The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-18
VAN TASSEL SUTPHEN
CHAPTER XII
The Adiuster of Averages

It was the dealers hand at bridge and
must be played alone. And owing to
the saccident of slight attack OF
grip it was some ten days later be-
fore 1 was able to call upon him in his
neWAquarters.
William FL. Seward square has its
unique features. Lying in the heart OF
the East Side, 1t is outside the regular
lines of north and south travel. There
are thousands OF otherwise well IN
formed New Yorkers to whom It's very
name is unknown. And yet it is an
important political center, the capital
OF the YiddisEl country, and the re-
cipient of many special fayors at the
hands of a paternai municipality
There are still streets ia the uptown
districts whose pavement is the an
tiquated Belgian blocks or even cob
bIestenes, but none in Yiddishland;
here everything Is asphafted. You
may trust the district leader to take
care of his own.
A fine stone building forms the
principal architectural feature of the
square on the west side. 1t contains
the free baths and would be credit
TO any part Of the city. Most of the re-
manning space is given over to the
children for a playground. There is a
semi enclosed gymnasium for the boys,
handbaIl and tetherbail courts, a sep
arate enclosure for the girls and small
er children-in a word, every form OF
amusement and exercise that is prac-
ticable in a public institution of COM
paratively limited area. The children
enjoy it. too. They come in droves,
and the swings and flying rings are
in constant use.
1t is like going to foreign country.
The shop signs, written. In Hebrew
characters, suggest a combination Of
horseshoes and carpet tacks, and you
may walk for blocks without hearing
an English word spoken. Ask your
whereabouts of street boy and he
will quite likely turn pale and edge
away. He does not understand. You
are an alien, foreign devil.
The Barowsky Brothers bank build
ing is the show place of the district.
It is staring white structure covered
with gilt business signs and adorned
with abortive minarets that give it an
air distinctly Oriental. The entrance
hall and the banking rooms are sump-
tuous. They recall the Arabian Nights
and the word painting of a circus pos
ter. Mirrors, gliding, uosaics-it is
all a dream Of luxury and impresses
one with realizing sense Of the finan-
cial standing Of the Barewsky Brothers.
~ou must have a good front in the
Yiddish country if you expect to handle
Other. peoples money.
Esper Indiman, adjuster Of averages,
occupied suite of rooms on the fifth
fieoFr 1 proceeded thither and found
him in. We sat down and smoked
apicably.
How is business ?' 1 asked. "Have
you adjusted many averages today ?
And by the way. I'm rather taken with
the title Of your new trade. .Adjuster
of verages'-there's an imposing note
of omnipotence in the words
ITS a perfectly legitimate occupa-
ton. You'll find it listed in the busi-
ness directory"
4Of course, and never mind the de-
tails. I'm satisfied with its face value.
a brevet Of yicegerency. God knows
there are plenty of averages to be ad-
justed in this weary old world
"Well, may have some accounts to
balance before l take down my sign" I"
said Indiman. with a grim little smile.
I'm glad you came in today. Thorp;
I've been wanting to have a talk with
you
Fire away" answered, fiippantly.
Come into the back roofn,' and he
led the way.
The suite ran through the building.
There was a good sized room facing
on the square, fitted up with ordinary
Office furniture; back Of that q bath
room, and then the rear Office, which
had been turned into a bachelors liv-
ing room. There were bookcases, rugs,
pictures, big mahogany writing table,
an open fireplace, easy cl1airs-every-
thing to make life comfortable. "And
the couch over there is my bed" con-
cluded Indinan. I'm pretty well fixed,
you see."
Decidedly So"
Intellectual diversion IN abundance:
even the artistic element Is not wholly
wanting" He stepped over to q table
in the far corner; a phonogra pIic ma
chine of some kind stood upon it. Indi
man touched a lever, and again heard
that unforgettable melody, "Ah, forS e
lui," and in her Eoice-her voice! A
cry escaped me. Indiman pushed me
back into my chair. "Be good enough
to isten," he said, and / obeyed.
while you have been laid up" he
began, 81 have been amusing myself
with little theory building. I had
taken the liberty TO sequestrate the re-
markable Photographic apparatus OF
your quondam friend DR.. Gonzales; in
fact, carried it away In the same car
riage with your honorable self from
the house of the Philadelphia 'quiZzing
glass; The police didn't netice-that
was all.
"Dr. Gonzales was a genius, and his
instrument is a revolution in pl1ono-
graphs-purity Of tone, perfect enun-
citation, and all that. But the really
interesting thing Ito me as TO you) was
not the machine, but the records that
1t used. To whom belonged the voice
that these little disks and cylinders SO
faithfully reproduced? 1t was a real
woman who had poured the passion
and sorrow of life into this insentient
mechanism. And the medium had been
sufficient; your heart had responded.
you were my friend, and I could not
be Indifferent to aught that concerned
you. We are, neither Of us, senti-
mental, SO the bare statement of the
fact is sufficient. You were on your
back, and so it was my part to go to
work. I did.
'It is unprof table business looking
for a needle in haystack when you
can buy a packet of the best helix No.
SIS at any shop for a nickel But after
spending a blank week interviewing
the makers of Photographic records |
began to feel doubtful of my economic
theory. Nowhere could find the