Morning journal and courier., 1894-02-17
lawyer. MT. Pulitzer, stroll

tion lawyer. MT. Pulitzer, stroll ing, caught up and carried away "Alonzo | and Melissa" One of the Tribune editors l fancied @ rare old edition of Rousseau's l
 "Eloiss." Somebody from the Times l wished the Lancashire Witches" and | when 8 certain venerable editor from the almost historic room above his head de- scended to the street, buttoned his great coat closely up around his long, white beard, caught sight of the little stall, and, with the bland remark, "Booksel)ing is an honorable calling. sir!" handed the young merchant twenty-dollar bill for bright, clean copy of the rare "Burckhardt's Ara bisn Proverbs" ," and then with 6 stately Good night, cir" slowly trundled away. Dick could contain his unrestrained excite. ment alone no longer.
 He clutched his books, snapped together the little table, sped to the elevated rail. way station, fdgeted impatiently all the way to his own station, rushed down its stairs, psid the grocer, the butcher, the milkman, ordered coal by the ton with out landish house supplies on his way, rang up Mrs. Rasper with furious hilarity, clap ped the overdue rent in her hand with . bang and . flourish, with something be- aides for herself and her chi dreu; and, scram mbling up the stairs frsntically came to his own door and Dots trembling, out stretched arms like whtrlwind of joy and triumph; owing no man penny; with his days lot of books still half unsold; and a roll of bills in his hand which it took the whirling heads and misting eyes of these two tried souls long and happy time to count!
 After the first wild intoxicstion of suc- cess there was 8 little reaction in Dicks spirits and trade. Books were often re- turned or exchanged. Even fsticuffs were occasionally necessary to protect his pocket and stall. The winter wind swept cruelty around that particular corner from the open park spaces, down past the dismal arches of the bridge to the great river be- yond; and chillier and more cutting far were the stealthy, contemptuous glances of old acqusintances among the passing throng. But he bore 1t all with positive bravery. If impudent curiosity pressed him too closely he would deftly parry 1t with "Sh-h-hl Making practical literary study. There's fine set of 'Bacon,' sir!' which was all true enough, poor fellow! in this one region of the great city, where a quarter million souls pass and Iepass each day and night, where the thunder of the presses Is never still, where most astound- ing extremes of competence and poverty and tremendous intellect and besotted ignorance, eddy and whirl, and crash to- gether, than in any other single place be- meath the sun.
 Then there were the compensations in character study among those who came and nibbled at his books, tsrrying and chsttering or brusquely purchasing and going their several wave; and he found himself unconsciously acquiring exactness in estimate of motive, intention and secret purpose on the part of those who prefaced their psltry hsgglinRs with forgivable pre- tense; while 8 ready diplomacy, on his part, grew without effort into fine and nice corresponding ad djustment; ;-the inexorable difference bstween art in theory and the art that grows polished and powerful from use.
 One visitor only puzzled him. This was lady; lady plainly but richly clad, erect, splendidly poised as if conscious of physical and mental strength, with firm, fine face that might have been 8 Portia's or 8 jurist's, so expressive or impassive could it at once become, with large gray eyes which looked straight at one for a straight response, and seemed sure to final ity of every possible shading of historic, ars, associative and actual value, of any book upon his stand, without once open ing it's lids.
 He had grown to notice her ling along Nassau Street, and almost without looking, to know that she frequented the large book stalls of that ancient thorough fare. A few times she had paused before | the little collection a moment, and then | with slight inclination of her head, had l disappeared in the direction of the Bridge approach.
 1 usual exercise of kicking the foundations | oS bo hnt1I{ne, fo kaan hfa fSof | freezing, to sse her standing in her cables beside his stsli. Her purse was open as if she was about to purchase. It was the first time he had seen her hesitate, and he believed her incapable of hesitation.
 II beg your pardon, sir; I am in error; she said quietly, slipping her fingers dex. trouely under the lid and disclosing the | title page of "BslZac." was under the impression that this was a first edition."
 It put Richard Hardy on his mettle, fo, he was now sure he was dealing with ar astute collector of books.
 "This trifle, madam, might interest you; he observed with some dignity, while prof fering Dots maecot c1rio.
 She thanked him, took the little book in her hsnds and turnsl it's parchment leave. as leisurely as ever the Grand Monarch ha6 done; but her gray eyes and her now i'm
 passive face gave no betrayal of interest ol
 purpose; while Dick silently burnished hil glasses and his wits of diplomacy awaiting
 some sign.
 "Have you fixed it's prics, sirs"
 "Its value is well known, madam" re
 turned Dick solemnly, while mentally beg
 ging absolution for the astounding whop
 per he had told.
 The lady made no reply, but at ono,
 handed him her card and a bank note ant
 asked the privilegs of taking the book tt
 her home for examination. The note bor,
 the legend "$10O," and the card, "Mrs
 Hope, Park Place, Brooklyn"
 "Certainly, Mrs Cope. By all means
 Mrs. Lops. No deposit necessary Mrs
 Pope-Mrs. Rope-Mrs. Hope, I meanI'
 But the lady, with quiet bow, had dis
 appeared; leaving Richard Hardy, whil
 Fahrenheit marked many degrees belov
 zero, mopping great drops of perspiratiol
 from his face and head.
 Scarcely three hours-they were as year
 of suspense to the book stall proprietor 0
 Frankfort street-hsd passed when tn
 lady returned. It was the effort of hi
 life, but Richard Hardy received her in
 manner which might be termed statel,
 and atfable repose. Sue handed him tn
 little curio and he placed 1t in it's oiled sill
 case in his pocket. Then he returned tn
 bank note and the card. Mrs. Hope there
 upon glanced at her watch. Both she ano
 Dick, If Dick could see at all, saw that 1
 was precisely quarter to three o'clock.
 "The banks are not yet closedf" she sait
 casually.
 Mot yet, Mra. Hope," Dick calmly an
 swered.
 She rested little check book upon tn
 edge of Dicks stall, with atylogrsphi
 pen wrote in the date, "to besrer," and he
 own signature in round, masculine hand
 This done, she looked up at Dick, who wa
 by this time crowding the brick wall behin'
 him for support, with
 "Weli4"
 Il Frankly, madam, it Is quite painful t
 be exact when dealing with lady. Writ your own price on the check. Perhaps W will not differ"
 What she wrote his dszed eyes did no
 see, perhaps never saw; but he mastere
 himself sufficiently to nod his head; to talk
 the check; to hand the lady the curio; t
 see her turn and lose herself in the crow
 threnging the bridge entrance; to stsgge
 to ths Nassau bank, where @ ruddy face paying teller counted out for his slip 0 paper great piles of billie; td-climb to 8 csI
 tain near real estate office, and, as in dream, exchange only few of those bill |; for 8 scaled and taped document certifyin his ownership of certain little farm an cottage home; to return and gather u
 his remaining books and that click ing table, which he will retain ss
 blessed memento his whole life long; t , call carriage; still, ss in . dream, to fin, the Spuyten Duyvel Flats and its Mint Floor, Rear, with It's blessed home -waittn, !. | and now delirious souls within: and, fina