The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03

Of Poiilon's Turkish Bath. From the
brighter and livelier thoroughfare with
its resembling clatter OF cab horses feet
and drone OF electric cars there followed
half dozen individuals some over
dressed. others in threadbare. shiny gar
ments. some dirty; one had long white
beard which gave him benevolent APP
pearance: one smoked cigarette, which
dropped from one corner OF his mouth
as he talked out OF the other; another
was thick set and bull necked. like a
stunted giant. All of them whined along
at his heels. taking turns at hypocriticai
and shameless solos of pleading. He
shook his head doggedly.
Having reached the top step Of the
flight that led to the entrance to the
baths. he turned on them all. go to
blazes." he shouted in a thick voice.
"You buzzards!"
The old man with the ministerial
beard and watery, muskrat eyes poked
his face up behind the heavy shoulder
Of the thick set man and answered for
them all. You're a cheap skate all
right" he squealed. "All that money to
the good and no handout to your
friends"
Friends" yelled the man. 'Ive got
good and full of friendship. have"
He coughed drunkenly. Friends! I've
got one for every dollar in my pants
That's the kind Of friends I've got"
He took something from his pocket
and tossed 1t down the steps. The silent
half dozen gave vent to animal cries
They pushed. scrambled. fought. dropped
to their knees In the gutter with crop
ing. clawing arms painting. lustful. The
youth Of the cigarette succeeded in
grasping the object; he staggered to his
feet.
Uncontrolled. the bull necked individ-
ual rushed at him with eyes red with
sudden passion. caught him by the two
ears and shook him savagely. "Share
up" he roared with an oath. The youth
gave vent to a wall. "Leggo." he
whimpered. ut amt money" He
opened his hand The object for which
they had been struggling was a cham
payne cork.
Money" said the man on the steps
phllosophically with alcoholic hoarse-
ness. Money. money. money. money"
He tipped his hat onto the back of his
head with the tips OF his fingers. Gee.
amt il joker said h and opened the
door
The smell of newly Numbered towels.
steam and bay rum scented the office.
where a clock licked above a counter
on which lay a register with a pen
across its autographed leaves. \ for
e!gn looking manager dozed in the en-
closure behind and n yellow haired girl
was reading feverishly from a volume
of poetry bound in brown limp leather,
which was open on her manicure table.
She looked up. noted the stranger con-
temptuously and spoke in a shrill voice
"Mr Sutro," The manager started up,
rubbed each eye with a fat foretinger
and opened first one and then the other
to meet the bleary gaze of the man
across the counter.
Correct" said he without courtesy.
"Sign here"
Taking the pen. the patron Of the
baths wrote John Nixon in a large,
unframed scrawl.
"Any valuables chewels-eh?" asked
Mr.. Sutro. Offering an empty lock box
out of a cabinet.
Yep" answered Mr.. Nixon. He drew
a diamond pin from his tie and un-
screwed a flashing stud from his shirt
From the side pocket Of his trousers he
pulled handful after handful of
wrinkled, crumpled bills. Their green
and yellow backs mingled in pleasant
combination of color. He stuffed them
into the box. Mr.. Sutro pulled the
register toward him quickly and studied
the strangers signature; then he re-
garded the pile of money with silly.
childish envy.
perhaps we'd better pud ct in de
safe for you. Mr.. Nixon" said he defer
entially. He pulled open the top Of
glass cigar case. "Chust took a cigar.
SIR" he went on. I'll count this over
II you don't mind"
Give me a receipt for It," said Nixon.
reaching into the cigar boxes.
Mr.. Sutro counted the bills with a
wet thumb. 1t took him several
minutes. Two thousand eight hunured
and thirty-one," he announced. The
girl behind the volume Of poetry was
gazing upon the money with unwinking
eyes. AS the manager stepped toward
the safe she rose to come forward with
an affected little dab Of her hand to her
stray yellow locks. She leaned her
head little to one side and smiled en-
couragingly at Nixon.
I'm on duty till 1880" she said,
archly. you'll stop to be manicured
as you go out, eh?"
"Oh. sure" said Nixon, posing his
cigar to watch the smoke curl upward.
The girl looked disappointed. He had
spoken so plainl a refusal.
carrying quite leetle change
around?" ventured Mr.. Sutro In an at
tempt to be amusing.
"Oh. sure" replied Nixon In a tired
voice, tossing the cigar to the floor.
Lost two hundred this morning." he
explained good naturedly. Ten to one
picked on the ponies this afternoon and
the rest off the tables this evening" He
looked up at the life insurance calendar.
Must be lucky date-October 49," His
shaky hand was on the door to the
dressing rooms.
LET us know II you want anything,
Mr.. Nixon called out Sutro. The girl
leaned forward over the counter. Don't
forget, now" she cautioned. shaking a
round, white finger at him.
Money" said he half aloud, 1apslng
into his drunken world under the in
fiuence OF the warmth of the inner
air. Money? Gosh! What a joke"
The porcelain tiled hot room. with
Its sheeted reclining chairs about the
walls, its red rug and table Uttered with
newspapers, already contained four men
when Nixon lad undressed and de-
seconded to it's swinging door, He noted
This with satisfaction, for he liked the