Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-22
A MYSTERIOUS LoDexR.

IN the mousse perhaps was half dozen dodgers,
possibly more. As I visited my room during
the day, and invariably retired at twelve
o'clock, 1 rarely met any Of my neighbors, or,
If L did. it was without kRowing them, With
two Of my fellow fcdgers became partially
acquainted. One was middle-aged man,
occupying room adjoining nine, and divided
tIoin u oy tina partition Against that thin
boundary stood our beds, the middle aged
genueman's and pine, not to exceed three
Inches apart. The middle-sged gentleman
was welded % the habit Of snoring And his
was pecrliar snore; not q periodical mur-
mer, accompanying every fourth or fifth in
sPpstion, but terrific and uninterrupted
combination OF snorts, groans and snuffies
Wtth the addition of teeth grinding, and occa-
slOnal plunges Of the extremities against the
creakisg fOot-beard. For one week bore up
against the chatter. At length, one night, I
knocked at his door. / was desperate He
rose, struck light, and for the first time met
face to face. had prepared myself to deIuge
him with sarcasm, to abuse him with billings
gate, to sink him with abuse. His face was so
round and jovisl, and his head 80 entirely
destitute OF hair, that could not summon
courage to utter a harsh word. For a mo-
meot, we peered silently into each others
faces.
Can do anything for you 2'' I inquired
Smath, tor that was his name, must have
Eeaa my ythoughts-must have known that he
snored, must have been aware of the object of
-'' Yes, my friend, Join me in a glass of
brandy and water, I have a few drops of
something genuine. Permit me to insist.n
he continued, observing my hesitation, "you
will sleep all the better for il" and he gave
me look, swelling over with commi,eration.
meekiy followed him to tho sideboard,
ana We pledged each other In a glass of an
ciens vintage He then pressed me to smoke
acigsr could scarcely do less Sitting on
tne side OF the bed, with his rotund yisaye
Peoplng through gsuEe of smoke, and his fat
less sNiaStng good naturedly, Smith was a
pio.s> together We would have afforded an
amusing sketch for Punch. He talked inees-
saptiy, and before / left him we touched
glasses several times, and firmly resolved
that he might snore night and day, for a year
to come, and 1 would not disturb him. /
wrung his hand in an ecetacy Of friendship,
ana nade him an afectionate goodnight. /
tumoled IN bed, but tried in vain to sleep.
emith brandy was playing strange tricks
with my fancy, and I felt as II something WAS
whispering, as to Macbeth, t.Sleep no more 20
LIT candle and found it was two O'Clock.
Ifrtated at my wakefulness, 1 drew on my
ciotnes, and was soon in the street. The moon
rode nigh In the heavens, and the night was
oeautlfri as poets dream. Strolling along
the street as far as Clay, / suddenly turned
pe. corner, and encountered q crowd of half.
drunken rowdies, standing in front of house
they had either just left, or were about to
Il
heard some one exclaim, in q boyish tone
Mot tonight, gentlemen, some other time;
but not to- night; please excuse me-"
The speaker, In passing along the street, had
been stopped by the roWdiss, and invited to
.'Bsh," exclaimed number Of voices, ssYOu
must come up to the scratch, either drink or
fight sa
" But, gentlemen, I cannot" insisted the
stranger, struggling to free himself from the
grasp OF his prosecutors, II can neither drink
nor fight, tonight. l am not well ~
amnon :, srowled the party, attempting
FELT that, as eonservator of the peace and
champion of society, it was my duty to inter.
fsrs. Smiths brandy told me so, and furnished
the nerve, in addition, to carry out the resolu-
ton Stalking quietly in upon the crowd, I
laid my hand upon the boy's shoulder, and re-
quested him to follow me- He turned to com.
ply, when, "Giye him one 20 yelled one of the
rowdies, and the next moment received a
blow in the back Of the neck, and found myself
leaning against the side of house. was not
stunned, but exaspersted beyond measure
The liquor Of my bald-headed fellow-lodger
steeled my nerves to action and threw nv
self into position Of defense. Not doubling
my perfect ability TO scatter that crowd over
an acre Of ground, I invited the unequal con-
test The appearance of policeman spared
the impending slaughter, for the party sud-
the ofheer Of what had occurred, and he started
In pursuit Of the retreating rowdies, eDjoining
US to md the way to our lodgings. Taking
the arm OF the lad, We proceeded toward my
Loom. He was pale-faced, interesting look
ing young man Of perhaps eighteen or IN nineteen
years, remarkably we'll bred and intelligent
He was dressed IN good taste, without affect
ing any Of the airs OF maturer years and was
quite taken with him. He told me his name
was Richard Jansen; that he was alone in Cal
nornis, but not without means; that he lived
on Stockton street, and, visiting friend that
evening, had been detained to that unusual
hour. In few moments We arrived at my
lodgings, and observing that he evinced little
inclination to part with me l invited him TO
accept portion Of my bed for the night He
smiiingly declined, stating that he was quito
near bis own; and then learned, for the first
time, that he occupied room in the same
house and on the same floor with myself Thus
became acquainted with two of my fellow
dodgers. :. -
Jansen and myself often met after that. but
Il was always in the street or on the stairway,
He never invited me to his room, or accepted
an invitation to mine. He visited me but once
st my ONCE, and then remained less than Eve
minutes. How he spent his time did not In
quire. He was mystery. spoke of hlm to
Smith one day. Strange to say, that gentle
man had never seen him, but from my dsscrip-
tion Of him, ventured the opinion that he was
either gambler or q genteel pickp0cket.
was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that
S Smith was right, and after that / treated the
young man with unusual GOODNESS. He OBJ
served the change, and his looks wore a re-
prosch 50 sorrowful that half repented hav-
ing harbored the suspicion Of my venerable
looking friend, who was fsarfully sverse to all
mysteries.
Occasion called me to my room, one evening,
at an earlier hour than usual. / heard soft
rap at my door, and opening 1t, found Jansen
N n II
= exclaimed, throwing open the door.
Would you not prefer taking walk go he
inquired '' The night is beautiful" l..
-" believe not tonight" / replied, ssome
other time. ~ Was q little piqued that he
should persist in remaining outside the door.
~ should be much pleased to have you"
he rejoined. 81 have q few words to say to
you In justice TO myself, and
Enough I interrupted, "I win go.n
felt assured he desired to tell me something of
himself, and was all anxiety to hear it. Ii
Was unpleasant to think him a pickpocket or
sharper, and hoped he might be ahle to