The Washington times., 1906-07-22

& Hartley, Brokers, The
CLERKS had gone. 1t was past
r. and with the solid tramp of a
drove of prize Percnerons scrub
women were invading the cloud
capped twenty-story Office building.
\ puff on red-hot air favored with
lemon peelings, soft-coal smoke,
aud train oil came in through the
half-Opeu windows.
Robbins. fifty, something of an
overweight beau, and addicted to
first nights and hotel palm rooms.
pretended 10 be envious of his
partners commuters joys.
Going to be something doing
IN the humidity line tonight he
said. You out-of-town chaps will
be the people. with your katydids
and moonlight and long drinks ana
things out on the front porch.
Hartley, twenty-nine, serious
thin. good-Iooking. nervous, sighed
and frowned a little.
YES" said he, I'VE always have
cool nights in Floralhurst, espe-
cialIy in the winter"
A man with an air OF mystery
came in the door and went up to
Hartley.
I've found where she lives he
announced in the portentous half
whisper that makes the detective at
work A marked being to his fellow
men.
Hartley scowled him into & state
of dramatic silence and quietude.
But by that time Robbins had got
his cane and set his tie pin to his
liking. and with a debonair nod
went out to his metropolitan amuse-
ments.
Here is the address" said the
detective in a natural tone. be-
prived of an audience to foil.
Hartley took the leaf torn out
Of the sleuth's dingy memorandum
book On It was penciled the words.
.'Vivienne Arlington. No. S41 East
til street. care OF Mrs. McCo-
mus"
Moved there a week ago." said
the detective. Now. If you want
any shadowitg done, Mr. Hartley.
can do YOU. as fine a Job in that
line as anybody in the city. II
Will be only 81 a day and expenses.
Can send IN a daily typewriter
report. covering"
You needn't go on" interrupted
the broker. 1T isn't a case Of that
kind. merely wanted the ad-
dress. How much shall I pay you?"
"One days work. said the sleuth.
a tenner will cover IT."
Hartley paid the man and dis
missed him. Then he left the office
and boarded a Broadway car. AT the
first large crosstown artery OF
travel he took an eastbound car
that deposited him in a decaying
avenue. whose ancient structures
once sheltered the pride and glory
OF the town.
Walking a few squares, he came
10 the building that he sought Il
was a new hathouse, bearing carved
upon its cheap stone portal its
sOnorOus name, "The Vallambrosa' a
Fire-escapes zig-zagged down its
front-these laden with household
goods. drying clothes, and squalling
children evicted by the midsummer
heat. Here and there a pale rub
Der plant peeped from the miscel-
laneous mass. as II wondering 10
what kingdom it belonged-vege-
table. animal. or artificial.
Hartley pressed the "McComus' -
button. The door latch clicked
Observation-Disclosures Hospitality, now
doubtfully. as though in anxiety
whether it might be admitting
friends or duns. Hartley entered
and began 20 climb the stairs after
the manner of those who seek their
friends in city fiathOuses-which is
the manner OF a hoy who climbs
an apple tree, stopping when he
comes upon what he wants.
On the fourth floor he saw VI
vienne standing in an open door.
She invited him inside. with a nod
and a bright, genuine smile. She
placed a chair for him near a
window, and poised herself grace
fully upon the edge of one Of those
Jebyll-and-Hvde pieces Of furniture
that are masked and mysteriously
hooded, unguessable bulks by day
and inquisitorlal racks of torture
by night
Hartley cast a quick, critical,
appreciative glance at her before
speaking, and told himself that his
taste in choosing had been fiawless
Vivienne was about twenty-one
She was Of the purest Saxon type
Her hair was a ruddy golden, each
filament Of the neatly gathered
mass shining with its own luster
and delicate graduation of color