The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-07-11
AnAdJu5tdble
lundtlc
By JAMES WHITCONB RILEY


chanic, and a sign painter at that"
Although he spoke with courtesy of
address, there was Il subtle something
in his eye that drew me magnetlike
and held me. l was silent.
want to know how / became aware
of that fact?" he went on, with a
quick, sharp glance at my bewildered
face. "Theres 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 l saw you stop and study
carefully some fresh design, or some
new style of letter. You're a strang-
er here in the city, too. Want to know
how l can tell? Because you walk
like you were actually going some
place; but l 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
Ough business air of your reflection
in the plate glass, Come, we can get
through now; let's walk"
l followed him unhesitatingly. To
say that 1 was simply curious would
be too mild; l was fascinated, and to
that degree l actually fastened on his
arm, and chung there till we had quite
escaped the crowd 81 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 even pondering
whether to frankly unbosom to you, or
give you the slip; and I'll not leave
the proposition to you to decide, for
l 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 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 sepucher. l like it well
enough at night, for then l feast and
fattcn 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
desperation"
If l had at first been myStified with
this curious being, l was by this time
thoroughly bewildered. The more
studied him the more at a loss l was
to fathom him; and as l stood staring
hlanRly in his face, he exclaimed al
most derisively: you give it up, don't
you?"
nodded.
"Well," he continued, that's good
sign, and I've concluded to 'unbosom:'
I'm an adjustable lunatic."
IAN adjustable lunatic! =" l repeat
ed, blankly. And after the remarkable
proposition that ushers in the story,
he continued smilingly:
Don't be alarmed, now, for I'm glad
to assure you of the fact that I'm as
harnis as baby butterfly. Nobody
knows I'm crazy nobody ever dreams
w sum q 'iiih5 'HH '"J '~N''N'N
the faculty is adjustable, don't you
see, and self-controlling. L never al
low it to interfere with business mat
ters, and only let it on at leisure in
tervals for the amusement 1t affords
me in the pleasurable break 1t makes
in the mOnotony OF a matter-of-tact
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 Doth raised
you see, and you can call TOT heip
should occasion require; people are
constantly passlng-i1 you Ieel IN
clined, say to go up WIN me, III 40
my best to entertain you. IKE you
as SAID before, anu you can trust me-
l assure you. Come
If l were to attempt description
of the feelings that possessed me as
| followed my strange acquaintance up
the stairway, l should fail as utterly
as one who would attempt to portray
the experience of lying IN nine-days
I fancy