The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-07
MR.. CLERKINWELL.
"Mr. ClerkinweIl-In."

Mr.. ClerkinWell-In."
Though it was only a small white card
neatly written and tackled in the side of
the mirror of the hatrack, it was the first
thing that caught the Nomad's eye the first
day he entered the hall. And when he went
out at the end of 90 minutes after negotiat-
ing for three pair back he noticed the card
again, only this time it had been reversed
and read, mi. Clerkinwell-Out.'
When the Nonad came to settle down in
his new quarters, he became deeply inter-
ested in the announcement of the coming
and going Mr.. Clerkinwell.
Sometimes Mr.. Clerkinwell was out,
sometimes he was in, and his habits SEEM
ed to be irregular, and he would be out at
unconventional hours and in when he
would not be looked for.
The Nomad even became SO interested
in the Clerkinwell movements that he
consulted Maggie about them.
GA foine man is Mr.. Clerkinwell," said
Maggie. He has the front room on the
same hure wild yourself. He kapes the
card in the mirror SOS to save me the
work of running up and down the stairs
If any body calls to see him.
''Then he has good many callers, does
he?' suggested the Nomad.
''Niver wan," answered the girl deci-
sively. 'sNone at all. But he might have,
he says, and he don't want me to be after
the tree flights to see if he do be in or
out wish they all done as he does -
One evening as the Nomad reached the
head of the last flight he met an elderly
man, tall and straight, with gray mus
tache, which curled up at the ends. There
was an anxious, troubled look on the old
gentleman's face.
pardon me- SIR" he began. sIa
Mr.. Clerkinwell. I believe 1 have the
honor to be your neighbor. Did you,'' he
continued, happen to notice a small card
in the hall mirror with my name on it?
But of course you didn't"
But did notice it.
''Indeed?" said Mr. Clerkinwell Chow
observingl Perhaps you noticed, too, if it
said, Mr.. Clerkinwell-Out, or Mr..
Clerkinwell-In.' -
1T says, Mr.. Clerkinwell-In.'
oh dear-that' right. I'm in.
just came in, but 1 couldn't remember if
I changed it or not. I'm glad it's right,
because it will save me a trip down all
those stairs. Good night sir,'' and Mr..
Clerkinwell disappeared in his room.
After this the No1nad saw more of Mr..
Clerkinwell and even penetrated his room
on his invitation and talked with him of
many things.
But Mr.. Olerkinwell always seemed to
have a nervous, preoccupied air. which the
Nomad traced readily to his apprehension
lest his card in the mirror was wrong.
Usually after coming in it took at least
one trip and sometimes two back to tho
hall to satisfy Mr.. Clerkinwell that the
card was right. It was the same way
when he went out. He always came back,
from the stoop at least and sometimes from
the corner.
Not that any body, Mr.. Clerkinwell him
self or any one else, ever did find the card
wrong. Mr.. Clerkinwell could no more
pass the hatrack without turning the card
than he could walk through the door with
out unlocking it, but the thing had taken
hold upon the unfortunate Nomad even as
it had upon Mr. CIerkinwell.
One day he ventured respectfully to ask
if the labor and mental strain of keeping
the card right were not somewhat out of
proportion to the number of visitors re-
ceived. Mr.. Clerkinwen thought not.
LET me see,'' he unused. LET me see.
Was it two or three years ago that Major
Harrodan called? I declare, it. s almost four
years. Well, WE'LL How time fiies But,
bless me, it was only last summer that
Mrs. Inkster, wife of my dear old school
mate; Dick Inkster of Philadelphia, called
on me. What do you suppose that card
said the day she caliedS That card said
'out.' What do you think of being out
when lady calls on your"
The Nomad expressed his adherence OF
SOCh an unCOWarQ ana calaLn1bOuS cOncaG-
enation of events.
$50, you see' added Mr.. C1erkinwel
cheerfully, they do drop in occasionally,
and you can't tell when others may come.
And when they do cume Maggie can see
at a glance if 1 am out or in"
1t happened three days ago as the No
mad was preparing for bed that he heard
heavy tramping on the stairs and along
the hall and low voices of people going in
Ia Of iSSH
and said:
Mr.. Clerkinwell has been after being
took i'll on the street, and they brought
him home in ambulance, and he wishes,
sir, if it's not too much trouble, to see you
in his ROOM
The Nomad hurried in. Mr.. Clerkin-
well was in bed, and the doctor was bend
ing over him.
live had a bad turn" said Mr..
Clerkinwell feebly. They wouldn't stop
to let me change it as they brought me in.
Won't you please go down and attend to
it for meS Remember, Mr.. Clerkinwell
In. 3"
The Nomad saw Mr.. Clerkinwell again
in the morning. He opened his eyes
YEARLY and uttered the one word, 'In."
The card was still right when the Nomad
went out few minutes later.
When be came back at night, it was
wrong, as he read plainly in Maggie's
face. So he reached up and righted it
''Mr. Clerkinwell = Out. - - New York
Tribune.