The newspaper., 1909-02-19

fo;nd beyond the. Harlem river ana
along the Speedway. A few blocks TO
tire west Cathedral heights buiked like
! great wall. wrapped in purple shad-
ows. its jagged contour stark against
an evening sky of suave old rose.
The short. and thick-set body. how
ever. seemed to have no particular ap-
preciation of the beauties OF nature as
exhibited by West One Hundred and
Eighteen nth street on summers even
ing. If anything. he could apparently
have desired a cooling breeze; for.
after a moments doubtful considera-
ticn. he unbuttoned his waistcoat and
hoaved a sigh of relief.
Then, carefully shifting the butt OF
a dead cigar from one corner OF MS
mouth to the other. where 1t was al
most hidden by the jutting thatch OF
his black mustache. and drawing down
over his eyes the brim of rusty plug
hat, he thrust fat hands into the pock-
cts of his shabby trousers and lounged
against the polished pillar even more
energetically than before. II that were
possible. An unromantic, apatheuc
figure. fitting so naturally into his sur
roundings as to demand no second look
even from the most observant: yet one
seeming to possess a magnetic attrac-
tion for the eyes of the hallboy OF the
apartment hotel twho. acquainted by
sight and hearsay with the stout gen
tleman's Identity and calling. bent
upon him a steadfast and adoring re-
gard, as well as for the policeman
who lorded II on the st. Nicholas ave-
nue. corner. In front of the real estate
Office, and who from time to time
shifted his contemplation from the in
Unite spaces OF the heavens. the better
to exchange a furtive nod with the
idler in the hotel doorway.
Presently-at no great lapse Of time
after the short and thick-set man had
slowed away his watch-out OF the
thronged sidewalks of Seventh avenue
. man appeared. walking west on the
north side OF the street and reviewing
carelessly the numbers on the illumin
ated fanlights: a tall man. dressed all
In gray. and swinging a thin walking
stick.
The short. thick-set person assumed
4 mien OF more intense abstraction
than ever.
The tall man I'm gray paused indefi-
nitely before the brownstone stoop OF
the house numbered 2O5. then swung
up the steps and into the vestibule.
Here he halted. bending over to scru-
tirize the names on the letter boxes.
The short. thick-set man reluctantly
detached himself from his polished
pillar and waddled ungracefuily across
the street.
The policeman on the corner seemed
Suddenly Interested in Seventh ave
nue.. and walked In that direction.
The gray man. having vainly de
ciphered all the names on one side
of the vestibuie. straightened up and
turned his attention to the opposite
wall. either unconscious Of or indif-
ferent to the shuttle of feet on the
s;oop behind him.
The short. thick-set man removed
one hand from a pocket and tapped the
gray man gently ON the shoulder.
'Lookin' for McCabe. Anisty7" he
inquired. geniaily-
The lray man turned slowly. exhib-
iting countcnance blank with aston
ishmcnt. Beg pardons" he drawied:
and then. with dawning CLEAN OF
recognition in his eyes: why. good
evening. Hickey, What brings you
up this way"
The short. thick-set man permitted
his jaw to droop and his eyes TO pro-
trude for some seconds. oh" he
said in tone OF great disgust. hell"
He pulled himself together with an
effort. Excuse me. Mr.. Maitland" he
s.ammered. Il wasn't iookin' for yeh."
TO the contrary. ! gather from your
greeting you were expecting our
friend. Mr. Anisty7" And the gray
man smiled.
Hickey smiled in sympathy. but with
less evident relish of the situations
hrmor.
That's right" he admitted. Got n
tip from the c'miss'ner's office this
evening that Anisty would be here Mt
seven o'clock lookin' for party
named McCabe. guess it's bum tip.
all right: but OF course I got to look
into it,
Most assuredly." The gray man
bent and Inspected the names again.
IL am hunting up an old friend" he
explained, careiessly: "A man named
Simmons-knew him in collcge-down
on his luck-wrotc me yesterday.
There he is: Fourth floor. east. I'll
see you when I come down. hope. Mr..
Hickey"