Felix O'Day

uildings, the sky-line studded with constellations of colored signs pencilled in fire. Broadway on wet, rain-drenched nig

underfoot the wealth of the Indies, striding through pools of quicksilver, leaping gutters filled to th

, rain-varnished horses glittering in the flash of the electric lamps. Others spring from out street cabs. Many come by twos and threes, their skirts held high. Still others form a line, its head lost in a small side door. These are in drab and brown, with worsted shawls

d has begun to thin out. The doors of the theatres are deserted; some flaunt signs of "Standing Room Only." The cars still follow their routes, lunging and pausi

und, her iridescent wings flattened in the mud. Then for a brief moment a cry of protest, or scorn, or pity goes up. The passers-by raise their hands in

uses along this Great White Way. He had kept his place since the doors were opened, his hat-brim, pulled over his brow, his keen eye searching every face that passed. To all appearances he was but an idle looker-on, attracted by the beauty of the women, and yet dur

te, did he refasten the top button of his mackintosh, move clear

bit of driftwood blocked in the current; then, with a sudden straig

o the crunch of the presses chewing the cud of the day's news. When others crowded close he stepped back to the s

ued him here. The fronts of the houses were shrouded in gloom; only a hall lantern now and then and the flare of the lamps at the crossings, he alone and buffeting the storm-all others behind closed doors. When Fourth Avenue was reached he lift

bout to resume his way when he caught sight of a small card propped aga

g. The sight of the man brought another change of mind, for he stepped back and raised his head to a big sign over the front. His face now came into view, with its well-modelled nose and square chin-the features of a gentleman of both refinement and intelligence. A man of forty-

the third floor, stepped into a small, poorly furnished bedroom lighted by a single gas-jet, and closed the door behind him. Lifting his wet hat from his well-rounded head, with its smoothly brushed, closely trimmed hair-a head that would have looked well in bronze-he raised the edge of the bedclothes and from underneath the narrow cot dragged out a

nt a knock s

vering the case with a c

tood in the doorway. "I've come for my money," she burst out, too angry for

almly, a faint smile curling his thin lips. "You have a better head for fi

f it. You'd 'a' been out of here last week if m

ot. That must be even worse than

e ugly," she went on, her fierceness dying out as she noticed his unruffled calm,

ppose I wou

me

we you, I will give you notice in advance. I should be much more unhappy over

er delinquents, suddenly rekindled her anger. "Will some of them frie

them on the stairs?

nd there ain't come a letter, nor nothin' by express, and no man,

joined with an indulgent smile. Then growing grave again: "That will do, madame. I will send for you wh

its hiding-place, tucked it inside his mackintosh, turned down the gas-jet, locked the door of the

shaking the wet from his coat. "I hoped yo

y name. Vot ca

ing-case from under his coat and handed it to Kling. "I am not ready to sell it-not to sell it outright; you might, perhaps, make me a small loan which would answer

. "I don't keep open often so late li

ou look a

owered his chin, adjusted his spectacles, and peered over their

which he stood. "Yes, dot's a good vun," he continued with a grunt of approval. "Yes-dot's London, sure enough. Yes, I see Vickery's name-

now is, will you either pay me a fair p

yours t

his voice, nor did he show the slightest ir

-too much trouble all de time. Poor vomans, dead-beats, suckers, sneak-thieves-a

said adva

ch

dow, or I would not

e and tings vich olt families sell vhen everybody is gone dead. Vy do you vant to give dis away? I vouldn't

to. I am a stranger here and am two

weeks behint and no home but a room!

courage to look at myself in th

buy, and sometimes dey don't. Sometimes only one day goes by, and sometimes a whole year. You leave it vid me. I take care of it. D

l come in t

ing might happen yet, and your ad

essary. I will tak

e can I

thank you," and he st