The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-16

Hoyt, 1 believe. The other gentlemen
but opportunity will doubtless serve" He
bowed and withdrew.
Indiman dropped into an easy chair, and
lit a cigar Les miserables," he said to
me In an undertone. Look at them
In truth, it was strange company with
whom we had foregathered. There were
perhaps a dozen men in the room, and
each seemed absorbed in the listless con-
temptation of his own detected person
atty. The large table in the center of the
room was laden with newspapers and Pc
riedicals. but no one had taken the trouble
to displace the neat files in which they
had been arranged. The card room ad-
joining was untenanted the green baize
tables, with their complement of shiny,
new packs of cards and metal counters.
bore no evidence of use; In the billiard
room at the back a marker slept rest
fully in his high-legged chair. Assuredly,
thes members of the Utinam club were
not, advocates of the strenuous life.
IT was after o'clock now, and the big
room was beginning to fill up with later
arrivals. Yet there was none of the
cheerful hum and hustle ordinarily charac-
teristic of such a gathering. man
would enter and pass to his place unfa-
vored by even the courtesy of friendly
glance; at least score of men had made
quarter of an hour, and not a single word
of greeting or recognition had 1 heard
exchanged. Among them was Mr.. Col
man sHOyt, the unsuccessful arctic eX-
ployer. He passed close to where Indi-
man and l sat, yet never looked at U.S.
An odd set, these our fellow members
of the Utinam, and one naturally wonder
ed why they came to the club at all. But
we were now to learn.
~
tirely windewless, ventilation being Sc
cured by forced draught from an engine
room in the basement. Consequently
artificial light was necessary at all times
and a very agreeable quality of it was
furnished by electro1iers concealed be-
hind ground glass slides in the walls and
ceilings of the various apartments. The
light thus obtained was diffused rather
than direct and, being colorless, it close
ly approximated natural conditions, the
delusion being heightened by the con-
struction of the wall panels so as to sim
ulate. windows. To add again to the eff
feet. these lights had been gradually low
cred as the day wore on. Now it must
be almost dark in the outside world and
it was twilight in the common room of
the Utinam club; / could no longer dis
tinguish between the motionless figures
of the men around me and the shadows
dying out; in few moments the dark
ness would become profound, and I felt
my pulse slow down with the chill of the
thought
One single ember remained in the fire.
place; l watched it cleaning like a great
red eye in its bed of ashes, then it
winked and went out, and at the same in
slant the last ray from the false windows
disappeared.
tive retina remained absolutely unaf-
fected; the darkness had finally come.
and from one to another of that desolate
company ran little, tremulous sigh,
then the silence of complete negation.
From the apex of the domed ceiling a
sudden and wonderful effulgence of rose
colored light streamed forth, flooding the
great room with glorious color and life.
Magical were its effects. Men Strengthened
up in their chairs and looked about them.
the flush of returning animation in their
cheeks, and their eyes bright with ques
tioning interest. A youngish chap leaned
over and spoke earnestly to his neighbor,
then some one laughed aloud. Instantly
the flood gates were opened; the air
was vibrant with the hum of converse
ton. the ringing of call bells. and the
suffering of fusees. A blue haze of ci-
gazette smoke formed itself above the
heads of the assemblage; the Utinan
club had come to its own again.
The large folding doors at the east end
were now opened disclosing the supper
room beyond-a spacious apartment. and
decorated with barbaric splendor OF
gliding and intricate plaster work 1 re-
marked particularly the preponderance OF
the red tints; indeed, no other shade OF
color could / discover-but of this more
particularly hereafter. Indiman looked
at me, and we trooped out with the resi-
que voulez-vous? One must always dine
We found small table; the napery and
glass were exquisite. the cuisine and
service perfect. We surrendered our
selves to the allurements of the hour.
was conscious of an unusual lightness
and exhilaration of spirit: Indiman's eyes
were sparkling with unwonted brilliancy
1 raised my champagne glass: ITO the
Utinam club said. with enthusiasm
and rather more loudly than l had in
tended The toast was at once re-echoed
from every mouth, and a burst of laugh
ter followed.
A late-comer entered and looked about
the room somewhat uncertainty, for all
the tables had been taken. 1t was ME-
Colman Hoyt He saw us and smiled
geniauy. I'VE have room here called
out Indiman, and he joined us.