omplimentary. He was grateful to him, too, for the man had raised his
salary to two dollars a night without being asked, and on several
occasions had let him go home early. Besides that, he treated Von
Barwig with far more consideration and respect than he did any one
else, even his own wife. The latter liked the professor and told her
husband she was sure he had seen better days.

This deference made things much easier for the night professor, who
otherwise would have suffered many an indignity. Indeed the position
seemed to call for special insult from any one who chose to bestow it.
He heard the day professor roundly abused on several occasions because
he did not play to suit the performers. Not only insults, but cushions
were flung at him, and Von Barwig determined if ever this happened to
him he would leave at once. He was willing to sacrifice his dignity
and his pride, but not his self-respect. Thanks to Mr. Costello
nothing happened to mar the harmony of his existence there. The curios
were very fond of Von Barwig, and he took quite an interest in them.
Poor, crippled human beings, the sadness of their existence aroused his
sympathy; their very affliction earning a livelihood for them. Was
life not a living hell for them?

He found on closer intimacy with them that it was not, for they enjoyed
life after their own manner and were capable of real affection. The
midgets always shook hands with him every evening when he came to play.
They were a loving little pair, brother, and sister, and they grew
quite fond of him. Von Barwig, for his part, used to look upon them as
children, although they were both well past forty years of age. Once
he saluted the "little girl," as he called her, with a kiss, and he was
quite astonished when she blushed. Her brother clapped his hands and
enjoyed what he called the fun. But it was the untoward affection of
the fat lady that nearly brought about a catastrophe, for her constant
smile at the professor aroused the jealousy of the living skeleton and
brought about an ultimatum from that gentleman in the shape of a
challenge to fight a duel to the death. The fat lady was an agreeable
individual. She seemed to have one occupation only, that of sitting in
a rocking chair and rocking and fanning herself by the hour. The
skeleton was quite sure that the professor was trying to win her
affections, but as a matter of fact, Von Barwig was so fascinated by
her constant rockin