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。 Dane is a prompt man； and； in a minute more； he had locked the door behind him； had struck a wax taper which he had in his cigar…box； had rolled the paper roll out on the floor； to serve as a pillow。 In five minutes more； covered with his heavy coat； he lay on the floor； sleeping as soundly as he had slept the year before； when he found himself on the lee side of an iceberg under Peary's command。
This is perhaps unnecessary detail； by way of saying that this is the beginning of the arrangement which a city； not very intelligent； will make in the next century for unsettled people； whose own houses are not agreeable to them。 There exist in Boston at this moment three or four hundred of the polling…booths；nice little houses； enough better than most of the peasantry of most of Europe ever lived in。 They are； alas； generally packed up in lavender and laid away for ten months of the year。 But in the twentieth century we shall send them down to the shores of islands and other places where people like to spend the summer； and we shall utilize them； not for the few hours of an election only； but all the year round。 This will not then be called 〃Nationalism；〃 it will be called 〃Democracy；〃 and that is a very good name when it is applied to a very good thing。
Dane was an old soldier and an old seaman。 He was not troubled by disagreeable dreams； and in the morning； when the street…cars began to travel； he was awaked a little after sunrise； by their clatter on the corner。 He felt well satisfied with the success of his experiment； and began on a forecast； which the reader shall follow for a few weeks； which he thought； and thought rightly； would tend to his own convenience； possibly to that of his friends。
Dane telegraphed down to the office that he should be detained an hour that morning； went out to his home of the day before at Ashmont； paid his landlady her scot； brought in with him his little possessions in a valise to the office； and did not appear at his new home until after nightfall。
He was then able to establish himself on the basis which proved convenient afterwards； and which it is worth while to explain to a world which is not too well housed。 The city had provided three or four chairs there； a stove； and two tables。 Dane had little literature； but； as he was in the literary line himself； he did not care for this so much； men who write books are not commonly eager to read books which are worse than their own。 At a nine…cent window of a neighboring tinman's he was able to buy himself the few little necessities which he wanted for housekeeping。 And not to detain the reader too long upon merely fleshly arrangements； in the course of a couple of hours of Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening； he had fitted up his convenient if not pretty bower with all that man requires。 It was easy to buy a mince pie or a cream cake； or a bit of boiled ham or roast chicken； according as payday was near or distant。 One is glad to have a tablecloth。 But if one have a large poster warning people； a year before； that they should vote the Prohibition ticket； one's conscience is not wounded if this poster； ink down； takes the place which a tablecloth would have taken under other circumstances。 If there is not much crockery to use； there is but little to wash。 And； in short； as well trained a man of the world as Dane had made himself thoroughly comfortable in his new quarters before the week was over。
II
At the beginning Frederick's views were purely personal； or； as the preachers say； selfish。 Here was an empty house； three miles nearer his work than his hired attic was； and he had taken possession。 But conscience always asserts itself； and it was not long before he felt that he ought to extend the benefits of this new discovery of his somewhat further。 It really was a satisfaction to what the pulpits call a 〃felt want〃 when as he came through Massachusetts Avenue on Thursday evening； he met a boy and a girl； neither of them more than ten years old； crying on the sidewalk。 Dane is sympathetic and fond of children。 He stopped the little brats； and satisfied himself that neither had had any supper。 He could not understand a word of the language in which they spoke； nor could they understand him。 But kindness needs little spoken language； and accordingly Frederick led them along to his cabin； and after waiting； as he always did； a minute or two； to be sure that no one was in sight； he unlocked the door； and brought in his little companions。
It was clear enough that the children were such waifs and strays that nothing surprised them； and they readily accepted the modest hospitalities of the position。 Like all masculine housekeepers； Frederick had provided three times as much food as he needed for his own physical wants； so that it was not difficult to make these children happy with the pieces of mince pie and lemon pie and cream cake and eclairs which were left from his unknown festivals of the day before。 Poor little things； they were both cold and tired； and； before half an hour was over； they were snugly asleep on and under a pile of Prohibition posters。
III
Fortunately for Frederick Dane； for the nine years before he joined Peary； he had lived in the city of Bagdad。 He had there served as the English interpreter for the Caliph of that city。 The Caliph did most of his business at night； and was in the habit of taking Mr。 Dane with him on his evening excursions。 In this way Mr。 Dane had made the somewhat intimate acquaintance of Mr。 Jaffrey； the private secretary of the Caliph； and he had indeed in his own employment for some time； a wide…awake black man； of the name of Mezrour； who； for his 〃other place；〃 was engaged as a servant in the Caliph's household。 Dane was thus not unfamiliar with the methods of unexpected evening visits； and it was fortunate for him that he was so。 The little children whom he had picked up； explained to him； by pantomime which would have made the fortune of a ballet…girl； that they were much more comfortable in their new home than they had been in any other； and that they had no wish to leave it。 But by various temptations addressed to them； in the form of barley horses and dogs； and sticks of barber's candy； Dane； who was of a romantic and enterprising disposition； persuaded them to take him to some of their former haunts。
These were mostly at the North End of Boston； and he soon found that he needed all his recollections of Bagdad for the purpose of conducting any conversation with any of the people they knew best。 In a way； however； with a little broken Arabic； a little broken Hebrew； a great deal of broken China； and many gesticulations； he made acquaintance with two of their compatriots； who had； as it seemed； crossed the ocean with them in the same steerage。 That is to say； they either had or had not； but for many months Mr。 Dane was unable to discover which。 Such as they were； however； they had been sleeping on the outside of the upper attic of the house in Salutation Alley where these children had lodged； or not lodged； as the case might be； during the last few days。 When Mr。 Dane saw what were called their lodgings； he did not wonder that they had accept