New Britain herald., 1924-07-19


 Fifth avenue, waiting for A break il
 traffic which would permit them t'
 cross th" street, l was doing ih,
 samo thing, l had walked from ih,
 snug little apartment, which n tho moment l was maintaining ol Central Park West, across town ol
 my way to attend an auction. 0l
 Madison avenue. IL was balm. spring day, inc sort of morning whicl after a blustcry March reyives oneI i faith in the miracles Of Nature
 Exactly as a pretty girl rcvivcs onc'i | faith. I admit that my faith hae been revived several times this morn, ing, IL seemed 10 mo that all thc lovely girls Of the universe had beer
 placed in Central Park and on tho Avenue this morning, 10 tantalizc m, with thoughts of what might have been.
 I. who hated the world. loved il i this morning. Yet 1t was the hope. less love Of one who knows that tho simple joys are denied 10 him. felt a moisture yelling beneath my lids: my eyes were tilmy. Thcn | laughed at my sentimentality I had made my choice months ago when, after years of desperate struggle along the paths of honesty had given up tho unequal battle and become one of those who prey.
 Suffice it that no young girl would ever be harmed hy me--and even knowing me might some day cause her irrcparable damage. As I have said in one of my previous memoirs. like Npling's cat, l walk alone.
 So, because I was in softencd mood, as well as because I am an artist and a gentleman. felt a surge of pity for the hunchback. and a surge of wrath against the man who stood beside him. For this latter person rubbed the crippIe's hump.
 Oddly enough, although the lout seemed none too gentle. the cripple did not resent the action. Perhaps poor devil. he had become so used to the brutalities of his fellows. that his spirit had lost it's powers of resent ment.
 year or so ago. when I had been crushed by the brutalities of life, l would have felt no indignation at such sight. l had then been unable to become angry at indignities heaped upon myself Moralists would tell you that l had since lost my soul, but tell you that I had found it. A year ago, an honest man. I would have sneercd cynically; today, a thief. l took the lout by the collar and threw him across the sidewalk.
 The north and south -bound traffic halted as the lights flckercd on the tower down the avenue: the police man blew his whistle and waved the pedestrians to pass over. It was an opportunity. and as my bewildcred victim climbed unsteadily to his feet, muttering threats, l merged with the human tide and gained the doors of hotel across the street, slipped through it's reception rooms and came out upon Fifty-ninth street, certain that I had avoided pursuit, and not worrying about future recognition. As for the hunchback, he had not glanced my way.
 By extreme caution, I eliminate ac- rldents. Before l entered the a,ic- tton rooms which were my destina- ton, l glanced over my shoulder 10 make certain that no offensiveN right-minded person was guiding upon my trail the man whom I had knocked down. If a policeman inter Nened in street-braWl in which I was concerned, it is conccivahIe that might be asked my means of liveli- hood, question of obvious embar- rassmcnt.
 So entered the auction rooms and took a chair in the rear. Half an hour passed before made a bid and then I offered fifty dollars for mediocre tapestry. l acquired it at cighty-fiVo, gave a check to the at tcndant, ordered tho thing sent to my apartment, and settled back in my chair to watch the rest of the pro- cccdngs. l do not think it advisable that l should be merely a spectator at auctions; connoisseur, even though in a small way achieves an instant standing. And my acquisition of tho tapestry proved that had fair taste along with probably modest means.
 Of course had not come here solely 10 purchase. Indeed. the tapestry would hardly conform to the again l felt the sentiment of sprine- time. wanted home. pcrmancncc. l wanted place where l could put things that l had acquired for the joy of acquisition. and because they be- longcd in that home. Deliberately dismissed Inc dangerous thoughts.
 No man can he success fin busi- ness if he devotcs his office hours to moonings: these were my office hours and l was here on busi- ness. For where in the world is ono more likely to have opportunity To sec and study those possesscd Of wealth than in an auction room where articles Of tremendous value arc put upon the block? And the hi crnational Auction Company ca cred to clientele or millionaircs Snch bargains as my bit of tapestry ,nly occurred when they were minor ,arts of a great collection.
 Nearly everything else was priced I n the thousands. and did not interest | ne. although occasionally noted 1 he names and addresses of the pur- i 'hasers. And then came the Gerald i cwel-box. Gerald was multimil- l ionaire Of vulgar antcccdcnts and i aste who had died few years ago. ! Six months later his widow had fol- | owed him. and they had left heirs vho chose 10 rid themselves of the | collection which The | ieralds had acquired. l could not