Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-05

UettiHS nome AIter ClGnt Out-Ano
watchman's Tip-An Elegant Interior. |
In the Observation-Disclosures for |
a Months Rent.
At about the time that the lodger at
cents night down in Mulberry street was |
getting over the stupefying effect Of his last |
potation Of stale beer and was groaning and |
tossing and incidentally cursing and growl- |
ing on his narrow strip of canvas as he
breathed over again for the hundredth time
the heavy, fetid air, another man got out of
a cab on a cross street few steps from the
corner of Broadway, bade the driver gruff
good night, and crossed the walk to the tall
entrance of big building that lowered
far above him in the darkness, a
gloomy mass over the ornate architecture
and gay shop windows of the lower
stories, which the electric lights reached
high enough to illuminate. He touched an
electric button and moment later the door
swung open and sleepy watchman admitted
the late conner who said ''good morning.
tried to whistle a snatch of song, couldn't do
it and hummed it instead, and then sat down
with suddenness and severity that seemed
unnecessary upon the cushioned bench in the
elevator. Whatever this man may have been
drinking its effect had not been stupefying,
and the swift upward rush of the elevator
seemed to make his spirit even more cordial
| and pleasant, for at the top he fumbled
through all his pockets for quarter, and not
| finding it took dollar instead and tossed it
to the watchman as he left the elevator.
Down long, uncarpeted corridor, with
| many doors on either side, his step was
| jaunty and light, with the least trifis of un-
steadiness His key, fitted into its lock after
a not unreasonable amount of fumbling,
turned with soft click, and the door opened.
| A gas Jet burning low filled the room with a
vague light, except where the bright glow
| from the fire in the CRATE illuminated a semi
circular space in front of the mantel. The
night wind through a partly open window
stirred the curtains with a gentle rustle
| The draft was unpleasantly fresh in spite Of
the fire, so he closed the window before he
threw off his overcoat on the rearest chair.
Then he turned up the gas and sat down in a
huge, softly upholstered armchair that faced
the crate, stretching himself out with a com
Portable sense OF ease and warmth.
AN ELEGANT ROOM.
The light brought out the size and furnish
ings of the room distinctly 1t was corner
room, with one window on Broadway and
another on the side street 1t was small
about fifteen feet square, and made still
smaller and more cozy by the furnishing and
decorations, which were Of a dark tone with
plenty of red and gold touches to punctuats
its richness. The walls were papered in O
! dark figure of greens and browns, nearly
. covering gilt ground. The curtains wert
brighter than the walls, but of material
: color, and figures that blended with then
well. On two sides porrieres of a heavier anG
richer material hung in archways leading tt
adjoining rooms. One large painting of {
subject suited to the apartments Of q bachelor
and with a well known artists initials in the
corner, hung in the only broad space on th'
wall that was left after the windows, arch
ings, and mantel were taken out Severa
smaller paintings of less merit hung about
and large and beautiful tinted etching of
Venus floating on a cloud stood upon an ease
l., at one side the martel.
After time he glanced at his watch an,
7 pushed aside the portiere leading into anothe
= \ room on the Broadway side. 1t was smalle
h than the first room, but held haudsom
d bookcase, an ornamental desk, a long, CON
{ Portable lounge, a small table covered with
L cloth of embroidered felt, besides few chair
:. and some other triles and a number of pic
lures on the wall The evening papers la
neatly folded on the table. He picked up ont
glanced 1t over, smiling occasionally, an
tnen laying it down, pushed aside a PORTER
concealing door, which slid back easily int
the wall His heels struck harshly agains
= the tile floor of the bathroom, and recalled I
him his slippers. He went back to the fir
toasting beside which they lay, and, aftt
putting them on, set mis- shoes in their pla<
and returned to the bathroom. 1t was small
but finely appointed, and beautified wit
pleasing evidences of the painters skill, sue
as the old Pompeiians might have enioye'
Steam hest rendered it comfortable, even
his slippered feet, and when he turned
faucet tho warm water gushed out and
:, cloud of steam arose He breathed Its dam
ness gratefully for a moment, and then mo
Grating its temperature by turn of snoth
faucet until it suited his touch, left It ru
ming and returned across the two rooms al
through the portieres into the third, and {
the street side of tho building A bed, Wi
a. covering of Iacs over red daintily laid upt
the quilts, was its most conspicuous furnitur
This and the other furniture OF the room t
1LteO SuCn u 5ulbt. me StlsiaA elcCt u
decorations was lighter than that of either
the other rooms, but not so much so as
offer contrast
ENJOYING HIS BATH.
Here he quickly prepared for the bath, a
before his tub was filed he walked in an el
broidered dressing gown back to the ba
room. II was warm and bright, with
q chill about the marble, and a thick rug
saving any shock to the bare feet He {
joyed his bath lazily and luxuriantly, as
man will after a night of pleasure, and TIN
resuming his dressing gown, chose book
he passed through the library, and, seat
again in the chair before the fire, toas,
- himself comfortably and read for an ho'
At the end Of chapter he tossed the be
Il upon the nearest table, yawned and me
tated, gazing into the fire, yawned again Q