The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-03

ia In ono OF the busiest thoroughfares oil
|skow old building; so narrow is the en-
|Saranco that the staircase had TO be cut
|assown TO half its width when business en-
Sorprise decided The owner to invest in an
Es5lcyator. Branching of from the first
lcor Is Il long, badly lighted passage,
(which connects the front building with an
|gSNxtcnsion3 at the back, and up on the top
EsRoor OF this extension Is a nest of studios,
always occupied and conserpatively guard
|s$d by batch OF artists. It's well known
|sahlacc to the cult, and the rooms are pleas
Rgant memories to more than one man who
Eaas become famous. The crowd up there
Are always Jolly, ragslSHfsuccesstu and
|Egenefally poor Thee Pnycniences are
primitive where they exist at all aud con
FHequently the rents are In state OF steais
~
"a Tho lower floors OF this extension are
HScncraly occupied by tailors. button max
EPrs, trimmcrs and folk-of that ilk. who
Efarely stay long owing 10 the unccasing
Esattentions OF the Boheinians above. These
|fNNtSAsti~hs Nitt nuMttIIuES resented anu
Eight cnsues -generalysto the detrimcnt
|pf the taiiors and liyens things up n bit
Sn the quiet old rookery.s Occasionally the
|Aandloru protests on one prcttxt or an
Epther. but the men ara clannisb, and he is
Rneek and usually yields VITA what grace
sie can.
h Into this atmosphere OF poor art and
kworsc tobacco In tutnfc TO take up
Bny abode and met with An Incident of such
FYNelrdness that had not been somewhat
prepared for Its occurrence by d series OF
E5tartiing though less Important events 1
Fwould have doubted my absolute sanity.
#Iycn the greatest catastrophe, however.
poses lis force TO shock us IL We have been
4n the secret, us II were. Following Gu
From, cause to effect. any way here's the
fto:y.
Returning 10 my don the night following
4my instailment | walked aiong the nar-
row extension passage, and finally COM
<n& to tho foot OF the stairs leading To the
(rppcr floors. was just swinging carelcssiy
~ tncm when something bright in the
tight 81 the gas Jet caught my eye, ani
Ft0pped short, one foot and one hand
Eaised. simply petrificd with astonishmcnt,
Hlnd thcn-ycs, l confess H. fear--for there
Ecuriins dawn the banisters within SIX
feel Of my nose was huge serpent, i,s
@hcAd raised, itS beady little eyes glitter
ling and it's forked tongue darling in ana
'onds before / reeoyered--it seemed AT least
Fen INMATES. Then made Wild spring
psekwards, my hat falling into my arms
~ ! did 20. Ilanded somehow on my feet,
{aud. scizing N.Y. hat, il hard felt one. /
|aung II with all my force at the brates
nead, and without waiting to see IL II had
Aken effect rushed bowling down the pas
God. never thought that passage was
fQ2to0g. expected every moment to feel
Inc prrto Scixe me. How l gut dcwu to
kAe 'front.' without breaking my neck /
d1n't know; but i did, and GU. iuto he
cfrnee; and, ~ luck would have II, right
Z2fe. snc arm. q big lrish policeman, one
/ An fMat il the matter wild YEP
z serpent" gnspcd. loose on thu
a, psrpint. Is II, Is that ALP
teat Az Why, man, Il might have
~ na! ycusli III over ii III right
AAre a. W live. sonnie,"
nhtrer. quit fo0ling I'm not
IN IN artist. Ny studio Is up on
NJ Qeoc Of the extension aud l tell
~ n ~ W ssssks--iooks ike bua
zzelos ~ = python 10 me-- on the BAN
n: 1>ss I yeF hat ~
>1a8 n him iust ~ he was going
d assss Nv ~; come 40 show
y s 7 q; (. ihs officer ilrsl.