Union Square Jim 73 



It was not long after the above episode when 

 Jim began to explore the new world around him. 

 The dingy passages in the theatre and under the 

 stage were his entire concept of the world ; and he 

 soon adapted himself to his surroundings in a way 

 satisfactory to himself, if not to everybody around 

 him. Naturally he became a night cat. The dim 

 theatre was shut up during the day, but at night all 

 was life and brightness. Jim would wander about 

 the place, looking at the curious actions of those 

 upon the stage, and making himself perfectly at home 

 everywhere. Then, when the curtain was rung 

 down, the large crowd dispersed, and the gas turned 

 out, he would attach himself to the night watchman 

 and accompany him on his rounds during the long 

 hours of the night. 



During the greater part of the day he slept. 

 Sometimes his fancy took him away from the aban- 

 doned dressing-room, and then he would select such 

 place as his caprices prompted. Very often this was 

 the green cloth upon one of the desks in the business 

 office. He was always permitted to occupy this ; 



