Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-02-23
\ LORD
4 HOMELAND
CHAPTER XI.-CoNTINUED.
sHAKEsPEARE's MASTER;

Lucy pdSSeu u Tall putting whose
red front was pictorial with adver-
tisements of wonders such as the
world could not have survived had it
seen them in the flesh.
"My old PITCH" said Bill. II paint
ed the fat twins with their heads I'M
der their arms and the half zebra
half camel. The fair one with golden
locks, too. and the human bone are my
shay doovers. What do you think Of
'em, chum?"
"ChnM' was filed with respectful
admiration of the artists Imagination,
if not his technique. and he replied
%fervently that the shay doovers in
question were marvellous.
Here's where I used to BARK went
on Bill with a sigh for past glories.
They'd ought to give us free passes
for a look round, if you'd like. but the
boss amt built that way. and there's
nothin' to see anyhow. The freaks
amt what they're painted-couldn't be
for a dime"
Willing paused in front of a build
ing which doomed up dingy and ill
lighted in comparison with it's gaudy
neighbors. A lamp over a low browed
door drew sufficient attention to the an
nouncement, printed in faded lettering,
that this was 1.-The Bat Hotel, For
Gentlemen Only"
Bill Willing opened the door as if
he were at home. Come in. do" he
said Hospitality, and Loveland obeyed,
to find himself standing directly at the
foot of a long. dimly lit stairway. the
steps Of which were protected from
the wear and tear of time and boots by
strips of iron,
At the top was a closed door, and.
this open, Loveland was plunged into
the life and movement of the Bat
hotel, appropriately named for its
might activities. Behind a grating
which formed a small room stood the
proprietor or manager of the estab-
lishment, ready to accept payment.
allot beds. inscribe the names Of new
clients in a book and deal out keys
Of lockers or cubicles. This tiny Office
was cut out of a long. narrow room in
which fifty or sixty men were sitting
glancing over the newspapers or writ
ing a last letter before they went to
bed. They were grouped at one Of
several long tables that ran down the
length of the room or assembled round
a huge iron stove whose fat body was
almost red hot.
AS Bill easily leaned his elbows on
a narrow shelf in front Of the Office
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 Sin for it, now. be
said to himself as Bill with a certain
pride announced that "his friend
wanted a room. "a bed for mine." he
went on pleasantly. I'D be glad of
well in 81"
Eighty-one was engaged, but Bill got
another number to which he vas ac-
customed, and then his friends name
was asked.
Anything you like up to Edward
VII. or down to J.. Smith," whispered
MI. Willing as he moved away that
Loveland might take his place at the
grating.
Loveland hesitated for an instant
and then gave the name Of P. Gordon.
one to which he had a right, among
many others.
AS Bill was competent to play host
they were given their keys and allow
ed to find their own way to their quar-
tiers. Loveland's number was on the
next floor. but Bills 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 100
nondescript men whom the Bat hotel
Fifth avenue by those who could
not afford to sleep there) was partition
ed off from a long room the size of the
reading room below. but here. instead
of tables and benches running along
the walls. were beds. many beds. plac-
+So a. SAldAhs . ~ tA0h1
each other. A faint light revealed
them and the straight dark shapes Of
the lockers shared. half and half. by
the sleepers whom Loveland could
dimly see hunched up under their gray
blankets.
Bill unlocked the door of Loveland's
cubicle for him. This is pretty com.
plete. ain't 1T" he asked in a whisper
which respected the slumber Of others
"The beds are good enough for mine,
but these rooms are At for q lord"
It was a much shumbled lord who
shut himself up in the boosted mag
n%ifcence Of No. Is. there finding him
self possessed Of a narrow hospital.
bed spread with a gray blanket strong
" scented with carbolic and just space
enough in the case to undress IL he
chose. But for reasons which seemed
good to him he did not choose.
Having hidden Bill good night with
out saying a word In disbursement