Show Ia RED t STORY Sio WILL IRWIN C TIle be hS Ina CHAPTER I. I r Tho The Boarders Boarden g tho tbt events of ot that rain rainy mn evening at nt MN Irs board board- house in tho the for far West Wes Twenties of DP- DP 1 York a accounts differ somewhat t hough not enough h after all but hut bUtt hutt Et t we may mar pi piece e together a connected rV Until the great event the they MM tM t trivial It was WIlS the reflected ted light J the tragedy which gave gave- them their Ij Mot Jest of the boarders remained inn in in- in too wet wot in tho the early n f ince it Wa was eing for farin faring out of doors door with Sort After dinner Miss II Harding i id nad d ci Miss Miu Jones stenographers who I red a room and nd alcove on the tho seea see sec fold d a floor entertained II company inthe intile in tie tile the parlor on the tho ground floor two floor two UD ung office mates who figure but dim dim- vin Jn in this ibis tale These callers came camo at atA atI I A few minutes later Proe Pro Pro- them Professor Noll joined e the tile a. a a. on cli was af a diet 4 nt at editor of a health foo food mn magazine tint lIt lie lived Jived on t the be third floor acrO across 9 the I 11 from Captain IIan Hanska ka in a room en as tho the captain himself rc rc- during durin one of his genial mo inc ent with all tho of oC homo home WOT or Professor Non Nell had traveled wide wide- fr gathering experience and junk and BIB every ery port of the world vorM ho had bought freel freely of gilt It and trash curios cunos He was wa as proud of that bizarre apart apart- ment as thou though h it had harl been hoa tho the thoL L Louvre une A charming old oM man was Noll NolI when ho he dismounted when from m hi hia hi rand hobby occasionally be rode it too A thick tan tangle le of silv sil- sil v vr r silk ilk hair and a 0 little pair of ot china blue eyes eves accented a personality all in in gaiety and anI old age ac prattle E Miss MiD nardin harding and Miss Jones hadnot had hadnot snot not arrived at that point with their wanted to visit I JOlD men where the they ilone lone alone When Professor or Noll Nohl entered ind Bu suggested ested music the they thoy welcomed him He Ife sat ut at down to the piano there there- and they thoy all nIl sang the tho foolish ephemeral songs S of 01 the picture shows show Mrs Moore stood in the hall hail for a time listening Miss Mis Jones Joncs spied her aJ and nd a invited nor her liar in She was a n landlady land land- lady dy of the lu lugubrious typo she i-he wept silently over ocr tho the sentimental passages es with th rhymes on U COSO cosoy cosey and and eventually she sho joined her voice with nth the singing Once or or twice hc hc ic left momentarily to after towels to furnace heat beat and other care cares One Ono of the these c tours took bk her t to the top iop of the house where Miss ilS Estrilla the tile sick lick with weak ey eyes lived in ir ii half darkened rear room She a. a newcomer th this is Miss Sg and not yet well enough to flake ake ke her me meals ne ls hs in the dining room Mils Mias ERt Estrilla's rill a s 's brother a slim nier- nier curial Urial little Latin with wit an au entertaining J I trick of ot the tongue tong r was reading ng to her herby bya by by a sha shaded lamp as ho lie often did of l evenings s. s When Mrs Moore loore rejoined r V the others they were sin singing fu full voice fr On Oo the stairs dairs Mrs Moore met Captain Cap Cap- tain Hanska pl racing pissing in UP from his late and M-and solitary r linnet He lie was a a- a little HUlo about meals and this o enin evening t jho had bad come como in demanding dinner i after affer everything was cleared away iway Half ft-Half the boarding house liked Captain n Hanska and half hall disliked him flather and more accurately all half and half hated him hini A large rutan of 4 45 or so 80 he lie looked at first t sight ight rather boat bloated and at second 1 1 JY gross grOI and bl big through tho aca ac- ac a t-O t of middle n aged ned ed muscle and tho thicker flow of ot mid middle lc aged blood was WAR bull necked brond broad shouldered t of waist and heavy of leg Et E Ev- Ev t about him denoted old oM hii strength th gone gone stale stalo In face ho bo showed the theof traces of what must have hare been great youthful comeliness Even now he had an eye 00 which could be both keen and kind when hou hOll his mood was gentle These moods of ur his puzzled orono o everyone No man could rouM be more irritable at times yet et none nunu as all the tho feminine part of of oC the UlO c testified could bo more charming moro more understanding of women There Thoro was a n. curious quality beneath all that a quality which none nono of Mrs Moores Moore's boarders had bad tho dis discernment dis- dis to formulate It was wa as asI tho l though h some somo inner driving energy sought Bought ht Rn nn an outlet and found no way wa I through that accumulation of flesh h and rind I H Ann muscle n Before for h li he started up tho stairs he ho paused an instant at tho the parlor door boor or and anil looked upon the singers in or Come on in in the tho waters water's finel final finel called Miss jocularly jo Captain Hanska returned no answer Apparently one of his sardonic l gibes gibE's was on his hiJ lips but ho let it die there And Aud he ho turned away aWRY He lie can certainly bo be a grouch when hen ho he wants to said Miss l Harding Hard in lag ing as as' as though h apologizing n to tho the young men U Fierce exclaimed Miss Mies Jones Jonel And tho they thoy resumed their singing As Cant Canta am n pa passed sed Mrs Moore on tho lower flight ht of stairs his head was waa bent and he gave no sign of tion Mrs Moore did not leave e the parlor she sho testified afterward until Mr Lawrence Lawrence Law Law- rence Wade called asking for Captain Hanska As on previous occasions ho gave her ber his card ard which read elMr Mr Lawrence Wade Curfew Club He lIe had called before whether two or three times time Mrs Moores Moore's memory would nover never serve to tell But sho she recognized him perfectly she sho she would have bave known him bun anywhere sho she said Baid e Get Gee O who who's F your our swell friend be friend he could lead lend leadmo mo mo up blushing to tho the altar had hind been Miss Hardings Harding's i tribute the first time sho ho saw him For he was very comely comely comely-a a comeliness that was a n perfect blend of casto and character And that ni night ht sho ho flashed a JaD languishing roll of her big eyes after the tall hb as it disappeared U That fellow eow would do for a c clothing house ad ad- ad our adour our our collars fit round tho the neck she sho ho whispered to tho the company compan whereupon everyone giggled gig Mrs Moore carried tho the card to Captain Captain Cap Cap- tain tarn Hanska's s room on the third floor ia iR it hn ho Prowled ns as she t knock knocked n h 1 II Mr Mr Wade to see you rou s sho 0 rop replied Iou She Sho remembered afterward that he paused for an an instant before ho an also 0 sho she heard a rustling sound found as though hough BO someone eone were moving about Ive 1 10 0 gone to bed bod ho lic said Bald after the pau pause e. e Where is hot ho Downstairs Downstairs Down Down- stairs Yes Yes sir Then show him up sal said the captain cap tam tain but but say Ive I've gono gone to bed Mrs Mrs irs turned back to summon Mr Ir Wade Vade as she sho did so o Mr Estrilla came down from the floor above Oh good evening Mr Ir Estrilla said Mrs Moore Did DId your our sis sister sis illS t ter ter- ter e r- r Just then the voice oice of Captain Hanska Hanska Hans Hans- ka broke in from behind the tho door Wait Wait Vait a n minute Ask Mr Wade Wado if he minds my not getting up Ive I've a cold and Ive I've taken somo some medicine Very V cry we well captain replied Mrs Moore Estrilla la seeing that she aha was wall engaged ed wont went on downstairs to the front door This narrative has gone ono so far from the point of ot view of Mrs Ira Moore We will shift now to Miss Harding for fora a time let Jet her mind be he the crystal of our thou thought ht V We shall shaH find it a scattering scat scat- and superficial mind but furnished fur forth with good memory the I trick of observation and an instinct for tor I concrete expression sion A moment before Mrs Moore came camo back and told Mr r. Wa e that Captain Cap Hanska Hanaka would see him hini Mr Estrilla appeared at the door of the tho parlor Although they the hail had seen but little of him at Mrs Moores Moore's be ho was popular for n a Latin lightness of temperament a 3 cheerful and winnin winning smile mUe a nimble wit which lost nothing noth in lug ing because of his bis quaint accent and various winsome actor tricks which Mrs Moore called II capers At that I mO moment l ut they were vere singing Yip hi ay hi then in its first fint run Mr Estrilla bundled up in hat bat and mackintosh mackintosh mackintosh mack mack- intosh cut a curvet in the hall haJJ kicked out one cue of his small feet joined a note of the chorus in n a pleasant pleasant pleas pleas- ant Jj light ht tenor voice changed to a l falsetto tone tono which was plainly an imitation imi imi- tation of Miss Hardings Harding's s 's sin singing in and whirled toward tho the outer door Miss fiss Harding called Come in and sing I But Dut Mr Ir Es Es- trilla only p pivoted through the door calling Buenos yip hi Perhaps five minutes later Miss went upstairs for a chief For Tor a moment she site was absent absentminded absentminded minded a rare thing with her so o that instead of turning on tho the floor where her room was situated sho shio continued con con- another flight flicht and brou brought ht up suddenly lenh aware of her mistake at tho the third floor landing Something held her there tIet for a moment moment the the sound of oC high words worda from Captain Hanska's s room Miss jIS jI'S Harding Ig paused lon longer cr than thau Sho She was an honorable girl hut but tho the most honorable I of 1 us pay instinctive tribute trib to our I tell you both hoth I wont won't came I Captain IJ s 's 5 ruther rather harsh voice Oh I think perhaps T I can cau make you loll change e c your mind came camo other accents accents ac ac- cents wl which dj Miss Mis Harding lID reflected went cut perfectly with tho the personality of Mr Ir lr Lawrence Wade r Somo sort ort of a rumpus going going on onUI up UI there said Miss Harding as she regained the parlor Then remember remember- ins inc u that she he hc must account to Miss iss for her pre presence on on tho the third I floor tho bachelor quarters of the es es- i sho added a vaguely cly You You lean I can call hear it ju ill just t as os plain plain 3 I The They hail had nil all stopped singing from jery very T weariness l of voice oice and Mrs I Moore and anti Professor Nell Noll had retired to leave the tile young couples alone with their tle i devices ts when heu Mr ir Wade appeared II n again ain in ill the hall this haJJ this time timo ou on his wa way out Everyone J saw aw a- him plainly especially espe cepo- I chilly Mi Miss a HartH Harding who rat fat at lacin lacing the door H Look Look who's here E Kisic sho he whispered whis I in an on to lo Miss Jon Tonell A Ah sho sh recalled it afterward ho he seemed a taIt lie He cast ito iio more mure than ono one quick absent clan glance glanco at the group br by the piano and the tho door closed td behind behind behind be be- hind him Mrs Ir Moore r had gone gono to bed on tb th ground floor But Professor NoU Nohl did not retire immediate immediately A basic principle prin principle ciple of at tho the froll Noll ohl Scientific i Plan of Diet was waft light alimentation before re rc- rc tiring Bv By his hia special arrangement with Mrs the maid after clean clean- In inc up from dinner always loft left a glass Jass of hy hygienic nic buttermilk and two O pro pro- tose tosa biscuits on the sideboard Professor Professor Protessor Pro Pro- fessor Noll Nohl at ato slowly lowly glancing at his watch now and then that ho might assure assure assure as as- sure himself as 38 to tho the proper timing on each mouthful So he did not go 0 upstairs upstairs up up- stairs until just before belore the company left heft Captain Hanska as lS I have said lived just lust across the tho hall ball from him Tho The light was out in the captains captain's room room he remembered and everything seemed quiet N Nothing ho he testified afterward happened to disturb his sleep however he bo to mana managed ed to throw in in- in in scientific diet makes sound slumber Within ten ton minutes the tho II left and tho company compan- compan women went to their room There was silence in in hi the house bouse Silence until half hate past 2 0 o'clock o'clock- clock and thon thou Tommy North who ho occupied tho the third floor front came cam camo homo home from froni froma fronia a star stag ta smoker drank drunk I He TIe stood at a parlous crossroad of his life this Tomm Tommy North Ho was an attractive voun man stubby man stubby bright oyed eyed red head headed d quick ton tongued d anti ana 28 His business of writing and soiling advertising gave Ilave him all kinds ki ds of contact with all aU kinds of attra attractive tivo people who liked him for his flashes of wit and his genuine warmth of heart beart They The were tho the kind of people unfortunately who conduct their soda social socia life before gilded bars or about luxurious luxurious lux lux- II urious cafe cale tables So it happened that Tommy was sowing wild oats and irrigating gating gatin atin them with good liquor and they thoy had begun to sprout in his system This watt was not the first time that he had bad returned returned re re- re turned uncertain of ot tongue and foot in the hours bours of vice On tho the last occasion occasion oc oe- oc- oc e casion sion ho made so much noise that Miss Hardin Harding refused him her countenance for lor a n week and Mrs Moore gave aVe him warning That warning rested at the tho bottom of ot hi his maudlin psychology ashe as ashe he ho crept up to the tho front door unlocked it and stole within M Must t avoid disgrace II be he muttered muttered mut mut- to himself awful I brand on young youn manhood Fair women avoid me mo Pestilence At this theu thought it ho dropped a tear Suddenly his hus mind turned full revolution and the th situation situa tion then occurred to him hint as as ridiculous Whereat he be laughed laughed beneath beneath his breath as ho he thou thought ht The vigilant Mrs rs Moore who woke at every overy ni night ht entrance of lodgers erB heard beard that raucous lau laughter She leaped out of bed bod opened her ber door a crack and observed observed Tommy as ho he stood balancing bRancin himself under the dim dim point of the tho gas jet Oblivious to the open door and the watchful eye ec he made a turn about the newel post and be began an putting one foot cautiously before tho the other sayIng sayin say say- I in Ing over and over a drunken refrain which ran I Hay f Hay foot o straw foot one toot one goes up and the other goes oes down So ho he vanished from the vision of ot Mrs Moore By similar devices ho ne o the tho stretch of hall ball carpet on the second floor and took the tho next flight He was n near ar his haven now his his own room third floor front In the dim hall hail Il light ht- ht ho he balan balanced d himm himself himself him- him self and let et his ton tongue e play a again ain Energy and victory almost won he said H Just talk to toUT r v l C UT ur feet and m let em 4 do your work But the muscular ef fort of ot climbing two flights eights had sent his liquor surging surgin to his hia head BO BO so that he be dizzied ana and staggered Ho caught the banister for support port Then something some some- thing real or fancied caught his hia eVe eye eye- something which held held his drunken at at- Ho He stooped and clutched ched at at it The effort overbalanced him |