had my message by Mike, did you not?" he asked
in an apologetic tone.

"Yes, I got the message, and I got the trunks; they're
up-stairs, and if you had given Mike the keys I'd have
'em unpacked by this time and all ready for you. As to
my bein' up--I'm always up, and I got to be. John
and Mike is over to Weehawken, and Bobby's been to
the circus and just gone to bed, and I've been readin'
the mornin' paper--about the only time I get to read
it. Will ye sit down and wait till John comes in? Hold
on 'til I get ye a cup of hot coffee and--"

"No, Mrs. Cleary. I will go to bed, if you do not
mind."

"Oh, but the coffee will put new life into ye, and--"

"Thanks, but it would be more likely to put it OUT
of me if it kept me awake. Can I reach my room this
way or must I go outside?"

"Ye can go through this door--wait, I'll go wid ye
and show ye about the light and where ye'll find the
water. It's dark on the stairs and ye may stumble.
I'll go on ahead and turn up the gas in the hall," she
called back, as she mounted the steps and threw wide
his room door. "Not much of a place, is it? But ye
can get plenty of fresh air, and the bed's not bad.
Ye can see for yourself," and her stout fist sunk into its