Evening star., 1923-07-30
CHAPTER I.
THE TRANSFER.

HE IRANSt Elk.
A T IL o'clock of a moist night in
~ December Gregory Parr was
making his way far westward
on 23d street. At his right
d stretched that famous old row of
nified dwellings with pilasters and
ie front yards, and ahead of him
$ 10th avenue. the stronghold of the
H. The wet pavements glistened
. Ter the street lamps. and the smell
influenza was in the air. The
.et was deserted except for a
,*s-town car at long intervals,
ling itself blithely through the
on a fat wheel.
reg was on his way to the Bre-
d line pier. at the foot of the
Get. to take passage OH the great
"oia. premier steamship of her day.
d on this particular trip the
hristmas" ship. The Savoia ran as
10 to the hour as a railway train,
ID was scheduled to leave at l am.
order to make the best rail con-
Ctions. There was no reason why
"eg should have walked to the pier
,Iept that at the last moment his
art was loath to leave little old
; W York, and even the least inter
ling of her streets called TO him.
As he walked he communed with
mself somewhat after this fashion
ord! ] didn't know the old burg
can't so much to me till Iamade up
: mind 10 leave it! After All. maybe
II a fool TO pull up stakes here. I
low the folks on this side; their
dys are my ways. ] speak New
rrk. Perhaps in London I'll he like
ish in the grass" But his baggage
IS on the pier and he had paid a
posit on his ticket. 1t never o"-
Irred TO him that he could still
lange his miud. On such trifles do
ac weightiest human decisions turn!
lie crossed 10th avenue and passed
rough the long block beyond.
ith its escarpments of dark fac
ries on either hand. At llth avenue
street opened into d plaza with
',e ferry houses facing him from the
. her side, and long line of steam
zip piers stretching south. of which
ie Brevard pier was the nearest.
yer the pier sheds Greg saw the
asthead light of the Savoia gleam-
e brightly and heard the soft mur-
ur of escaping steam. on the cor
r. was d little waterfront hotel. the
evdrd House, with inviting bril-
antly lighted bar. Greg vas ire
stihly drawn to enter. one last
rink To my own town" he said to
.mScif.
Within. the bar was absolutely
pical and therefore dear TO Greg.
here was the Very red and we'll
iped mahogany counter, finished
18th round cornice to lean the
bows on. and with brass rail
,elow for feet. Behind the counter
ne usual elaborate structure of ma
4ogany and plate glass reared itself
. the ceiling, a super -mantelpiece as
: were. while between counter and
mirrors moved q pink checked young
nan. in command, one might say. Of
ne battalion of bottles behind him.
iaI'tenders used to be mustachioed.
,ut now they are smooth and pink
'heeked
To Greg's disappointment he found
he place almost empty; he desired
ompany; he longed TO hear the racy
.pee"h of the Manhattan paYem en- :
1efore he finally shook their dust
rom his feet There We're two tray
lers. but they, having downed their
.rinkS. were preparing to leave;
.rroSs the room sitting at table
as human dereliut. without which
10 picture of barroom would be
0mplete-but he was sleeping under
'is hat like d candle under its extin-
guiSher. The only other custom er
present was a taxi driver who was
making friendly oVertureS to the bar
ander. For some reason the pink
one scorned him. These in
;tinctiVe antipathieS are impossible to
.xplain; the bartender was perfectly
wiling TO hobnob with the two