New-York tribune., 1903-06-12
CHAPTER VI.
7 STUMBLE INTO HORROR.


saw on the evening of June IS 1S11-that
stood in the doorway whistling Come, cheer up.
NV lads" to Mrs Traps tame blackbird the
old Jew slop dealer came shutting up the alley
and demanded word with my master
His name was Rodriguez Rodriguez.
Marine Stores'-and his shop stood at the
corner of the Barbican as you turn into South
side-st. He had an extraordinarily fine face,
narrow, enaciated. with noble hook to his nose
(which was neither pendulous nor feshy) and a
black pointed beard accurately divided by q line
of gray We boys feared him. one and all; but
in a furred cloak and skull cap he would have
made brave picture The dirt of his person,
however was a scandal I told him that Mr..
Trapp had walked over and taken the ferry to
CremyIl. where his boat was fitting out for the
summer. But Mrs. Trapp is washing up at the
back Shall 1 call her?'' I asked
God forbidw said he. Il am not come to
listen but TO speak"
asked him. then. if could take a message
las wine in leaky vessel. so is q message
committed to child. TWO of my chinnneys need
to be swept"
"I can remember that, sir" said /.
He eyed me in way that made me feel un-
comfortable "Yes: you will remember, he
said as if somehow he had satisfied himself
Yet his eyes continued to search me- You have
not swept my chimneys before?
"I have been working for Mr.. Trapp =almost
three years." said I. denurely.
Yes have seen your face. But I do not
often have my chimneys swept: 1t Is dreadful
waste of money. The SCOT. now-your master
and I cannot agree about it. say that the
SCOT is rnne that 1 made it, in my own CHM
new. with my own fuel; therefore IT should be
my property, but your master claims It. say
the same to the barber thus: My hair is mine
T TT 0rIv O
hair such as mine is unstable, whereas SCOT
fetches threepence the bag. To look at things
in this way is a principle with me- Five years
ago left my chimneys unswept while argued
this; but one of them took fire. and so lost my
soot and the corporation fined me five shiliings-
1t was terrible. What with the risk. too. II
turned my hair gray" He fell back a pace ana
studied me again. 'If my brother Aaron could
see your face, boy, he would want to paint IT,
and you might make money.
Where does he live, sir?'' asked
"Eh? Good boy-good boy! He lives In LIS
bon. in the Ghetto off the Street Of the Four
Evangelists" He laughed. high up in his nose
at nv discontinue IF ever you meet him
mention my name: but, first Of all, tell your
master I shall expect him at 3 o'clock tomorrow
morning" He wished goodnight and shuf-
fled away down the alley, still laughing at MS
joke
At < o'clock next morning or little before.
Mr. Trapp and started for the house. The
Barbican had not yet awakened TO business
It's frowsy blinds were down. and out on the
Pool nothing moved but fishing boat sweeping
in rpon the first of the flood, for fat calm out
side had delayed the night fleet
AT the entrance of Southside-st-. however. we
almost overlook soldier walking toward the
town on the opposite pavement. He walked
=Ifex I4r,1-7 bTTrE
to quicken his pace little and kept ahead OF
rs The barracks being full just then, many
soldiers had their bil1ets about the town. and
that one should be abroad at such an hour was
nothing suspicious; but something familiar In
his back attracted my attention, and my eyes
were still following him. when Mr.. Trapp naIted
and knocked at the Jews door, AS the SOUND
reached him I saw the man start and hesitate
for an instant in his stride; and in that instant,
though he did not turn, but held on his pace
and was lost to sight around the street corner.
understood the limp. He was the man of the
bull chase-Sergeant Letcher (as the sentry had
named hin1). of the North Willis
Nobody answered Mr.. Traps knock. though
tA repeated it four or five times. He stepped
back into the roadway and scanned the un-
shuttered upper windows. They were uncur-
tanned. too every one. and grirned with dust:
and through this dust could see rows OF
CASTOR suits dangling within like limp suicides
Very odd commented Mr. Trapp- You're
sure he said oclock?
Sure" said I.
"Besides-5 o'clock or 6-why can't the old
sEnfint answer
He knocked again vigorously. blind cord
creaked above US a window went up next door.
over a ship chambers. and man thrust out his
head.
.eyvhat,s wrong?" he demanded
Sorry to disturb We, Clemow. but old Rod
rfguez here bespoke us to sweep his chirnneys
at s. and we can't get adnlittance"
why, I heard him unbolt for ye hour ago.
said the ship chandler. He woke me up with
his noise letting down the chain"
The door had a latch handle. and Mr.. Trap
grasped it. "Drat me, but you're rightP' he ex-
claimed as he pressed his thumb and the door
at once yielded. HUH" He stared into the
empty passage out of which room opened on
either hand each hung with cast off suits which
seemed to sway slightly in the scanty light ad-
nitted by the shutter holes. Il don't stomach
moving among these at the best of times Even
in broad daylight Pm never too sure there amt
a man hidden in one of 'em. He might be dead.
too-by the smell"
He stepped to the foot Of the uncarpeted
stairs "Mr. Rodriguez he called HIS voice
echoed up past the cobwebbed landing and
seemed to go wandering up and up among un-
clean mysteries TO the very roof. Nobody an
swered
mfr Rodriguezr' he called again. waited. and
for once-the only time in our acquantance-let
slip an oath. Lets try the kitchen" ne sug-
sasted I'VE started with that last time; and, if
nv memory holds good tits the only chimney he
- VI. bo5s ,r a small room right over US