Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-14
Potash,P ,Perl1nutter
and Others
By MONTAGUE GLASS

By MONTAGUE GLASS
K.-RED, THE ME-
DIATOR
Copyright. The Frank A Munsey Col
A LOYSItS WALSH, the same
n they call "Red," was playing
~ the mouth organ. He exhaled
the melody and inhaled the &C.
compartment while Patsy Barry sal
beside him on the bench and kicked
the wooden partition beneath, tempo
maIcato.
Outside the cold was intense, and the
constantly opening door so lowered the
temperature of the room that the music
fairly steamed from Aloysius' lips II
little Jets Of vapor. Patsy's nose peep
ed, cherrylike, from the shade Of his
enormous cap, and his whole attitude
was one Of absorbed interest In the
performance. He admired good music
not so the manager at Forty-ffth street
who stuck his head through an opening
In the partition.
"Quit dat noise, youse two" he
growled, "or I'll kick de botn yez out
er dis"
They quit incontinently, for the man
ager was Of a decisive habit with mes
senger boys. He had just risen from
O tender conversation with "B. G." In
the main office, who clicked him WV
i'd description Of herself as tall and
blond, and he sighed as he pictured her
languid eye and moist red lip. If he
but knew it. "B. g." was stout and
forty, with three days growth OF
beard and more redolent Of whisky
than the manager at Forty fifth street
himself.
It was scant half past 8, and the
theaters were In. A light snow fell,
and a bleak wind swept Broadway
clear Of all traffic save the cars and
one or two belated playgoers. The
manager lighted a fresh stogie and
prepared for a quiet evening.
Aloysius and Patsy were doping
the horses at New Orleans with the aid
of tattered pink newspaper. They
were keen sportsmen, at least in de-
sire, and discussed In low tones a mark
ed reversal of form shown in the fifth
race that afternoon.
dat amt narten," said Aloysius.
"Iouis dor was played down to even
money yesterday, and she amt finished
yet"
Patsy waggled his head gravely.
Eyer can't pick 'em desc days." he
said. "Dey git yer bote ways, comm
and goin'."
A bell tapped insistently, and the
manager drew a ticket from one Of the
many drawers behind the counter. He
handed it to Aloysius without even
glancing at It.
Here, your he said "Chase your
self"
Aloysius buttoned up bis coat and
carefully drew on his torn mittens.
Where to?" said Patsy.
"Hotel Altrincham," Aloysius replied
and ministered to a cold In his head
with his left hand mitten.
Leave me have de mout' organ while
ye're goneY' said Patsy as Aloysius
made for the door.
Jaw. what ferY Aloysius re5oined
derisively.
"All right, yer miz," said the dis
sruntled Patsy.
The manager again inserted his head
through the partition.
shake 1t up there, Four-ninety-two"
he said.
Aloysius opened the door and passed
out with a blast Of insulting discords
on the harmonica.
"Ho-ly cripesw he muttered to him
self as the wind struck him. "A1n't 1t
coldT"
And he broke into q trot with his
head bent to the swirling snow.
II.
A few minutes later he entered the
revolving doar Of the Altrincham and
saluted the clerk with the monosylla-
BILE Call"
Front" said the clerk. "take this
kid up to S9.".
After lively scuffle with the bellboy
In the elevator Aloysius anghted at the
eighth floor and knocked on the door
numbered 80.
A tall young man answered his sum-
mons.
"Come in," he said to Aloysius.
"Cold. isn't it?"
Aloysius shifted by way Of answer
and sat down on the edge Of the bed
He made careful survey Of the room
while the tall young man wrote steadi-
ly at a desk in the corner. On the
dressing table were two panel photo
graphs, and scattered about the walls
were four more, all Of the same per-
son. Aloysius stared at them with the
eye Of a connoisseur, for messenger
boys in the vicinity Of Forty-f1fth
street are by association and environ
ment excellent judges of feminine
beauty.
The tall young man rose from his
desk and went to the telephone.
"Send me a cup Of hot coffee" he
said to the clerk, and he returned to
his writing. Soon there came knock
at the door, and a waiter appeared
bearing a silver pot Of coffee on a
linen covered tray. He deposited 1t,
with sugar, cream and cup and saucer,
on the dressing table.
"Drink this" said the tall young
man. you'll feel better when you go
out"
Aloysius expressed his enjoyment In
long gurgling inhalations until there
was no more coffee left. Evidently the
tall young man found letter writing a
difficult task, for he began four epis-
ties, only to tear them up. At the hfth
attempt he concluded short note and
handed 1t to Aloysius.
"Take this letter to the Benson" he