The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-18
EVENING STORY
Paddy's Flight.
BY HARVEY BROWN.


In spite of hi nself, Gregory was in
terested IN the development of events
on his neighbor's fire escape. Not
that he acknowledged 1t to himself,
but every morning when he had seat
ed himself at his hat-topped desk in
the back library he would glance from
the windows at the house on the next
/ street, the back garden of which ad-
joined his own.
1t was a four-story, plain. old-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 gar
den. and above them he could see the
second floor fire escape, where the
nurse placed her every morning.
She must have been i'll a long while.
he decided. They would place a rug
out there first. and cushions, then a
here she would rest, her face turned
toward the sky or down at the locusts.
He grew to wish it might sometimes
turn toward him. it was so fair.
Lemuel. his colored houseman, usu-
ally was well 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. 1 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 takes and private cars stand out
side till all hours de night. an no
sign of any one daytimes"
There's young lady and her nurse
that I see over there day times"
That so, Mister David? Still 1
wouldn't put no confidence in female
presences, If was you, no, sir. May
be she's held prisoner, for all we
know. ia jes' let 'em all alone"
Gregory had laughed. but all that
Lemuel told him only interested him
more than ever. 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 ro-
mantle days. something about Fair
foland Of the yellow hair" and
caught his wandering thoughts guilt
lily to concentrate on his auditing.
Sometimes he told Paddy about IL.
He did not care for household pets but
Paddy had come to him as a special
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 parrot 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 q narrow balcony. and one day
a stray dog terrified him as he dozed
here. and he flew across to the neigh
boring fire escape, attracted by the
little brightly colored awning over it
perhaps.
1t was embarrassing. yet Gregory
felt a thrill of excitement when hs
started after the bird. Avoiding Lem
uers 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
locust trees. They bore pendant
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
miles
He might have swung up and
caught the lower round of the fire es-
cape stair, but convention gripped
him, and the fear of startling her So
he whistled softly to Paddy and held
up his hand. The parrot eyed him
warily. croaking huskily. and she
stirred in the willow chair and wax
ened.
at only came over for the bird. :"
afraid he would startle you. I am
your netghbor."
She smiled down at him and asked
IL 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
as one may with a neighbor even in
New York.
Her name was Audrey Phillips. she
told him, adding: At think perhaps
you may know my father, Curtis Phil
lips"
A memory of Lemuels warning re-
cured to him and he almost smiled
Curtis Phillips was an eccentric
painter of note. He had heard of him
last trying to paint a. 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.
Il 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
1 am very nearly well now. As soon
as I can travel I am going away"
Her father owned a cabin up in the
Catskills. she told him also, near Big
Indian, and they would go there for
the last of the summer. 1t was a beau
tiful 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
front door. and have tea with her on
Sunday afternoon when other friends
called. She was very aloof and dis
turbing to peace of mind on this occa-
sion. He had imagined they were
much better acquainted, after four
trips he had made to the fire-escape to
recover Paddy. She even suggested
putting a light chain on Paddy's leg
to keep him home
mot that mind his coming to sec
me, but 1t is so hard for you to have
to come after him. I know you are