Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-17
'a7xz

{ DRIAN t
Copyright, 1911, The Bot
(CHAPTER VIII.-Continued.)
THAT man of yours isn't exactly de-
lighted with his work" I commented.
IT don't blame him. He isn't sup
posed to be walked up for forty-mile
trips in the middle of the night, and
he's English and worships his habits.
Are we all right now?'
Eyes; it wasn't anything. We're
nearly there now; there's Woodlawn."
She did not speak again for some
time, and began to wonder if had
trodden upon trouble. I seemed fated
to do so at every turn. But presently
she broke In with comfortable
triviality.
Look here, why don't you smoke If
you want to? I forgot all about 1t,
but of course you may. don't mind"
/ had not noticed it before, but
the cigarette was exactly what |
wanted. The bodily comfort balanced
things again, and made me feel at
home with the situation. We ran down
Riverside Drive, the dark bulk Of the
city on our left, and on our right the
glimmering breadth of the Hudson,
streaked with yellow CLEANS. Thence
we crossed over and continued down
Fifth avenue, between blank houses
and unnatural lights, the occasional
clack of hoofs and hollow groWl OF
wheels accentuating the unwonted
stiffness. had somehow taken 1T for
granted that we were going for doc
tor. But when we passed Madison
Square and kept on south along Broad
way, that errand became unlikely; and
when we turned eastward over the
rough cobbles of narrow side streets,
I was in state of blank wonder. We
ran slowly, .lurching and humping,
through interminable chasms of squat
or where iron ratings mounted to the
doors and clots of bedding hung
from open windows; where evil doors
hung and drifted like clouds, and
sick heat lay prisoned between wall
and pavement, and stragglers turned
to stare after us as we want by. NOW
and then we crossed some wider
thoroughfare with it's noise of cars and
tangle of, sagging wires overhead, and
signs in foreign tongues under the cor
ner lights. And at last we came into
city of dreadful sleep, dim and de-
serted and still. The scattered lamps
were only yellow splotches in the
dusk. the stores were barred and bar
ed. and there was no human thing in
sight save here and there huddle OF
grimy clothes under the half shelter
of a doorway. Puffs of salt air from
the river troubled the stagnant mix
ture of fish, leather and stale beer.
We stopped before a narrow door
way pinched sidewise between two
windows like q fish's mouth Lady
leaned al ,ss me to scan the bleak
windows above.
".There should be light on the top
floor" she said, yes, there is ASK
Thomas to make sure Of the number.
he was back in moment to say
that the number was rignt: And al
asleep, Miss, by the look OF 1T. Shall
knock somebody up? There's no
bell"
mo, not yet. What time is it, Mr..
Crosby?"
Twenty minutes Of three" told
her.
"She must have got the message be-
fore now" she said, half to herself.
Then, after little thought, Stay here
with the car, Thomas. Mr.. Crosby
and I are going in
you're not going into such place
at this hour" protested. Tell me
what it is and let me co.
mo, I'm coming too Don't stop to
talk about it, please
The door yielded and let us into a
stained and choking hallway, family
lighted by blue flicker of gas at the
far end. The stairs were worn into
creaking ho]lows, and the noise of our
passing. Though instinctively We crept
upward like thieves, awakened multi
tude of squeaks and scufflings behind
the plaster. The banisters were
everywhere loose and shaky. and IN
places they were entirely broken away
SO that we went close along the filthy
wall rather than trust to them Eacn
hallway was like the one below; mar
row, dusty and airless. with it's blue
squirt of gas giving lis just light enough
to find our way without cropping. At
last we reached the top, and Lady
knocked softly on the door at the end
Of the hall.
There was no answer. She knock
ed again. turned up the gas. and IS
did so a fat beetle ran from under
my feet. I stepped on it, and wished
that had not done so.
Are you sure this is the placer" l
whispered
eyes; I've been here before. But l
don't understand. Sheila knew that
we were coming
Look" said I, "the door is unlatch-
ed. Shall go in?"
For an instant the oppression of the
place was too much for her, and she
chung to my arm whispering, I'm
afraid-I'm afraid" Then before |
4L.,o 10 IN most frea trada orp,,.