Newport weekly independent., 1903-07-10
MA ID A M E
 BARBETTF By WAYNE B. CARLOCk
Copyright, 1903. by Daily Story Pub. co)

was about 10 a. m. I was out get l ting little fresh air, stroIling idly and aimlessly up Broadway, almost wishing something exciting would happen to puncture the mornings tire some serenity and instill little high life into my apathetic state.
 Arriving near Thirty-fifth street my attention was attracted across the way to a rumpus on the front steps of the Herald building. A man, apparently in the throes of great excitement, was directing the eyes of several others toward an open ear headed down Broadway, He was making violent gestures with his hands and evidently had discovered something about the vehicle which amounted to grave fear or importance.
 I no sooner turned them in its direc- tion than gentleman ran awkwardly against me, nearly sprawling me head long into the street. Glancing around as quickly as I could balance myself I noticed him point with sweeping movement toward the fleeing ear, his eyes glaring wildly with the fire of discovery.
 I whirled and caught sight of the departing vehicle, all the time strain ing my ears to overhear what my neighbors were saying, but they were conversing so rapidly that it came to me as the merest iargon.
 I scarcely knew what to do; in fact l had nothing to do, wanted something to do, so I made up my mind that I would run down this mystery if it took me all the way to Battery Place.
 Just at this moment second car rolled by me, and seeing my oppor- tunity, I made a wild climb for it. My morning lethargy was fast disappear ing. Strolhng rapidly to the front I noticed the preceding ear just opposite Smith, Gray & Co., where a mob of men who had been inspecting the windows were making various kinds of frantic gesticulations. They, too, had discov- cred something and were imparting the news to each other in the most non pIussing manner.
 now turned my attention to details. That car was moving along as smooth ly as possibly could be, so there could not have been anything wrong with the machinery or rolling stock. Both motorman and conductor were calm and collected, as likewise seemed the passengers. One thing, however, ap- peared quite singular as to the differ ent passengers positions.
 There were aboard just five men and one woman. These five men were punched together on the two rear seats. As they were not smoking l could hardly believe this incidental. The woman sat in the second seat from the front, was large and attractively dressed; that is, if you call full suit of sable in the summertime attractive and wore a black chapeau adorned across the front with a single large plume of brilliant green.
 That she was the exposure in ques- ton I had no farther doubt. We were keeping within an average of about 30 yards of the leading car, so I could cas- fly see everything that transpired ahead
 As we emerged into Madison Square I detected the woman glancing side wise toward the Hoffman house. At the entrance stood a roup of men, whom her advent had thrown into 1uster, and as they were apparently gentlemen of time and money, the per plexity of the situation became more and more puzzling. What could there be about this woman which gave birth to such commotion among both class and commoner?
 Then something else happened. The group of men sitting on the rear seats had placed their heads together and I could tell they were consulting esch other in a strange, enigmatical style One gentleman in particular was as- suming an explanatory attitude of the most startling and conspicuous nature. The car came to halt at Twenty-third street and the entire party sneaked fearfully from the ear, never looking once behind then.
 My anxiety ard curiosity at this turn of affairs simply became unbeara ble Something had to be found out quick or I would probably fall in an uncon- scious, swelfering fit
 The fated ear was now rolling into Union Square. From in front of Tiff fany's a crowd of window inspectors had caught on, and if the hubbub they displayed could have been seen by a party at distance, they would have believed someone was going through one of the plate glass windows inquest of sunbursts
 thought now came whirling through my fevered brain which great