Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-08

,, have said that the day was just the
proper length. He got up quite late,
aud his breakfast was a matter for
deliberate selection and preparation.
Then he Strolled around the corner to
the hotel barber shop, where he often
had 10 wait for about the agreeable
space Of a morning newspaper. Then
there was his mail to examine, quite
an extensive mail, too, for he took a
| mild Interest in old books and prints
apd coins. When the hour for lunch
arrived Egbert was just about ready
for u, and after it had been fittingly
| achieved he was ready for digestive
cigar and a view from the window.
Then he might Sumter down the
avenue and stop at certain picture
stores and art galleries, or drop into
the library for a chat with the old
bibliophile at its head, or into the
| gymnaslu to stir his Slumbering mus
cles into a doZe. Dressing for dinner
| and dinner itself We're each one a GER
elnony too serious for any mechanical
IL
theater party or undergo some other
engagement with his uncle's people,
there was the Metropolitan club.
Probably Egbert was the most regular
attendant at the organization; yet this
fact was never suspected. Any men,
Der. if asked regarding him, which was
unlikely, might say: "Flemming? A
nice, quiet man. Yes, q see him at the
club once in awhile" He was so con-
gruous and unaSsuming that he was
as little noticed as the sober dado had
been until renovation gave it lurid
hue. True, he was ready to take a
stick at pool or a hand at whist, if re-
Quested; and then, as the boys would
say, keep his end up" but when the
game was finished he never suggested
Just one more but returned to the
reading room and there found placid
content over the latest review, tenn
pered by brandy and soda, perhaps,
and a cigar. And when he sought his
rooms, and had fulfilled the routine of
nocturnal preparations, he was also
quite ready for sleep.
oh yes, as he would have himself ad-
mitted, Egbert lead a Pleasant, ade-
Quate life. Sometimes, indeed, box
of cigars might prove disappointing,
or coat draw across the shoulders;
but then, if one only faced ones
troubles reselutely they were sure to
supdnely retreat. Sophia, Egbert's
cousin and future bride, was wont to
say that he took life as he did the
play he had seen before; he didn't
yawn, and thus showed true nobility.
But Sophia felt that she was falling be-
tween two stools of relationship, and
realized that the posture was un-
graceful.
One winters evening when Egbert
entered the dressing room at the club
he was greeted by little Dobbs and old
Marvin, two of his former classmates,
who had with them a third, Joe Bann-
tng, from somewhere up in the interior
eff the state.
What, Joe"' said Egbert, pleasantly
enough, When did you come to
| town."
Last evening"" replied Joe. and
when did you?''
'Oh, / live here at which the three
seemed somewhat surprised.
Why, cert cried little Dobbs
-'Flemming is a member, now 1 think
of it, Come up stairs Egbert, and
| nelp things along" Egbert did go Up
! stairs, and did, in his mild way, help
things along; things consisting of
| continuous cigars and occasional bot
billiards and college-day "reminiscences.
Il was there" Egbert would say
once and again.
Mere you? why, so you We're,
old fellow; I'd forgotten that
It was just "the shank Of the even
, ing" ;as little Dobbs expressed it, that
| is, some distance past midnight, when
a servant delivered a whispered mes
sage to him.
Come boysn' cried little Dobbs. II
| think we have exhausted the resources
| of this rookery for the time being.
riage below. He's to take us to Nc
| Cormiek,s to show Banning what a
| gaudy side the neither side is. You'll
join us, of course, Flemming?''
Egbert thought rather longingly Of
an uncut Quarterly awaiting his cut
| ting, and then, that he might as we'll
be with his friends as anywhere else;
so they all decided and soon were
whirling Through the deserted streets,
crossed and recrossed by bands of
electric light like a spectral embroid-
cry. The three guests were somewhat
subdued by the chill contrast from the
heat an glow of the club the detective
was munching his cigar in conjecture
as to the size of his feet, but little
Dobbs awakened echoes in echoless
quarters by vociferously announcing
the undeniable fact that he wouldn't
go home until morning.
The carriage turned into a narrow
court, rough with cObbleS and dark
with towering tenements, and drew
up before low entrance like the
mouth of a cave. The detective led
the way through a long passage, around
sharp bend, and up steep and wind
ing stairs
IA fire trap murmured old Mar
vim, who was cautious.