Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-12-15
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b. JAMES WHITCONB RILEY

NOW don't look lofty and assume a
professional air, for you're only me-
chanic, and sign painter at that"
Although he spoke with courtesy of
address, there was a subtle something
in his eye that drew me magnetllke
and held me. i was silent.
"Want to know how became aware
of that fact?" he went on, with
quick, sharp glance at my bewildered
face. There's nothing wonderful
about my knowing that; I've had my
eye on you for two hours, and you
stare at every signboard you pass.
worse than country jake; and once
or twice / saw you stop and study
carefully some fresh design, or some
new style of letter. You're q strang
err here in the city, too. Want to know
how / can tell2 Because you walk
like you were actually going some
place; but notice that you never get
there, for continually crossing and re-
crossing streets, and back-tracking
past show windows, and congratulate
ing yourself, doubtless, upon the thor
in the plate glass. Come, we can get
through now; let's walk"
/ followed him unhesitatingly. To
say that was simply curious would
be too mild; l was fascinated. and to
that degree actually fastened on his
arm, and chung there till we had quite
escaped the crowd. II like you, some
way" he said, ''but you're too impul-
sive; you let your fancy get away with
your better judgment. Now, you don't
know me, and I'm e'en bordering
whether to frankly unbosom to you, or
give you the slip; and I'll not leave
the proposition to you to decide, for
know you'd say 'unbosom so I'll
think about it quietly for a while
yet and give you an unbiased verdict"
We walked on in silence for the dis
lance, perhaps, of half a dozen blocks,
turning and angling about till we came
upon an open stairway in an old I'M
painted brick building, where my
strange companion seemed to pause
mechanically.
do you live here?" /. asked.
81 stay here" he replied, ''for
don't call it living to be fastened up
in this old sepulcher. like it well
| enough at night, for then l feast and
/ fatten on the gloom and glover that in
fest it; but in the normal atmosphere
Of day my own room looks repellent,
and only visit it, as now, out of sheer
1 dacparafinp
I If / had at first been mystified with
/ this curious being, l was by this time
! thoroughly bewildered. The more l
studied him the more at loss was
to fathom him; and as stood staring
blankly in his face, he exclaimed al
most derisively: you give it up, don't
your
nodded.
"Well,' he continued, "that's a good
sign, and I've concluded to 'unbosom:
Pm an adjustable lunatic."
IAN adjustable lunaticI'" repeat
ed, blankly. And after the remarkable
proposition that ushers in the story,
he continued smllingly:
Don't be alarmed now, for I'm glad
to assure you of the fact that I'm as
harmless as baby butterfly. Nobody
| knows I'm crazy, nobody ever dreams
of such a thing-and why? Because
the faculty is adjustable, don't you
see, and self-controlling. ] never al
low it to interfere with business mat
tiers, and only let it on at leisure in
tervals for the amusement it affords
me in the pleasurable break 1t makes
in the monotony of a matter-of-fact
existence. I'm off duty today-in fact,
| I've been off duty for week; or, to
be franker still, lost my situation ten
| days ago, and I've been humoring this
propensity in the meanwhile; and now,
If you're inclined to go up to my room
with me-the windows are both raised,
you see, and you can call for help
should occasion require; people ere
constantly passing-if you feel in.
clined, say, to go up with me, I'll do
my best to entertain you. like you
as | said before. and you can trust me
l assure you. Come"
: If l were to attempt a description
! or the feelings that possessed me as
/ l followed my strange acquaintance VI
: the stairway, should fail as utterly
. as one who would attempt to portray
| the experience of lying in a nine-days
, trance. SO l leave the readers fancy
: to befriend me, and hasten on to more
2 tangible matters.
j We paused at the first landing, my
e companion unlocking door on the
S right. and handing me the key with the
remark; "You may feel safer with ii
h And don't be frightened" he continued
+ when | open the door, for it always
$ whines like somebody had stepped OF
: its knob" and l laughed at the ode
5 figure as he threw the door open an,
l mOtiOned me to enter.
n 1t was queer apartment, filed witt
~ III