The sun., 1919-10-12

the numbers until l found myself be-
fore q gloomy pile Of a building In which
Arson Fairchild lived. The entrance
was somewhat dark and dingy. and there
was much elaboration upon the doorway
and In the hall that bespoke the taste
of an older day. ] suppose / must have
passed that building a hundred times
and only now did 1t seem significant.
The elevator moved slowly upward In
its scroll work cage, and floor after floor
showed itself to me as mysterious
dwelling place for unknown famllies
The woodwork was very dark. the stone
floors light in contrast. and the general
effect was a bit dizZying
| At last We were at the top, and after
, few Jerky trials the coiored elevator
boy managed to make n fairly even
stop.
ITO your left" he said. ''in the front. "
On the Threshold of Adventure.
stood before the door with q strange
mixture Of relief and dread.
The face ard figure OF my new friend
as remembered him came into my mind
| and rang the bell.
From the descending elevator came
the cheerful whistling OF the colored boy
who had directed me, and now, from
within, came the sound of footsteps.
The hall was very dark.
Suddenly the door opened. Silhouetted
against the radiant western sky which
hlled the apartment with brilliance a
| comfortable looking woman stood before
me.
II beg your pardon" I stammered.
"Mr. Fairchild's apartment"
Sure. an II is that" came the re-
Spouse in full, deep Irish voice. you
was expectin' to see himself at the door.
maybe. Well. he's crackin' the nuts for
! a salad. though I'm after tellin' him
ia do It myself, quick an aisy. He's
been lookin for we this hour back. I'll
take yer hat. and II yen step In, sir
I'll call him."
I surrendered my hat, feeling a little
dazed at the flow of conversation from
thls woman, evidenuySmy new friends
housekeeper.
! The living room into which I stepped
was astonishing In Its light and airy
breadth. The furnishings were O T.; le
shabby but very comfortable and home
| like, and rather in keeping with the
| woodwork and the old dark wood floors
/ So extensive was the view from the
| many windows that, although the apart.
ment faced south. II was possible 70 ge,
glimpse from the bay window at the
side OF the beauty Of the park.
Before I was quite aware OF his pres.
ence Arson Fairchild was beside me.
You must forgive me-" he said, mo-
| tioning me to seat upon a we'll worn
sofa. Fact is I bought some kind OF
jigamarig to crack nuts with and
couldn't resist the temptation to try Il
out. Quite a clever little instrument
Mrs. Cassidy has only been with us fol-
week and she can't understand our
casual existence. My friend young
Mason. who Is here at times, came In
late last night and ate half a box OF
oorniakes with cream, and Mrs. Cas-
sidy was ready TO weep because she
thought she hadn't given him enough
supper. Her remorse was quite a scene
We do as we like here, you see
Within sensible limits of course. But
you will see for yourself shortly.
hope you'll like us-and I had hoped
you would come a bit earlier, 80
could set you straight about our house.
hold before any one arrives"
MY Host Puts Me at MY Ease.
thought of my futile waste of time
pacing the avenue and smiled sheepishiy
to myself. might have known that
there was no need Of being formal with
person like thiA
ny host sat quietly for . few minutes