The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-07-17

stumbled on the nrst step.
Some Of US have been
49, rather short Of nrewood OF
late. and we have been forced to saeri-
fice the baiustrade."
! did ~ was bid willingly enough.
although. even through my glovcs. the
wall felt dirty. cold and greasy; SO that
at the first touch shuddered with re-
pulsIon. For the stairs were In almost
total darkness save here and there
where some door. left open on a small
and tumbled apartment, gave some OF
Its meagre and needed light escape.
you will notice" the old gentleman
called back to me over his shoulder,
that the higher we go the more baius-
trade We have. What heat there Is
rises. I suppose. or II may be chance.
II may be Just chance We're making
long climb. you see As yet I live on
the top floor. as I have a taste for see
ing tho sky. I. probably could never
grow accustomed to living without sight
OF IT, This next to, the last step IL
broken; you'd better skip ~
He paused before his door "A little out
NJ breath. fumbling In the darkness for
the lock- whom II had clicked back he
stlll held the knob for moment.
Perhaps l should say" he said.
that ! have allowed myself TO live a
little better than my neighbors. A
man, ! take II. has n right to what he
can get In life" and with that no
swung the door open.
The room before me was the most
amazing one ! have ever seen. The
sun flooded into It brilliantly for It's
two small. white-curtained windows
faced the south. and overhead the
In Af h. huI
replaced by q giant skyiight. with a
rolling shade. like that OF a studio.
A single Bokhsra rug covered the floor.
The walls were liped with shelves
almost to the ceiling. whore books dis
puted space with bewildering mis-
cellany: Oriental curios and European
objets dart Jostied one another incon-
gruously. and hero or there some cheap
German or Yankee gimcrack rested
with all the impertiaence of smart
ana interesting modernity. In one
corner a large photograph stood with
a great heap OF disks beside II. while
its other side propped n big banjo.
fretted and iniaid like n colored min
strers As we came blinking into the
room three birds huttered up from tho
Uttered centre table.
Don't keep them in cages" the old
gentleman explained, chipping 10 them
as they settled on his shoulders tive
never been able to persuade myself
that a bird really liked n cage. This
one" and he stretched out hand on
which was perched n big. long-billed,
wicked looking bird with iridescent.
black plumage and yellow legs ami
vattles "is n Mino bird. II comes
from Java. you know II talks some
times when II feels like IT."
The bird eyed me wickedly with It's
head on one side.
Welcome" he croaNed once, mo-
ros-ly,
"The other two are canaries," said
the oil gentleman. at IL really SUR
prlsIng and delightful To hear thel9
varied accomplishments when the pho-
nopraph IL running. Would yoL Ike TO
hear tune
N you will forgive me-" I said. Il
am very anxious to get at me business
In hand You see, | have very par
,lcular reason for finding Mr., Bond. so
that fear YOU would md me a poor
listener. 30 YOU really know something
about him.
The old gentleman looked little
disappointed. 'nell, WELL he said, Il
suppose we'd better get 10 business hgst,
hui have some delightful new records
that am sure would interest you.
SIN, you are right; We had better have
our talk Now, Just what was II that
YOU wished to see Mr.. Bond about"
Il don't quite know how to answer
YOU" I replied. my business with Mr.,
Bond 10 very private and personal
nature II you know where he Is.