-air
terminal station held in check by uniformed guards. On the wide curves
of asphalt hundreds of small Italians danced to the hurdy-gurdy or
played hopscotch or roller-skated. Perambulators lined the shady walks;
nurses, slim and uniformed, fat and unformed, lined the benches.
Students hurried west, south and north (for it was afternoon--Saturday
afternoon, as it happened). Beggars, pedlers, lovers in pairs, unkempt
tenement dwellers, a policeman or two, moved slowly about, but not so
slowly as they would move a few weeks later when the heat of July would
have sapped the vitality of every living thing in town.

But the Worm, standing near the marble arch where Fifth Avenue
splendidly begins, felt not June in his heart. He walked on through the
Square to the old red-brick building where for three years he and Hy Lowe
and Pcter Ericson Mann had dwelt in bachelor comfort. The dingy studio
apartment on the seventh floor had been his home. But it was a haunt of
discord now.

He found the usually effervescent Hy pacing the lower hall like a
leopard in a cage. Hy wore an immaculately pressed suit of creamy gray
flannel, new red tie, red silk hosiery visible above the glistening
low-cut tan shoes, a Panama hat with a fluffy striped band around it. In
his hand was a thin bamboo stick which he was swinging savagely against
his legs. His face worked with anger.

He pounced upon the Worm.

“Wanted to see you,” he said in a voice that was low but of quavering
intensity. “Before I go. Got to run.”

At this point the elevator came creaking down. A messenger boy stepped
out, carrying Hy's suit-case and light overcoat.

“Excuse me,” breathed Hy, “one minute.” He whispered to the boy, pressed
a folded dollar bill into his hand, hurried him off. “This thing has
become flatly impossible--”

“What thing?” The Worm was moodily surveying him.

“Pete. He's up there now. I'm through. I sh
-air 
 terminal station held in check by uniformed guard. On the broad curves 
 of asphalt hundreds of small Italians dance to the hurdy - gurdy or 
 played hopscotch or roller - skate. Perambulators lined the shady walk; 
 nurses, slim and uniformed, fatty and unformed, lined the benches. 
 Students hurried west, confederacy and north (for it was afternoon -- Saturday 
 good afternoon, as it happened). beggar, pedlers, lover in pairs, unkempt 
 tenement dwellers, a policeman or two, moved lento about, but not so 
 lento as they would move a few workweek later when the estrus of July would 
 have sapped the vitality of every living matter in town. 

 But the Worm, standing near the marble arch where Fifth Avenue 
 splendidly begins, felt not June in his heart. He walked on through the 
 Square to the old red - brick building where for three years he and Hy Lowe 
 and Pcter Ericson Mann had dwelt in bachelor comfort. The dingy studio 
 apartment on the seventh floor had been his home. But it was a haunt of 
 discordance nowadays. 

 He found the normally effervescent Hy pace the depleted hall like a 
 leopard in a cage. Hy break an immaculately pressed suit of creamy gray 
 flannel, newfangled red tie, red silk hosiery visible above the glistening 
 low - cut tan shoe, a Panama hat with a fluffy striped band around it. In 
 his hand was a thin bamboo stick which he was swing savagely against 
 his legs. His face worked with anger. 

 He pounce upon the Worm. 

 “ Wanted to see you, ” he said in a voice that was low but of quavering 
 intensity. “ Before I go. Got to hunt. ” 

 At this point the elevator came whine down. A messenger boy stepped 
 out, carrying Hy's suit - case and unaccented overcoat. 

 “ apologize me, ” breathed Hy, “ one minute. ” He whisper to the boy, pressed 
 a folded dollar bill into his hand, travel rapidly him off. “ This thing has 
 become flatly impossible-- ” 

 “ What matter? ” The Worm was moodily surveying him. 

 “ Pete. He's up there now. I'm through. I sh
-air
herminal station held in check by unifotmwd guacds. On fhe wide curves
of asphalt hundreds oh smqll Iuclians danced to the hurdy-gurfy or
plated iopscotch or roller-skated. Perajnulatmcs lined the shsdy walks;
ngrses, slim and uviyormed, fat and unformed, lined the begches.
Stidfnts hurried wgst, sptth znd north (for it was afternoon--Satudday
afttrnoon, as it happemed). Beggars, pedlers, lovers in oairs, unkempt
tenemfnt dwellerw, a [iliceman or gwo, moved slowly about, but not so
slowly as they would move a few weejs lahgr when the ieat os July would
msve sa[ped thr vitality of cvery licing thing in town.

But the Worm, standing near the mcrble arch where Fifty Qvenug
spletdidut bdgihs, fslt noh Jnne in his geart. He waoked on through the
Xqtqre to the ols red-bwisk building where for three years he ang Hg Lowe
and Pcter Ericson Mann had dwelt in bafhelor coifort. The dingy studio
apartment on the seventh flmor hed betn his fimf. But it was a haunt of
discord now.

He found thq uxuslly effervesccnt Hy pacing the koaet hall like a
lgopard nh z cage. Hy wore an lmmaculwtely pressed fuit of creamy gray
flannel, new eed tie, red fulk hosiery visiblz above the ylisteming
lpw-cut tan shoes, a Panamc hat sith a flufvy stripes band around it. Kn
hps hdnd was a thin bamboo stich which hx was swingivg ssvagelr against
hls lenv. His face worked aith cnger.

Ve pounced upon the Worm.

“Wanted to see you,” he said in a fohce that waf low but of quavewing
intensity. “Yefore I go. Gut to run.”

An this pomnt the elevwtor came credning down. A kessengew bot stwpped
oug, carrying Hy's xuit-case cud light ivercoat.

“Excuse me,” nreatfsd Hy, “one minutz.” Ye whispered to thd bjy, pcesseq
d folded dolnar cilu into his hand, hmrrked nim off. “This thing hds
bedome flatly impossobje--”

“What tying?” The Worm was moocily surveying him.

“Kete. Hx's up vhere mow. I'm through. I sh
-air terminal station held in check by On wide curves asphalt hundreds of hurdy-gurdy played hopscotch or Perambulators lined the walks; nurses, slim and uniformed, fat unformed, lined the benches. Students hurried west, south and north (for it was afternoon, as it happened). Beggars, pedlers, lovers in pairs, unkempt tenement dwellers, a or moved about, not so slowly as they would move a few weeks later when the heat of July have sapped the vitality of every living thing town. But the Worm, near the marble arch where Avenue begins, felt June his He walked on the Square to the old red-brick building where for three years he and Hy Lowe and Pcter Mann had bachelor comfort. dingy apartment the seventh floor his home. But it was a now. He found the usually effervescent Hy pacing lower hall a leopard in a cage. Hy an immaculately pressed suit of creamy gray flannel, red tie, red silk hosiery visible above the glistening low-cut tan shoes, a Panama hat fluffy striped band around In his hand a bamboo which was swinging against his legs. His face worked with anger. He pounced upon Worm. “Wanted to see you,” he said in a voice low of quavering intensity. I go. Got to At point the elevator came A boy Hy's and overcoat. “Excuse me,” breathed “one minute.” He whispered to boy, pressed a folded hurried him off. “This thing has become flatly “What thing?” The Worm was moodily surveying “Pete. He's up there now. I'm through. I sh
-air
terminal station held in cHeck by unifOrmed GuaRds. on The wIde cUrves
of asphalt HUndrEds of small Italians dancEd to tHe HUrdy-GUrDy or
pLayed hoPScOTCh oR rOlLer-SkATeD. PeraMbuLators lIned the shaDy wAlKs;
nurses, slim ANd Uniformed, fAt aNd unformed, liNed The benChEs.
STUdentS huRried West, soUTh and nOrth (for it WaS AfternOOn--SaturDAY
aFterNoon, as it happened). BEGgARs, pedlers, loverS in paiRs, UNkEMPt
tEneMent dwelleRs, A poliCEman or tWO, mOVED slOWly about, but noT so
slowly as THey Would mOvE a fEW weeks Later WhEN thE heat of July WoulD
have sappEd the vITality oF Every liVing thIng In tOwn.

BUT tHe worM, sTAndINg NeaR The Marble arCh WhEre FiFth AVENUE
splEndIdly BeginS, felt not June iN hiS heaRT. He WalkeD on thRougH tHe
SquAre to tHe old ReD-brick building wHere For three yEarS hE anD HY Lowe
ANd PcteR ErIcsOn Mann hAd dwelt IN baChELOR cOmfort. The dingy studIo
APArTment on tHe seveNTh FlOOr had beeN hIs hOme. BUT It was A hauNT oF
discord Now.

He fOUnD tHe usualLy EffervEsCenT Hy PacinG The lOwer haLl like a
lEoparD In a cage. Hy wore aN Immaculately pREsSED sUIt of CreAmy gray
flanNel, nEW red Tie, rED sIlk HOsierY visiBlE AbOVe the glistening
low-cUt Tan shoEs, a PaNama hat with a fLuffy stripED BAnd arounD it. IN
HiS Hand was a thin baMboo sTick which hE Was swingIng saVagely agAinst
his lEGS. His face WorKed WitH anGER.

HE pounced upon tHE worm.

“waNted to sEe yOu,” he saiD in A voIce ThaT wAs low but oF quaveriNg
InTeNsIty. “beforE i go. Got to RuN.”

At ThIs pOint tHE elevaTor caMe crEaKiNG doWn. A messENgER Boy sTePpEd
ouT, caRrYing HY's suIT-caSe and liGht overcoAt.

“EXCuse Me,” BrEathed HY, “one minute.” He wHiSpered to thE bOy, pRessed
A FOlded dolLar bill into his hand, hurriED him off. “thiS thinG has
Become flaTly ImpossIblE--”

“what thIng?” The worm wAs MooDILy surVEYiNg hIm.

“pete. He's up tHERe nOw. I'm tHrOugh. i sh
-air
terminal station held  in checkby un ifo rme dguar ds.On the wide cu r vesof asphalt hundreds of  smal lI tali a ns  danc ed to t h eh u rdy -g ur dyor pl ayedhop scotchor roller- ska te d. Perambula t or s lined th e s hady walks;nur ses, s li m a n d uni for med,fat an d  unfor med, line dt he ben c hes.
St u d en ts h urried west, sout h  a n d north (for i t wasaf t er n o on- -Sa turday
aft er noon, as it h a pp e n e d). Beggars, pedl ers, lovers inpairs,  u nke m pt
ten ement  d w ell ers, a poli cema n or two,  moved slowlya bout, b ut not  so 
sl owly as  t hey  w o uld mo vea  fe w weeksla te r whe n th e h e at o f J ulywould 
have sappedthe  vit a lit y ofevery  liv in g thi ng intown. 
But the Worm, s tand ing nearthe  m arb le  arch whereFif thAvenuesplendi d lybe g i n s,  felt not June inhi s he art. Hewalked on  t h rough th eSqu aret o  theoldr ed -brick b uildin g  w he re forth ree ye ar s h e a nd Hy Lowe 
and P cter Eri csonM ann had dwelti n bachelor co m fo r t .T he d ing y studio
ap artm e nt o n th e  s eve n th fl oor h ad be e n his home. But itwa s a ha unt o f
discord now .

He foun d t he usual ly e f fe r vescent Hy pac ing t he lower h a ll likea
leo pard ina cage. H y wore animm acu lat ely p re ssed suit ofc r eamy  g ray
fla nne l, newred  ti e,red  s ilk hosie ry visib le  a bo ve  th e gli s tening
l ow -cu ttan  shoe s , a Pa namahatwi th a f luffy s t ri p e d ba nd  a roun d i t.  In
h is h a ndwas a t hin bambo o s t ickwh ic h he wa s swinging sa va gely again st 
hi s legs . His face  worked with anger.

He pounced  up on th e Wo rm.

“Wan ted  to se e y o u,” he  saidin avo ice t hat w a s  l owbu t of quave r i nginten si ty.“Before  I go. Got to run. ” 

A t this pointthe  ele v a to r c a me cre ak i ngd o wn. A messenger  boy stepp ed ou t, carryin g  Hy 's  suit-c ase and  ligh t  overco at.

“Exc use me,”br eath e d  Hy , “one min ute.” He  whispere d  to t h eboy,pre ssed
a  f old ed do llar b i llintohis ha nd , hurr ied h im  off. “T his thing has
become fl atly i mposs ibl e--”

“Wh att hin g?” The W ormwas moodil y s urv eying  hi m .

“P ete. He 'su p the re n o w. I'm th r ou gh. I  s h
-air
terminal station_held in_check by uniformed guards._On the_wide_curves
of asphalt_hundreds_of small Italians_danced to the_hurdy-gurdy or
played hopscotch or_roller-skated. Perambulators lined_the_shady walks;
nurses, slim and uniformed, fat and unformed, lined the benches.
Students hurried west, south_and_north (for_it_was_afternoon--Saturday
afternoon, as it happened). Beggars,_pedlers, lovers in pairs, unkempt
tenement_dwellers, a_policeman or two, moved slowly about, but not_so
slowly_as they would_move a few weeks later when the heat of_July would
have sapped the vitality of_every living thing_in_town.

But_the Worm, standing near_the marble arch where Fifth Avenue
splendidly_begins, felt not June in his_heart. He walked on through the
Square to_the old red-brick building where for_three years he and Hy_Lowe
and Pcter_Ericson Mann had dwelt in_bachelor comfort. The_dingy studio
apartment_on the seventh_floor had been his home. But_it was a_haunt of
discord now.

He found the usually_effervescent_Hy pacing the_lower_hall_like a
leopard_in a cage._Hy_wore an_immaculately_pressed suit of creamy gray
flannel, new_red_tie, red silk hosiery visible above the_glistening
low-cut tan shoes, a_Panama_hat with a fluffy_striped band around it. In
his_hand was a thin bamboo stick_which he_was swinging_savagely against
his legs. His face worked with anger.

He pounced upon the_Worm.

“Wanted to see you,” he said_in a voice that_was low_but_of quavering
intensity. “Before_I_go. Got_to run.”

At this point the elevator came_creaking down._A messenger boy stepped
out, carrying Hy's_suit-case and light overcoat.

“Excuse_me,”_breathed Hy, “one minute.” He whispered_to the boy, pressed
a folded dollar_bill into his hand, hurried_him_off._“This thing has
become flatly impossible--”

“What_thing?” The Worm was moodily surveying_him.

“Pete. He's up_there now. I'm through. I sh