Yet it was Brotherson who moved first.With a shrug of the shoulder plainly visible to the man opposite,he turned away from the window and without lowering the shade began gathering up his papers for the night,and later banking up his stove with ashes.
Sweetwater,with a breath of decided relief,stepped back and threw himself on the bed.It had really been a trial for him to stand there under the other's eye,though his mind refused to formulate his fear,or to give him any satisfaction when he asked himself what there was in the situation suggestive of death to the woman or harm to himself.
Nor did morning light bring counsel,as is usual in similar cases.
He felt the mystery more in the hubbub and restless turmoil of the day than in the night's silence and inactivity.He was glad when the stroke of six gave him an excuse to leave the room,and gladder yet when in doing so,he ran upon an old woman from a neighbouring room,who no sooner saw him than she leered at him and eagerly remarked:
"Not much sleep,eh?We didn't think you'd like it.Did you see anything?"Now this gave him the one excuse he wanted.
"See anything?"he repeated,apparently with all imaginable innocence.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Don't you know what happened in that room?"
"Don't tell me!"he shouted out."I don't want to hear any nonsense.I haven't time.I've got to be at the shop at seven and I don't feel very well.What did happen?"he mumbled in drawing off,just loud enough for the woman to hear."Something unpleasant I'm sure."Then he ran downstairs.
At half past six he found the janitor.He was,to all appearance,in a state of great excitement and he spoke very fast.
"I won't stay another night in that room,"he loudly declared,breaking in where the family were eating breakfast by lamplight."Idon't want to make any trouble and I don't want to give my reasons;but that room don't suit me.I'd rather take the dark one you talked about yesterday.There's the money.Have my things moved to-day,will ye?""But your moving out after one night's stay will give that room a bad name,"stammered the janitor,rising awkwardly."There'll be talk and I won't be able to let that room all winter.""Nonsense!Every man hasn't the nerves I have.You'll let it in a week.But let or not let,I'm going front into the little dark room.I'll get the boss to let me off at half past four.So that's settled."He waited for no reply and got none;but when he appeared promptly at a quarter to five,he found his few belongings moved into a middle room on the fourth floor of the front building,which,oddly perhaps,chanced to be next door to the one he had held under watch the night before.
The first page of his adventure in the Hicks Street tenement had been turned,and he was ready to start upon another.
XVII
IN WHICH A BOOK PLAYS A LEADING PART
When Mr.Brotherson came in that night,he noticed that the door of the room adjoining his own stood open.He did not hesitate.
Making immediately for it,he took a glance inside,then spoke up with a ringing intonation:
"Halloo!coming to live in this hole?"
The occupant a young man,evidently a workman and somewhat sickly if one could judge from his complexion -turned around from some tinkering he was engaged in and met the intruder fairly,face to face.If his jaw fell,it seemed to be from admiration.No other emotion would have so lighted his eye as he took in the others proportions and commanding features.No dress -Brotherson was never seen in any other than the homeliest garb in these days -could make him look common or akin to his surroundings.Whether seen near or far,his presence always caused surprise,and surprise was what the young man showed,as he answered briskly:
"Yes,this is to be my castle.Are you the owner of the buildings?
If so -"
"I am not the owner.I live next door.Haven't I seen you before,young man?"Never was there a more penetrating eye than Orlando Brotherson's.
As he asked this question it took some effort on the part of the other to hold his own and laugh with perfect naturalness as he replied:
"If you ever go up Henry Street it's likely enough that you've seen me not once,but many times.I'm the fellow who works at the bench next the window in Schuper's repairing shop.Everybody knows me."Audacity often carries the day when subtler means would fail.
Brotherson stared at the youth,then ventured another question:
"A carpenter,eh?"
"Yes,and I'm an A1man at my job.Excuse my brag.It's my one card of introduction.""I've seen you.I've seen you somewhere else than in Schuper's shop.
Do you remember me?"
"No,sir;I'm sorry to be imperlite but I don't remember you at all.
Won't you sit down?It's not very cheerful,but I'm so glad to get out of the room I was in last night that this looks all right to me.Back there,other building,"he whispered."I didn't know,and took the room which had a window in it;but -"The stop was significant;so was his smile which had a touch of sickliness in it,as well as humour.
But Brotherson was not to be caught.
"You slept in the building last night?In the other half,I mean?""Yes,I -slept."
The strong lip of the other man curled disdainfully.
"I saw you,"said he."You were standing in the window overlooking the court.You were not sleeping then.I suppose you know that a woman died in that room?""Yes;they told me so this morning."
"Was that the first you'd heard of it?"
"Sure!"The word almost jumped at the questioner."Do you suppose I'd have taken the room if -"But here the intruder,with a disdainful grunt,turned and went out,disgust in every feature,-plain,unmistakable,downright disgust,and nothing more!
This was what gave Sweetwater his second bad night;this and a certain discovery he made.He had counted on hearing what went on in the neighbouring room through the partition running back of his own closet.But he could hear nothing,unless it was the shutting down of a window,a loud sneeze,or the rattling of coals as they were put on the fire.And these possessed no significance.
