The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15

pondered over, how / longed 10 know What
that cause might be,
IL was a fascinating problem for n
OF my age leisure, and may as well DO frank
enough TO cay lnquisitlvs temperament.
Think Of II for an instant:
A presentabl6 young man, apparently
well established, suddenly comes 10 learn
that he has saved the life Of a rich and
beautiful girl, who Is strongly attracted
10 him, and the knowledge freezes the blood
In his veins and gives him the hair OF a
porcupine. What did It meanH What
could II mean, unless Il was a second mystery
closely connected with the mystery | had
already Observed
And that mystery was Pusiver himself.
had accepted readily the structures OF
the Granny Corner, because / knew that
l could II l would make them trivial by
comparison. But why should l do so III
natured an act7 | had nothing against
Pulsiver. l had studied him as a diver
sion, and 10 share the results would be
like giving away carefully selected seed be-
fore the planting,
This, then, il what | already knew Of
Pulsiver. He lived by himself In an eKpen-
sive, handsomely furnished suite OF the
hotel. He went away early in the morning
and he returned early in the night. He had
no friends, no acquaintance in the hotel,
and ID o ne ever called on him there.
A Billikins had said, he was the best OF
pay, but no kept no bank account. His bills
at the hotel, his books, pictures, articles
Of virtu, whatever his taste might send 70
his rooms, we're all paid in currency, gener-
ally Of small denominations. How, then,
did he manage TO live without visible means
OF support? .
This inquiry narrowed within a week. |
was coming the Pulsiver problem In my
sitting room when from the bedroom which
Katie the maid was engaged In upsetting
came sounds Of mental perturbation too
severe TO be mute.
Hes like all the rist Of Thin the girl
was saying, "a lot Of old bats, rats and traps.
Clean sheets livery day, whin wan TUNED
livery other week would be all too good for
him, and thin putin me of with n thank ye.
Put him out bag and baggitch, | say. Doose
he think that the Tawdrey House Ia a charity
orspital?' ,
you seem disturbed, Katie | yentured
as the maid came through like a witch sail
ing on her broom through a cloud Of dust.
Disturbed is it2' She confronted me,
arms akimbo. ~It's not me that would be
disturbed, Misther Snifen. II ! had the boss
be the ear for tist wan minute-the bats,
rats and traps
Andthen she went on with TRADE which
| being translated, meant that for the, first
time since his stay at the hotel Pulsiver,
in his suite at the end OF the corridor, had
failed 10 give her that morning his weekly
tip.
The more | thought it over the more
significant the incident seemed. The man
had lived well, v lavishly. without wish
| BILE means OF support but through going
, out each day and returning each night with
an adequate amount Of currency.
Evidently he had not saved, as Just as
evidently he WIS now unable 20 go out and
fetch his mysterious supply. The inquiry
| from being academic had narrowed until
it was practical. How then would he man
age to live during the long days OF his con-
fnement TO his room?
I determined 70 seek the best possible
source Of informAtion-the man himself;
and in so doing let me say IN my. own de-
fence that | was not uumindful OF his for
| lorn state nor Of my duty as a neighbor
I toward him. Curiosity Is not Incompatible
with kindness Of heart. In fact, speaking
as an expert, it is an amiable weakness.
| went then down the broad corridor
to the end. "A | turned into the narrow
hallway leading TO Pulsiver's apartment
| fsirly ran against a young and beautiful
girl hurrying unanimously from the door
with some untouched triies on. a plate
| which might have given a very small bird
A few moments respite from starvation.
Susie. SUSIE I said reproachfully, Il
am an old enough FREUD to tell you that this
won't do. Indeed am an old enough
friend Ia warn your father
u don't care, " she declared, with adefant
CLEAN nS her tearstained eyes, He is dy-
ing, diving. alone, friendless, unless ], whom
he despises-oh, my poor h~eart'-bring
help
And away sire pressed with a certain
tragic intensity. antique, for I'll her modern
prettiness,