The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-11-10

proprietor or IndHiiSrl u VIZ
lishment. ready to accept payment.
alIot beds. inscribe lie names Of new
clients in book and deal out KEYS
OF lockers or cubicIes. This tiny ONCE
WIS cur out Of ii long. narrow room III
which City or sixty men were sitting
p1ancing over the newspapers or writ
ING j, last letter before they went 70
bed. They were grouped at one q
several long tables that ran down Inc
,enpth of the room or assembled round
n huge iron stove whose fat body was
almost red hot.
AS Bill easily leaned his elbows on
4 narrow shelf in front OF the ONCE
grating. explaining his errand to the
manager. Loveland wished himself
back in the park again, half drowned
in perfumed moony vapor, but IT was
too late. He was lin for 1t" now, be
said to himself as Bill with a certain !
nride announced that "his friend
wanted room. "a bed for NINE. ne
went on pleasantly. I'D be glad OF
81. if it's free. always sleep mighty
well in 81"
Eighty-one was engaged, but Bill got
another number to which he was ac-
customed. and then his friends name
was asked.
Anything you like up to Edward
VII. or down to ]. Smith" whispered
Mr.. willing as he moved away that
Loyeland might take his place at the
grating.
Ioyeland hesitated for an instant
and then gave the name of 2. Gordon.
one to which he had right, among
many Others.
As BIZ was competent to play host
they were given their keys and allow
ed to find their own way to their quar-
ters. Loyelands number was on the
next floor. but Bits cheaper lodging
was higher up.
The cubicles were not numerous. for
such accommodation de luxe was be-
yond the means. beyond even the am
bition of a hundred out Of the lGo
nondescript men whom the Bat hotel
sheltered each night. The row called
.Fifth avenue" by those who could
/, not afford to sleep there) was PARTITION
ed of from long room the size OF the
reading room below. but here, instead
of tables and benches running along
I the walls, were beds. many beds. plac.
|, ed at small, irregular distances from
each other. A faint light revealed
] them and the straight dark shapes OF
the lockers shared. half and half. by
I the sleepers whom Loveland could
Q dimly see hunched up under their gray
blankets.
Bill unlocked the door OF Loveland's
D cubicle for him. This is pretty com
plete. amt III" he asked in whisper
which respected the slLmber Of others
q @The beds are good enough for mine.
v but these rooms are fit for lord"
i It was much humbled lord who
shut himself up in the boosted mag
(. nificence Of No. IS. there finding him
!. self possessed of a narrow hospital
bed spread with gray blanket strong
q " scented with carboIic and just space
= enough in the case TO undress II he
n chose. But for reasons which seemed
GOOD to him he did not choose.
ltf Having hidden Bill good night with
lg out saying word in disparagement
% of the Bat hotel moved by new ufl-
Y selflshness which would not for the
10 world have hurt his friends feelings,
e Loyeland took of collar, necktie and
shoes to roll himself up in the disin.
IS fected blanket The bed was not more
81 than three or four inches too short for
!! his tall body, and. though the mat.
- tress and pillow were as fiat as stale
G Jokes and hard as poverty. Val fell
v asleep.
o Sleeping. dreams came TO him more
real In seeming than any happenings
!, of the strange nightmare day just
!, passed. They were Of storms IT sen,
!, OF fighting in South Africa. aud when
;" a light persistent tapping at the thin
!. door wrenched him awake he thought
" he was being called for a night sortie
I Eyes. All rightr' be muttered. sit
ting up dazedly. what
Ssh! You'll rouse everybody" whis
pered Bin vikings warning voice
= UNLOCK the door. viii your
sim half asleep. Loyeland blInkct
IN the dim light. found the key in The
NJ lock and turned
= Lsss.' ST. TEL IL. Like a shah
EIT-zz IJ-e,szT by ghost Ri
e - So stole into ,h'