ire HMM a shout (the volume of 7
lrill chattering was deafening) that $
omen did not bite often. Ii
After. breakfast began to interview +,
le applicants. Ten policemen admit t,
d them, one at a time through the O
ont door. I sat down at my desk in y
e ONCE, and asked them questions S,