The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-14
Mr.. CLERKINWeLL.

neatly Wrllten uHu tuthcu III tho SiNo "a
the mirror Of the hatrack, IL was the first
thing that caught the Nomads eye the hrst
day be entered the hall. And when he went
ont at the end of go minutes after negotiat-
ing for three pair back he noticed the card
again, only this time 1t had been reversed
md read, "Mr. Clerkinwell-Out."
When the Nomad came to settle down In
his now quarters, he became deeply inter
ested An 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 tho Clerkinwell movements that he
consulted Maggie about them.
"a foine man Is Mr.. Clerkinwell," T" said
Maggie. He has the front room on the
same fure wild yourself. He kapes the
card In the mirror SOS to save me the
work of running up and down tho stairs
II anybody calls to sec him"
"Then he has good many callers, does
her" suggested the Nomad.
"Niyer wan," answered the girl deci-
sively. None ft all. But he might have,
he says, and he don't want me to be after
killing meself gallivanting up and down
the tree flights to see IL he do be In or
out. wish they all done as no does"
One evening as the Nomad reached the
head of tho last flight he met an elderly
man, tall and stroight, with gray mus
tache, which curlcd up at the ends. There
was an anxious, troubled look on the old
gentleman's face.
Pardon me, sir" be began. II am
Mr.. Clerkinwell. I believe / have the
honor to be your neighbor. Did you, he
continued, happen to notice small card
In the hall mirror with my name on itS
But of course you didn't"
But / did notice 1t"
"Indeedf' said Mr.. Clerkinwell "How
observingl Perhaps you noticed, too, IL 1t
said, Mr.. Clerkinwell-Out,' or Mr..
Clerkinwell-In.'
ut says, Mr. Clerkinwell-In.'"
"Oh, dear--that's right. I'm In.
lust came in, but couldn't remember II
/ changed it or not. I'm glad it's right,
because IL will save me trip down all
those stairs. Good night, SIR" and Mr..
Clerkinwell. disappeared in his room.
After this the Nomad saw moro Of Mr..
Clerkinwell and even penct his room
on his invitation and talk IN OF
many things.
But Mr.. Clerkinwell always seemed ia
have nervous, prcoccupied 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 the
hall TO satisfy Mr. Clorkinwell that the
card was right. 1t was the same way
when ho went out. He always came back,
from the stoop at least and sometimes from
the corner.
Not that nybody, Mr.. Clerkinwell him
self or any ono else, ever did find the card
wrong. Mr. Clerkinwell could no more
pass the hatrack without turning the card
than he could walk through tho door with
out unlocking 1t, but the thing had taken
hold upon tho unfortunate Nomad even as
1t had upon Mr.. Clerkinwell.
One day he vcntured respectfully TO ask
II the labor and mental strain of keeping
the card right were not somewhat out OF
proportion to the number of visitors re-
ceived. Mr.. Clcrkinwell thought not.
"Let me see," he unused. Let me see.
Was 1t two or three years ago that Major
Harrodan called? declare, it's almost four
years. Well, well! How time flicsl 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 called? That card said
'ous.' What do you think Of being cut
when lady calls on your"
The Nomad expressed his adherence Of
such an untoward and calamitous concat-
enation of events.
$50. you see,n added Mr.. Clerkinwell
cheerfully, they do drop In occasionally,
and you can't tell when Others may come.
And when they do come Maggie can see
at glance II 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
and out. Then Maggie raped at his door
and said:
"Mr. Clerkinwell has been after being
took i'll on the street, and they brought
him homo in ambulance, and he wishes,
sir, IL 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.
alive had a bad turn" said NJ
Clerkinwell fcebly. "They wouldn't stop
to let me change IL as they brought me In.
Won't you please go down and attend to
1t for me' Remember, Mr. Clerkinwell
-In.'"
The Nomad saw Mr.. Clerkinwell again
in the morning Ho opened his eyes
wearily and uttered the ono word, I'm. y
The card was still right when the Nomad
went out few minutes later.
When no came back at night it was
wrong as he read plainly In Maggie
face. So no reached up and righted it.
mir, Clerkinwcll - Out - New York
Tribune.