The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-01

''lII:3Ss.|
llBa


III RaRN ready TO start As her i'oa
rroGrossed there came Zip to 1syl iron
1.-THE crowd m,rmur of innumerabl
q voices. combined in one strange SUSTAIN
"a "a chord. willie before her and behih'
n .he hriss music of military bands crash
Va al in dissonance. llandkerchicfs waived
XII nm occasional cheer broke forth, AM
4 from every POSSIBLE window were mei
iS4and women staring. She was confuse
4 81 Tic bewilderlns sights and sounds
md embarrassed by the feeling that sI'
was a usurper She had done her hes,
+ To ind the true queen, but accident nav
baf1ied her search. Tho mysterious
stranger had left her again, and again
4 sic was alone IN the face of gazing u'ou'
sahds. She wished 1t were over,
ii The parade countermarchcd and her
foat after returning down First street,
cenc 10 q temporary halt near the floral
arch she was looking absently into INC
packed second story windows along the
line III march when her eyes were drawn
to single face.
II was Norine Almeric. Though sue
hnd but an instants vision. lsNl was
.,,re of that Norinc stood a iittle pack
from window but from the height OIL
4 tbe Queens throne she was plainly VS.
lille Her expression was that OF per-
son in great distress.
1syl had scarcely time to recognize her,
4 however. when Norlne disappeared from
/ The window, and at the same time the
4 .oat lurched forward. hundred ieet
Il fnrther tho procession halted again and
\ 1sy1 looked down into the street for some
] one to whom she could tell the astonlsh-
linr news The Chamberlain, who, riding
A at the head Of the parade, had ALREADY
4, finished the route, and was returning 10
I witness the pageant as spectator. was
! making his way toward her, noddins 10
various friends right and left.
n Isyl caught his eye and beckoned 10
B Rim. He ran up and climbed one OF the
A wheels of the float to whispering us
4 tance as she leaned to him. .,,
n "I saw Norine Almeric! she caiied
4 cautiously, so that her ladies' mlsht ny
hear "She was In the windo" OF
mouse over the Star Billiard Hall. Can't
4 you 20 and SEQ what 1t meansI she may
I be kept there against her VIII!
Flo nodded. jumped down and made his
\ way back up the street. me colluquy
I, had of course been visible TO every one,
1 although 1t had not been overheard. and
\ among the observers there happeheu "
be special writer.
The scene was not lost upon him. 1T
might mean an important story. So ne,
too, elbowed his way through the crush
and followed the Chamberlain
lust before the procession started
again, Isyl, looking over a board renee,
a which screened him ION the street saw
/ Tom Parrish run through a vacant YARD
In the direction of the house where NO
/ rine had appeared She watched him IN
I ! carried her OUT
of sight. but just before that he entered
. side door of the block Then she was
syept on down the street.
The Chamberlain, forcing his way
through the crowd, reached the star
billiard Parlors. Its doors were vide
omen to the street, disclosing row OF
tables, a bar, and, In the rear a glazed
I door. Beside the street door was anoshe
Heading into a narrow hall from wnicl
Bsistairs arose and on the right of thu
"a hall there was entrance into the billiar
- parlors
Seeing that the parors were deserted
he passed through this side entrance an
v Started upstairs to investigate the sec
ond story, passing n sign which reat
"Star Hotel. Rooms by the Day o
Week" Half way up, he was met by {
man descending.
MA The stranger was a we'll formed Eng
El 1ishman with smooth face. dressed II
IL gray twceds; a jolly, muscular. looking
n man of IS or so. He stood blocking the
passage and said, good naturally enough
~ say, old chap, what d'you happier
to be looking for, If you don't mind?"
That's none of your business that
know Of !" said the Chamberlain. attempt
4 ing to force his way past. Who are
4, you anyway"
i 81 might make the same retort, don't
you know, but l won't. Here's my card
4 if you like, but I'm afraid you mayn't
4 go upstairs just now, you know.
i wouldn't insist, If were you"
Whats going to prevent my going
4; np?'' said the Chamberlain, hesitating
4 my word what do you expect I'm
a standing here for old chap" said the
Briton. .. ).
What right have you to prevent me? q
the Chamberlain clustered. but without
attempting to set foot on tho next step.
Instead he glanced at the card, which
read mfr. j. Montgomery Lee"
+; II have the right of superior biceps and
ia good old fashioned desire to make
] trouble with them for you, II you Insist
on being an ass was the reply
us Miss Almerio up there? If she Is,