Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-09-11
CHAPTER XVII.
Onposite the Cathedral.

Opposite the Cathedral.
Fifth avenue at two o'clock in the
morning is fast asleep. There are To-
calities in New York which are more
widely awake at that hour than at
any other time of day, but the high
way of fashion is not one of them;
and in the neighborhood of Fiftieth
street, its repose is as profound as at
any point Of its long, undeyiatingly
straight course.
For over an hour l had waited in
that sumptuous white marble club edi-
fee of the plutocrats which ostenta-
tiously punctuates the avenue at Six
tieth street, and, tired of sitting, nery-
Gus and disappointed, l had chosen to
walk down to my rooms, believing
that the exercise in the clear, frosty
air would serve to counterfeit, in
measure at least, all three of these
veXations
TO the limit of sight there stretched
away a double, conyerging chain Of
twin lights marking the curb line for
endless blocks, and Illuminating the
nearer sidewalk and roadway, if not
to effulgence, certainly with clearly
defining radiance. Now and then |
met a quick-stepping pedestrian, usu-
ally in evening dress with cigar alight;
and at more or less brief intervals
limousined motors and taxicabs with
cleaning lamps sped by me at tep
speed. Once hanson passed, the
hoof-beats of the hard-driven horse re-
sounding jarrngly against the night
silence.
At Fifty-fourth street l cut diagonal
ly across the avenue to the west side,
and, continuing my way southwark,
absorbed in the problems confronting
me, had been for little quite lost to
encompassing objects. Then, sudden
ly, fearing lest in my abstraction
should pass the street on which my
rooms were located. aroused myself
to get an idea of my location.
Across the way the grim facade OF
the Cathedral rising dark and sullen
as a fortress made all clear But. on
my own side of the avenue there had
been no such distinguishing mark The
brown stone dwellings, monotonously
ugly, with their high stoops and balus-
traded areas, were no more enlighten-
ing than the stone lagging of the side
walk or the asphalt of the roadway
Scores of blocks presented practically
the same aspect as this. But as with
critical gaze l measured one after an
other of these combinations | was all
at once arrested by sight of a tall,
bent figure clutching the high iron rail-
ings which guarded the avenue front
age of the house on the corner-the
only really individual house in the
row.
My first rough concept was that I
had come upon incapability resulting
from intemperance, AT closer view,
however. | tempered my judgment
The possibility of illness or injury in,
tervened, and l paused Samartan-like
to offer succOr. The wayfarer was evil
IDENTIFY a man of middle age, if might
judge from the contour of his back.
which was towards me, and l saw at
once that he was struggling to keep
upon his feet by sheer muscular hand
hold of the ratings iron uprights, for
his knees were bent threateningly and
his arms were extended and tense.
Until | was close beside him he gave
no sign of realizing my presence. In
deed I think ii was not until l spoke
that he half turned his head towards
me, and, for the first time, | got sight
Of his features.
Whether or not l uttered word, or
made sound, or stood for a long mo-
ment silent, ! cannot say. know only
that doubted my eyes and questioned
my reason; for, if these We're not
playing me false, the profile thus re,
vealed to NE was the profile of Robert
Cameron.
To try to set down in detail just
what followed must be an idle effort,
with fancy providing the bulk of the
ingredients. Surprised, amazed, as.
founded even, are all too feeble terms
to apply to my emotional condition.
Dazedly, | was laundering in what
seemed a Veritable sea of unreality.
When the commonplaces began to re,
adjust themselves, | was standing at
the curb, my arm wound supportingly
about Cameron's waist and his arm
pressing heavy on my shoulder. Draw
ing in to us was an empty hanson