The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-26
n TAWDREY HOUSE
The Founding.

1t was a week after the night Waterman
had found a baby. richly swaddled, in the
vestibule Of the Tawdrey House, to the
Indignation Of the manager and the curiosity
Of the guests. that ! heard the clash Of
~resounding arms sweeping from my rear
room, which Katie the maid was setting
to rights.
"A lot of old bats. rats, traps and cats
the girl was muttering, Il vslly thin no
more'n dirt. 1t was dear Miss Ruthven'
here and sweet Miss Ruthven' there whin
towels were missing or soap was shy, or
cookin' in the rooms smilt too strong.
or wan was cart dead to rights a-scrimpin'
Of her hair with electric tongs; but the
minute her back was TUNED, thin 1t was
hiss, hiss, spit, spit, claw, claw. like a hull
backyard Of thin
Here Katie emerged az fiery as the sun.
through a cloud Of dust, to grow the redder
for my unexpected presence. 1t was only
by means Of long and adroit c~ross-examina-
ton that | was able to learn hat her wrath
was caused by the fact that certain women
among the guests were linking together
in dshonoring way these two independent
facts-the absence Of Miss Ruthven, the
housekeeper, on the first vacation she had
ever taken, and the abandonment Of the
baby in the hotel vestibule.
suppose it was all inevitable, for Islander
loves not only a shining mark but one
which stands isolated and alone. Miss
Ruthven had won her place as a stranger
On merit. when answering an advertisement
two years before, and what was known of
her then was known OF her now, and nothing
mnra Iila a rSarfapf aufppnafnn ahn mar
formed her work perfectly. The phrase.
rather than lovely-a tall. finely formed
woman. dressed In plain black. with a
face as clear cut, composed and colorless
asa Greek cameo. Her manne was slightly
repellant to all, yet there was that about
her which afronted women and attracted
men alike base.
I like you for defending one who has
been kind to you. Katie" I said, but. re-
member in such a case the least said the
soonest mended--'
Its their mouths that shud be mended.
nm snapped the maid rebellio,sly.
You know, she nursed me through that
m fever last winter better than a
Professional" / vent on. $50 you can
ssye X. leave her character in my charge.
> .Ihat's jist it. Mr.. Sniffen.' Katie an
svered. She's tree days over time and
ht niver away before overnight, and
mere are odder things, too-you know MIR.
teToome has taken the baby into his wi
iamlly-the hull house is talking it-the
uats. rats and thraps.-
! was sorry to learn It. Mr.. Flewoome.
our manager, was q singular parsonage.
VINO kept In the background for the most
part but who did something noticeable
sSneney"r no appeared. Success had made
sIm a law unto himself-not q statute law,
nied and i~mmovable. but q common law.
variable, ad Unstable, sometimes decidedly
eGmlnon. Nine men out Of ten under tho
circumstances would have bundled the
'.n1n to the police station and forgotten
~ ABOUT II five minutes afterward. That
w should have imposed Its care Upon his
pSaHia and long suffering wife ~betokened
Se lmPllsive, i'll considered action OF
p'S"r without responsibility. ] ventured
sNord on the subject when ] found him In
I,necess ci tie rear office wedged In between
~ hack Of the safe and q black cigar as
"ag as his arm.
d,an you thirk I'm going to have the Taw-
NY HOUSE turned into a pound, Snihen.'
IN nfetnrt"d, you arc vastly mistaken.
~ hnd cut who left that brat heIe II II
$50 $1,000. BESIDES, ] know what they're
ssying- generally do know what they're
ISIpg that's a good girl. and a pluoky.
'"'et she has had trouble enough TO put