The Caucasian., 1910-04-24

III
en- cabinet in the corner. for a visible
sign, unable to perceive that she was
there beside around. against. Wltnln,
above him. cIinging to him. Weolng
him. calling him 50 poignantiy through
the fner senses that even his grosser
ones became coghizant OF the call
Once again he answered loudly. Yes
daarr" and turned. wild eyed. to gaze
an vacancy. for he could not yet dis
Germ form and color and love and out
stretched arms il the CoGr OF m1-~
pnorette. y Gcd. whence that odor.
and since when have Cdors had a.
voice to call? Thus he CROPPED.
He burrowed in crevices and corners
and found corks and cigarettes. These
he passed in passive contempt But
once he found in fold CT the mat
ting a half smoked cigar. and this he
ground beneath his heel with Il green
and trenchant oath He siffed the,
room from end to end He found
dreary and ignobIe small records OF
many a peripatetie tenant. bat of her
whom he sought and who may nave
lodged there and whose spirit seemed
to hover there he found no trace.
And then he thought of the house
| keeper.
He ran from the haunted room down.
stairs and to a door that showed a
crack of light She came out TO his
knock. He smothered his excitement
as best he could.
toll q
sought her. who occupied the room
| have before l Gamer
..Yes. sir | can tell you again.
Twas Sprowls and Mooney. as l said.
Miss Bretta Sprowls it was in the
theaters, but Mrs. Mooney she was.
My house is well known for respecta~
| bility The marriage certificate hung,
| framed. on a nail over
What kind of a lady was Miss
| Sprowls-in looks, l mean?'
why. black haired, sir: short and
stout, with comical face They left
| a week ago Tuesday"
"And before they occupied it?''
"Why, there was a single gentleman
connected with the draying business.
He left owing me week. Before him
was Mrs Crowder and her two chill
dren that stayed four months, and
| back of them was old Mr. Doyle.
whose sons paid for him. He kept the
room six months. That goes back a
| year, sir, and further do not Femem-
/ ber"
! He thanked her and crept back to,
his room. The room was dead The
essence that had vivifed it was gone.
| The perfume of mignonette had de,
parted In it's place was the old, stale
odor of moldy house furniture. of at
/ mosphere in storage.
| The ebbing of his hope drained his
faith. He sat staring at the yellow,
singing gaslight Soon he walked to
/ the bed and began to tear the sheets
| into strips. With the blade of his
knife he drove them tightly into every
creyice around windows and door.
When all was snug and taut he turned
out the light. turned the gas full on
again and laid himself gratefully unon,
! the bed.
1t was Mrs. McCoors night to go
with the can for beer. So she fetched
it and sat with Mrs. Purdy in one of
those subterranean retreats where
housekeepers foregather and the worm
dieth seldom.
q rented out my third floor. back.
this evening" said Mrs. Purdy across
a fine circle Of foam. "A young man
took it. He went up to bed two hours
ago
Now. did We. Mrs. Purdy, ma'am%-
said Mrs MeCool. with intense ad-
miration You do be a wonder for
reutin' rooms of that kind And did
ye tell him. them she concluded in
husky whisper, laden with mystery.
Rooms" said Mrs. Purdy in her
furriest tones. ARE furnished for to-
rent. did not tell him. Mrs MeCool."
'Tis right ye are. ma'am: It's by
rentfn' rooms We kape alive Ye haVe