Restless,shifting,fugaciousastimeitselfisacertainvastbulkofthepopulationoftheredbrickdistrictofthelowerWestSide. Homeless,theyhaveahundredhomes.Theyflitfromfurnishedroomtofurnishedroom,transientsforever--transientsinabode,transientsinheartandmind. Theysing"Home,SweetHome"inragtime;theycarrytheirlaresetpenatesinabandbox;theirvineisentwinedaboutapicturehat;arubberplantistheirfigtree. Hencethehousesofthisdistrict,havinghadathousanddwellers,shouldhaveathousandtalestotell,mostlydullones,nodoubt; butitwouldbestrangeiftherecouldnotbefoundaghostortwointhewakeofallthesevagrantguests. Oneeveningafterdarkayoungmanprowledamongthesecrumblingredmansions,ringingtheirbells. Atthetwelfthherestedhisleanhand-baggageuponthestepandwipedthedustfromhishatbandandforehead. Thebellsoundedfaintandfarawayinsomeremote,hollowdepths. Tothedoorofthis,thetwelfthhousewhosebellhehadrung, cameahousekeeperwhomadehimthinkofanunwholesome,surfeitedwormthathadeatenitsnuttoahollowshellandnowsoughttofillthevacancywithediblelodgers. Heaskediftherewasaroomtolet. "Comein,"saidthehousekeeper.Hervoicecamefromherthroat;herthroatseemedlinedwithfur."Ihavethethirdfloorback,vacantsinceaweekback.Shouldyouwishtolookatit?" Theyoungmanfollowedherupthestairs.Afaintlightfromnoparticularsourcemitigatedtheshadowsofthehalls. Theytrodnoiselesslyuponastaircarpetthatitsownloomwouldhaveforsworn. Itseemedtohavebecomevegetable;tohavedegeneratedinthatrank,sunlessairtolushlichenorspreadingmossthatgrewinpatchestothestaircaseandwasviscidunderthefootlikeorganicmatter. Ateachturnofthestairswerevacantnichesinthewall. Perhapsplantshadoncebeensetwithinthem.Ifsotheyhaddiedinthatfoulandtaintedair. Itmaybethatstatuesofthesaintshadstoodthere,butitwasnotdifficulttoconceivethatimpsanddevilshaddraggedthemforthinthedarknessanddowntotheunholydepthsofsomefurnishedpitbelow. "Thisistheroom,"saidthehousekeeper,fromherfurrythroat. "It'saniceroom.Itain'toftenvacant.Ihadsomemostelegantpeopleinitlastsummer--notroubleatall,andpaidinadvancetotheminute. Thewater'sattheendofthehall.SprowlsandMooneykeptitthreemonths.Theydoneavaudevillesketch. MissB'rettaSprowls--youmayhaveheardofher--Oh,thatwasjustthestagenames--rightthereoverthedresseriswherethemarriagecertificatehung,framed. Thegasishere,andyouseethereisplentyofclosetroom.It'saroomeverybodylikes.Itneverstaysidlelong." "Doyouhavemanytheatricalpeopleroominghere?"askedtheyoungman. "Theycomesandgoes.Agoodproportionofmylodgersisconnectedwiththetheatres.Yes,sir,thisisthetheatricaldistrict.Actorpeopleneverstayslonganywhere.Igetmyshare.Yes,theycomesandtheygoes." 
