The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-06


"Do you know whether Gertrude
Griffin Is ut homer he asked.
"Naw! How shd I know? l amt
her keeper"
"But she lives here. does she not?''
Maybe she do, and maybe she don't.
I ain't runnin this lodgin house, so l
amt 'quaiuted with the hull gang what
sleeps here"
"Do you suppose I could so up
stairs?'
"Sure! There amt nobody hordin
you, is there?' e.
With laugh the iEcorrigible young
ster ran off down the street, leaving
his Questioncr as wise as before they
had met. a number OF small children,
with pinchcd faces and inquiring eyes,
had gathered about the we'll dressed
man, who was something of n curiosity
In the neighborhood, and stood gazing
at him cXppctantly. Believing that he
might succeed better with one Of the
girls, Mr.. Mitchell accosted bright
looking child about s and asked her If
she knew where Gertrude Griffin lived,
but the little ono shook her head mega
lively and shyly rctrc3tcd behind her
companions. PattinS her carcssingly
on the head, he went into the house
The hallway was so narrow that
leaving the sunlight without he found
ut first that he could see nothing at ALL
the darkness by contrast being so
great. In a few moments his eyes be-
came accustomed to the gloom, and he
made out that there was narrow pas
sagcway, on either side Of which lie
could see three doors, but Mt the oppo-
site end nothing but inky blackncss.
Was it possible that human beings
lived in such structures as this? n
loud scu!ilC, 4 scream and the angry
voices of n man and woman In drunken
brawl, coming from the mysterious
realms somewhere over his head, an
swcred his mental query.
lie knocked at the door nearest to
him, and after long wait it was open
ed a few inches, aI:l LACK bearded
head with two shining eyes looked out
at him.
"Vat do you vant" was the greeting
In foreign accent.
"Docs Gcrt"udc Griffin live in this
building?" asked Mr.. Mitchell.
How in de world should l know"
was the answer, accompanied by
noisy bang of the door as the head dis
appeared, shutting out the whirring
sound Of sewing machines which had
given evidence Of life within.
The man evidently thought it n pre-
poStcrouS proposition that he should
know the names of the other occu-
pants OF the building in which he had
his habtation, and indeed this is true
In much more fashionable quarters Of
the great. metropolis, for up town,
where the enormous tenement houses
have the higher sounding title cf "ho-
teP' or apartment house," the inmates
know as little Of each other rs they do
In the slums.
Thus it began to be apparent to Mr..
Mitchell that the street and number
were an inadequate address in this
neighbC!hO but he was determined
to find the koman. SO he went to the
next door, where he received no re-
sponse to continual knockings, and
then to the next, where lie found n
woman who could speak only some
foreign jargon quite unfamiliar to his
ears, and then across the hall, where q
drunken brute Of man revilcd him
with curses, and so from door to door
and up one flight after another. for he
found an unlighted stairway at the
back of the hall, until at last he stood
before n door upon the sixth landing,
and upon asking the woman who OPEN
cd to him, Does Gertrade Griffin live
here" received for answer: Eyes. Are
you the coroner?"
"Why. no. replied Mr.. Mitchell, as
tonished at the question. "Why do
you nsk? Did you expect the coroner?"
"Oh, yes! That is. suppose So"
"But why? Did you send for him?"
mo"
'"Then why did you think he would
Gomez"
II thought they always did in times
like this. Ny baby's dead, you know.
She died without Il DOCTOR" She guln.
I ell down the sobs that choked her ut.
terance and assumed that stolid face
so common among those hardened to
misery.
Let me come in," said Mr. Mitchell
gently, and the woman made way for
him to enter.
ITo DE Continued