Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-13

one, and two closets. Above these there
was an attic with head room for a dwarf,
A faucet in the kitchen sink supplied
running water.
Similar mansions in Bitumen housed
dozen people. Tommy was lucky TO have
a whole room. however small to himself.
There was also in the backyard a we'll
with a bucket, and mere, II a man really
wanted bath and was willing to get
up so early that nobody would see him,
he could get one.
AS leader OF the disconnected. Guns
dorf ran an open house. There was al
ways talk and something to drink in the
front room downstairs. Here politics
were matched just as they are in the cab
met room in Washington and here drinks
Of the most vile rye whiskey could be had
by the initiated for the asking
From the very first Mrs. Gunsdorf had
done her best to make Tommy comforta'
BILE. Not a tidy. woman by nature, she
put her house in order for his benefit
and kept it so. From the looking glass in
the kitchen at which you combed your
hair before meals she shrubbed the fly
specks. She bought a new comb with a
fun complement Of teeth to hang on the
chain. she washed the roller towel. and
for the first time in her life took an in
terest in cooking, seeking Instructions
from neighbors who had regulations in
that line But she managed for a time
TO confine her amorous feelings toward
Tommy to deeds and attentions. She tried
to make her manner toward him just
what 1t was TO other young men who
came to the house. But when discussion
was hot In the front room. and the wits
key was going, and nobody was noticing
her, she Toasted her eyes on his brown
face and her ears on his quiet, resonant
well-bred voice.
II was a shirt-sleeye house. Directly
you came in, you hung your coat on one
OF many hooks in the hall, and IL you
mad been much on your feet, you sat
with them on the table after removing
your shoes. This last was custom
which Tommy found himself unable to
| adopt; but he hung his coat I'm the front
! hall, with the others, and got used to
! sitting in a room I'm which. to use his
own phrase. the atmosphere was chained
! to the floor"
Mrs. Gunsdorf was always coming and
going. She would appear. silent as a
ghost, listen for a while TO what the
men had TO say, and as silently vanish
! Sometimes she showed in her oar" And
she had a gift OF hitting the nail on
the head. But she spoke always with
a kind OF restrained. feline ferocity
All the time her mind was filled with
thoughts and visions OF Tommy. Some
times she would take his coat from ia
hook and strain It to her breast. Some
times when he was out OF the house she
would go to his room. and sit by the hour
Teasing herself on day dreams of him
In her mind, at least she was already
faithless 70 her husband. But this did
not trouble her in the least. II che
ever had conscience or moral scruplei
OF any kind about anything. ali thess
had vanished with her first sight Of
Tommy.
II Tommy had suspected her passion
for him. he would have felt very soTy
for her, and he would have changed hii
lodging. But his mind was very innocent
about women; and ne accepted the
flowers which appeared ON his bureau in
a raoked shaving mug just as he would
have accepted the same flowers groWins
IN a wood.
II was some time before he even
realized that she was very good looking
In a sullen. smouldering way. that her
eyes and teeth were very very fine. md
that she had 1.-THE. strony. panthereslue
Way O. moving.