The Advocate and news., 1898-04-27

full of children away by his muslc."
who is the street plano manr asked
Tom.
why, he is a man who halls music
box around and plays tunes 30 that the
people will throw him pennies"
Then Tom listened for the street piano
man and sat in the open window, but
the street plano man did not come that
day. Just outside the window was
fre-escape with its little iron balcony
that ran across and Joined the window
OF the next house, which was so near
that Tom could almost reach out and
touch 1t. From this balcony an iron
ladder ran down to the next floor and
the next, and so on till 1t reached the
ground. All this was very strange to
Tom and he sat looking at Il and won
dering II he could get down those lad
ders real quick II FIRE should come,
when he heard someone say, Hello,
kid" A boy was standing In the OPP
pOsite window. DO you live over
there?"
"Uh-huh," said Tom, who had not
learned that there was no such word in
the dictionary.
What's your name?
"Tom Brady. What's yours?"
Fred Duncan. Where did you come
from"
Kansas"
Gee! Say, amt that out West2"
"Uh-huh."
Say" said the new boy, as he Crawled
out Of the window and crossed to Toms
side, "did you ever see any cowbOys"
yep"
Are there Indians out there, too?"
mo, they don't live In Kansas"
why, thought they did! Didn't you
ever see one?"
"Yes, once, when some came through
the country begging"
Begging! Why, / thought they came
through and killed people and took their
scalps," and the new boy looked at Tom
as though he had smashed his air castle.
They sat and talked for some time,
when Fred asked him II he didn't want
to go skating.
"skating!" said Tom; "in summer
time!"
"Yes-roller skates, in the street.
Come on, I'll teach you how.
Toms aunt said he might 60 IL he
wouldn't go OFF the block. There were
children In the street below skating on
the pavement, which was as smooth as
a floor Tom talked to some OF the boys,
and tried to skate, but fell down and
bumped his head and skinned his knee
and peeled his nose till he was a most
pitiable looking sight; but in spite Of all
his bumps and scratches he thought 1t
glorious fun.
Finally, when 1t came dinner time he
thought he would go in the house, but
he could not find it for the houses were
all exactly alike and joined together in
a long row.
Say, how do you tell which house
you live in?" he asked Fred.
why, look at the numbers. You live
in number 1923 and in 125. See the
numbers over the dOOrs?"
Tom saw the numbers and went up
the steps into the vestibule, but he
couldn't open the door. 1t was locked,
and he was troubled.
Cant you get in?" called Fred.
'NO."
Ring the BELL"
II don't see It."
Fred came up the steps and showed
him the bells.
What, those buttons?" asked Tom.
Eyes, you push one aud 1t rings, but
be sure you push the one with your
Aunt's name under II. The others ring
bells ON different floors, where other peo-
pie live"
Tom looked at the row of names. The
last was his uncle's name.
"Underwoods," said Fred, "they are
on the first floor. They haven't any kids.
Browns, they are one flight up aud got
a mean freckled-faced girl. Doyle: there
are lots Of kids UP there, but they're all
gone to Coney Island to-day. Then old
Miss Vinton; she's an old maid with a