The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-24
MR.. CLERKINWELL.
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 eye the first
day he entered the hall. And when he went
out at the end of go minutes after negotiat-
ing for three pair back he noticed the card
again. only this time il had been reversed
and read. ''Mr Clerkinwell-Out."
When the Nomad 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.
"A foine man Is Mr. Clerkinwell," said
Maggie lie has the front room on the
same fure wild yourself. He kapes the
card in the mirror SOS to save me tho
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.
'.Niyer wan" answered the girl deci-
sively. None at all. But he might have,
he says, and be don't want me to be after
killing meself gallivanting Up and down
the tree fights 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 be met an elderly
man, tall and straight, with a 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. Il am
Mr. Clerkinwell. / believe l have the
honor to be your ne.ghbor. Did you" he
continued, happen to notice a small card
in the hall mirror with my name on its
But of course you didn't"
But did notice it. "
..Indeed:" said Mr.. Clerkinwell. How
observingl Perhaps you noticed, too, if it
said, Mr.. Clerkinwell-Out,' or Mr..
Clerbinwell-In.
at says, Mr.. Clerk
"Oh, dear-that's right. I'm in. I
just came in, but couldn't remember If
/ changed it or not. I'm glad it's right,
because it Will save me trip down all
those stairs. Good night, SIR and Mr..
Clerkinwell disappeared in his room.
After this the Ncmad saw more of Mr.
ClerkinweII and even penetrated his room
on his invitation and talked with him OF
many things.
But Mr.. Clerkinwell always seemed to
have 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 the
hall to satisfy Mr.. Clerkinwell that the
card was right. 1t was the same way
when be went out. He always came back,
from the stoop at least and sometimes from
the corner.
Not that anybody, Mr.. Clerkinwell him
self or any one else, ever did find the card
wrong. MIR ClerkinweI could no more
pau the hatrack without turning the card
than be 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.. Clerkinwell.
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-
ceiyed. Mr.. Clerkinwell thought not.
Let me see,' he unused. Let me see.
Was it TWO or three years ago that Major
Harrodan called? ] declare, it's almost four
years Well, Well How time flies, 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
out What do you think of being out
when lady calls on you?"
The NoInad expressed his adherence OF
such N untoward and calamitous concat-
enation of events.
$50, you see,'' 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 Il glance if am out or in. y
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.. Clerhinwell has been after being
took i'll on the street, and they brought
him home in a ambulance, and he wishes,
Sir if it : not too much trouble, TO see you
in his room"
The Nomad hurried in. Mr.. Clerkin-
we'll was in bed, and the doctor was bend
ing over him.
live had bad turn said Mr..
Clerkinwell feebly. They wouldn't stop
TO let me change it as they brought me in.
Won't yon please go down and attend to
it for me? Remember, Mr. Clerkinweil
In"
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 he came back at night, it was
wrong, as he read plainly in Maggie's
face. So he reached up and righted it
. Mr.. Clerbinwell - Out. - New York |