The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-29
(continued)

Continued
wayworn and disappointed. .Scaroldi sat
down on the doorsteps OF the first house
he saw. thinking in despair that the last
source TO which he could appeal was ny-
ing away from hias. No problem Of af-
fected auadratic equations containing
scores OF squares and unknown quantities
had ever perplexed him so badly at
school in his youth. To the mental des-
titution and heart anguish another factor
was added which complicated his hard
problem. He suddenly felt utterly pros
trated and dizzy Sorrow and grief had
vanquished all his powers. A cold perspi-
ration was dropping from his forehead
his sight became dim, and all his limbs
quivered as from an attack of ague. A
cramp I'm the stomach was the last all
ment that seized him. and at this. Scaf-
foldi understood and remembered that II
was the want OF nourishment that so af-
fected him as he had tasted for the last
forty-eight hours.
After a long rest on the steps. Scaffoldi
dragged himself again 10 the street. his
weary body already too heavy for his re-
laxed limbs. seeking a place where he
could restore his forces and get the new
buoyancy OF mind OF which he was so
much I'm need.
He was lucky enough to hit upon the
very place for which he was looking. In
less time than he had dared to hope.
stepping inside, he composed his appear
ance as best he could.
The place looked TO Scaffoldi as though
II were a fashionable one and was pat
ronized by well-to-do people. who sat In
a large dining room. with well arranged
tables all around, electric fans whirlIng
here and there. and variegated. pictured
curtains draping the large windows
which had open trsnsoms extending up
ward I'm half circles, so as 10 smother the
heat and let I'm the air The walls were
luxuriously papered and adorned with
costly pictures. Walters with short black
coats, bearing shining metal number on
the right lapel. were standing in statue
like postures behind the guests
Scsffoldi did not look az the sign when
he went In. but hy the general appear
ance he understood that n was "a first
class" hotel as the resorts of the kind
are termed noticing how the walters
hurried 10 and fro with silver trays, laden
with bottles ~ wine and mixed drinks.
The floor walker. head-waiter. captain
or whatever he was. hastened To meet
sosnoldi halfway. pointing 10 a vacant
chair nearby; but Scsffodi. instead Of
moving that way. turned 70 a corner and
called the waiter with that American ges-
the fore-fnRer inward in quick, success
sive motions After they had held a short
low conversation. Scaffoldi was shown TO
fight ~ stairs.
II aid not suit his fancy 20 take his
meal in the public dining room, and ex-
cite attention by his drawn features.
while he needed 10 he alone. in order To
collect his thoughts, 90 he had asked for
private room
In the winding passages and corridors
OF the broad building II seemed 20 Scat
foldi as though he had been there before
but he made no inquiries. and as soon as
he was left alone. he went TO the win
dow. and raising the lower sash gazed
down the street Only then did ne un-
derstand the situation. The window look
ed down on Grsvier street. where he had
sliehted from the carriage few days be-
fore with Dean. II became clear to him
now that when they had come into the
hotel by a back entrance. through a Sc
cret door. while now he had entered from
the front
The hotel in which scaffoldi casually
found himself lodged was the old St
Charles hotel. situated on the street OF
the same name. between Gravter and
Common streets. and about which place
II was written. in all chronicles, that II
had witnessed more important political
events than any other building in the
ington
Whether scaroldi relished his nneal-and
how much. can only he conjectured by
his coloring cheeks and the smoothing OF
his knitted brows
Certainly he did not stint himself when
partaking OF the exquisite viands and
invisora ting wine which he ordered.
Now he was rocking 10 and fro in an
easy chair. enjoying a cigar. causing a
halo OF smoke 10 surround his head. and
between one Whit OF smoke and another
anxious thoughts were crowding afresh
into his mind and tormentine him.
And here. the fate or destiny. that arbi-
trarily controls events and the human
genus from the cradle to the grave. and
against whose DEGREES IL IL useless to
contend. was TO interfere in Scsrfoldrs
affairs in a way that would never have
been foretold or calculated by him.
On the next door 10 his Scaffoldi heard
a rap. and as soon as the knocker entered
the room. where presumably people were
awaiting him, he created CONSERVATION
there. and all seemed stirred up. just by
few words which the newcomer uttered
whose meaning Scaffoldi could not make
out
A confusion Of loud talking, and the
clatter and olink of glasses. followed for
few minutes. The bedlam of voices
soon became subdued, however. and a
stentorian voice was heard as IL deliver
Ing a speech, In which Scaffoldi could
catch but n few words which were OF
political meaning.
The voice sounded familiar TO Scaffoldi,
but where had ne heard that man7 Who
was he? Scaffoldi could not surmise.
Curiosity, which Is not always the
characteristic OF the sentler set alone,
took possession OF Scaffoldi. who for the
frst time since he had entered the room.
began 20 look around him TO observe IL
there was any rent in the partition be-
tween the two rooms, that could AFFORD
him a chance to spy In there. Unfortu-
nately for him, they were not thin board
partitions, but solid brick walls
ITO the devil with the lecturer and his
hearers" lie muttered. II have business
OF my own 20 think Of" and he pressed
the button OF the electric bell for his