Felix O'Day

posters, all of which were in full view of Kling's doorway, was the half-way house of any one who had five minutes to spare; it was insid

the newsman in the early morning, who would use her benches on which to rearrange his deliveries-all were welcome as long as they behaved themselves. When they did not-and once or twice such

itty's standby. Many a night when she was up late poring over her delivery book, getting ready for the next day's work, a

when-and here it is two o'clock and a string of cabs out in the cold. Thank ye, John. In with ye, my lad, and get something to warm ye up," and then the rosy-cheeked, deep-breasted, cheery little woman-she was unde

her intimates. These she welcomed at any hour of the day or night, from sunrise to sunset, a

, most welcome of all, Father Cruse, of St. Barnabas's Church around the corner, the trusted shepherd of "The Avenue"-a clear-skinned, well-built man, barely forty, whose muscular body just filled hi

while in the extreme rear, over the kitchen, was a single room which was let to any respectable man who could pay for it. These rooms were all reached by a staircase ascending from a narrow hall entered by a separate street-door adjoin

rb, with chains on the hind wheels. This was contrary to regulations, and would have been so considered but for the fact that the captain of the precinct often got his coffee in Kitty's back kitchen, as did Tom McGinniss, the big policeman, whose beat reached nearly to t

was and how ashamed she was of him for getting the hair worn off under his collar, and he a horse old enough to know

and a finer. And what can I do for ye?-for ye wouldn't be lavin' th

or me, Kitty. It's dis gentlemans wan

t dumped a trunk on the sidewalk, ready to be loaded on Jim's wagon. "And now," continued his

rosy, laughing face, her head covered by a close-fitting hood, the warm shawl crossed over

Brooklyn-I'll get it. Why, we got a

her perfect health and the air of breezy competency flowing out from her, making even

now, her brows knitting,

s, Kitty. I been tellin' him about it. Bobby says

igh him carefully in return. Up to this moment he had been to her merely the mouthpiece of an order, to be exchanged later for a card, or slip of paper, or a brass check. Now he became a personality. She swept him from head to foot wit

ng behind his kindly eyes, despite the quick flash that escaped from them now and then. The inspection over-and it had occupied some second

ante

but wh

mys

To li

quiet smile trembled for an instant on his lips, mom

hat kind a room it is. It's not mor'n twice as big as that

m so

s a week, and all ye want

, but I will pay the first week in advance, and I will pay the next on

was not of her class, nor of any other class about her. "I don't know whether ye can or not," came the frank reply. "I'm thinkin' about it. You don't look as if ye were flat broke. If you're goin' to take me room, I don't want to be watchin' ye, and I won't! Once we know ye're

distinction and answered in a calm, straightforward way: "You have put it q

ain curiosity tinged by a growing interest in for all

lars from Mr. Kling on something whic

ned

ly. Mr. Kling

ast night-de vun vid dem bottles vid de silver tops-

, was it? I might have known I was right about ye when I first see ye. Ye are a gentle

, and a smile flashed from hi

ly these twenty-five dollars on which I can lay my hands. Some of this I owe to my landlady. The balance I am quite willing to turn over to you, and when

apping-looking fellow in blue overalls, a trunk on one shoulder, a carpetbag in his hand, called out: "John, dear, come here! I want ye. Here, Mike! You and Bobby get that steamer

hearty answer. "Ye hurt yer back last week. There's men enough round here

two of ye, John!

shoulder John shot the trunk over the edge of the wagon, tossed the bag after i

Kitty?" asked John squeezing her plump arm,

o-what's your name?-ye haven't tol

ix O

you're

am-at least, my

man, and the captain up at the station-house-we're all Irish, except Otto, who is as Dutch as sauerkraut! But where was I?

ling, and then at the applicant, and broke out into a loud guffaw. "It's a joke, Kitty.

d the sitting-room and out into the yard. Come, now; hurry! Go 'long with him, Mr. O'Day, and come back to me when ye are through and tell me

The room is only about as big as half a box car, but it's got runnin' water in the hall, and Kitty keeps it mighty clean. As to the grub, it ain't what you are accustomed to, maybe, but it's what we have ourselves, and neither o

graved on 'em, and his initials. I noticed partic'lar, for I've seen them things before. My father, when he was young, was second groom for a lord and used to tell me about the silver in the house and the arms on the sides of the carriages. What he's left home for the dear God only knows; but it will come out, and when it does it won't be what anybody thinks. And he's got a fine way wid him, and a clear look out of his eye, and I'll bet ye he's tellin' the truth and all of

every corner. I have been living in one much larger, but this is more like a home. And

n' in the middle of the day if ye

I move in

ca

e about getting my boxes. And now, here is you

h the movement. "I won't touch it; ye can have the room and ye can keep your money. When I want it

s of O'Day. His interest in the woman had deepened. "And y

eary, and that is not altogether because you'r

he luggage, and, in the tone of one ordering his groom, said: "Here, Mike!-Did you say his name was Mike?-Go, if you please, to this address, just below Union Square-I will write it on a

over and see whether I can be of some service to you in going through your stock. There may be some other things that are valuable whic

op. I been tinkin' since you and Kitty been talkin'-Kitty don't make no mistakes: vot

ted in his reply in order to hunt his pockets for a card on which to write his address,

Baltimore? Do you know dot two of 'em is vorth more as ten dollars? He find dot out joost as soon as he pick 'em up, and he find out about my chairs, and vich vas fakes and vich vas goo

You heard what I said to him! That's all t

e stuff und ve haf to hunt up or down Secon

I d

on, und I gif him every vee

t that good of ye? Ye'll give him enough to starve on, that'

n't know vat he

know ye got five times the worth of your money in the dressing-case he give up to ye! See here, Otto! Before ye offer him that five dollars a week ye

re you are! Mr. O'Day, vud you let me speak to you vun minute? Suppose dot I ask you to come into my shop as a clerk,

heavy brows there shot a keen, questioning glance

and look over de stock, an

she knows my name, forgets it every time she comes up for her rent, there is not a human being in New York to whom I could apply for a reference. Are you accustom

different ki

. The man was

his wrist. "It's near by, and ye can have your meals early or late as ye plaze,

any business, for that matter. I should only be a disappointment t

n ye have been lookin' for work?" she ask

ar, but I shall h

rk; and it will be to-night after you gets your things stowed away. And ye'll pay him ten dollars a week, Otto, for

ugh at last by the friendly interest shown by the strangers about him, "and what will be t

you m

the morning, and until how

ning at eight o'clock, and"-but, seeing a cloud cross

at ni

s more late as udder times-about nin

hook hi

, say eigh

e said firmly: "I am afraid I must decline your kind offer, Mr. Kling. The latest I could stay on any evening is seven o'clo

nterested in this new phase

ve to be the hour, M

it seven o

rious voice, "I should on certain days-ab

e determined not to flinch with Kitty standing by

"Very well. Then I will be with you in the morning at nine o'clock. Now, good day, Mrs. Cleary. I know we will get on very well together, and you, too, Mr. Kling. Thank yo