The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-16
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Paddy's Flight.
BY HARVEY Brown.
copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure


terested In the development OF
events on his neighbours fire escape.
Not that he acknowledged 1t to him
self, but every morning when he had
seated himself at his nat-topped desk
in the back library he would glance
from the windows at the house on the
next street, the back garden Of which
adtoined his own.
It was four-story, plain, fash
toned brick house, now divided into
separate apartments. He did not know
who lived there. Two locust trees
formed islands Of green in the garden,
and above them he could see the sec
ond floor fire escape, where the nurse
placed her every morning.
She must have been III long while,
he decided. They would place rug
out there first, and cushions, then a
willow chair with more cushions, and
here she would rest, her face turned
toward the sky or down at the locusts.
He grew to wish 1t might sometimes
turn toward him, it was SO fair.
Lemuel his colored houseman, usual
ly was we'll posted on neighborhood
data, but when he questioned him
carelessly the old darby shook his
head mysteriously.
dat house amt nevah open at all,
Mister David. been suspicioning for
some time past it was one OF desc here
gambling places you read about in de
papers, yessir. Some times four and
five taxis and private cars stand out
sign of any one daytimes."
- 1aIE tANs
that see over there day times"
THAT so, Mister David? Still
wouldn't put no confidence In female
presences, il was you, no sir. Maybe
she's held prisoner, for all we know.
I'd jes' let EN- all alone"
Gregory had laughed, but all that
Lemuel told him only interested him
more than aver. She had long, fair
hair, very long, worn in two soft braids
that came over her shoulders. and fell
on her lap. He remembered bit of
verse he had liked in his romantic
days, something about Fair Yoland
Of the yellow hair" and caught his wan
dertng thoughts guilty to concentrate
on his auditing.
Sometimes he told Paddy about it.
He did not care for household pets,
but Paddy had come to him as spe-
elal legacy when Dan Bryan, the old
actor on the top floor, had gone to
make his first appearance In the great
beyond, and so he had priced the par
rot and granted him the freedom of
the study.
Paddy was fond. too, of the little
iron wrought balustrade outside the
window that led down to the garden
from narrow balcony. and one day
a stray dog terrified him as he dozed
here, and he flew across to the neigh
boring Gre escape attracted by the lit.
tie brightly colored awning over 1t per-
haps.
1t was embarrassing yet Gregory
felt thrill of excitement when ne
started after the bird. Avoiding Lem
uel's observation, he decided to avoid
the street and make as straight line
as Paddy had. She seemed to be
asleep, and the parrot perched on the
railing, preening its feathers in agi-
tation.
Gregory climbed the intervening
fence and found himself beneath the
blooms, like jewels on necklaces, and
the red brick pavement in the garden
was covered with the petals. He
thought of once when he was in Japan
in the cherry blossom time and had
walked on petal covered roads fol
miles.
He might have swung up and caught
the lower round of the fire escape
stair, but convention gripped him, and
the fear of startling her. So he whis-
tied softly to Paddy and held. up his
hand. The parrot eyed him warily,
croaking huskily, and she stirred in
the willow chair and wakened
II only came over for the bird
Gregory explained eagerly. 81 was
afraid he would startle you. am your
peighbor."
She smiled down at him and asked
II she could help, but Paddy waddled
hastily away from her outstretched
hand to the far end of the railing,
Gregory asked if he might come after
him and she consented And with the
parrot nesting on his coat sleeve he
sat on the railing and talked with her
hs one may with neighbor even in
New York.
Her name was Audrey Phillips she
told him, adding: ~ think perhaps you
may know 'my father, Curtis Phillips
A memory Of Lemuel's warning re-
CURED to him and he almost smiled
Curtis Phillips was an eccentric paint
Or of note. He had heard OF him last
trying to paint rainbow in the
Yosemite. Audrey seemed to catch his
thought, for she added that her father
was rarely at home. She lived there
Alone with a housekeeper and her
nurse.
II used to go with him, until I had
very bad fall from my horse while
We were camping out on one of faith
er's trips, and they brought me home
am very nearly well now. AS soon
as I can travel am going away"
Her father owned cabin up in the
Catskills, she told him also, near Big
indian, and they would 60 there fol
the last of the summer. 1t was beau
htul spot, isolated excepting for one
other house, an old deserted farm
house. They would be leaving In
about a month, she thought.
The following week Gregory had
progressed so far in neighborliness
that he was permitted to ring at the
ront door, and have tea with her on
Sunday afternoon when other friends
called. She was very aloof and dis.
surbing to peace OF mind on this occa-
ttaN Sa had