The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-08-01
with crimson shades.

covered with crimson shades.
It was all very warm and inviting.
He looked round 1t with satisfaction
for a moment.
Then suddenly, as he stood on the
%hearthrug, he put his plump, white
hand with the heavy seal ring upon II
up to his throat. The apple moved
up and down conclusively. and for a
single moment the whole being OF the
man was filled with overmastering
fear of the future and horror n loatn-
ing of himself.
The spasm passed as quickly as 1t
came. The drug he had taken assert
ed its grip upon the twitching nerves;
the man whose whole life was discreet
adventure, who was a soldier OF social
fortune, who daily faced perils, be-
came once more himself.
That Is to say, to put 1t In two
words, his better angel, who had held
possession Of him for a moment. fed
sorrowfully away, while the especial
spirit deputed to look after the other
side of him happened to chance in
his direction and, remembering he had
often found a h~ospitable reception
from Mr.. Eustace Charliewood, looked
in, found his old quarters duly swept
and garnisLed, and settled down.
Charliewood's rooms were on the
ground floor. In a minute or two-it
was about a quarter to eight-he heard
Snma nnn r1nnv, tho STAINS ntrfCiIa IN
Jermyn street, and beard the electric
bell whirr down below in the kitchen.
He rushed out into t, o hall. 1t gen.
orally took William some time to
from the lower regions, which
were deep In the bowels Of the earth,
and no doubt Mr.. Charliewood kindly
desired to spare the butler the trouble
of opening the door.
So, at least, William thought as he
climbed the kitchen stairs and came
out into the hall to find Mr.. Charlie
wood already helping his guest of
with his coat and showing him into
the dining room.
William did not know that there
were any special reasons in Mr.. Char
liewood's mind for not having his
guests name announced and possibly
remembered by the servant.
well, my dear Rathbone, how are
your" Charliewood said, and no face
could have been kinde r or more in
viting and pleasant to see than the
face Of the host. "Awfully good or
you to come and take me like this, but
| thought we should be more com.
Portable here than at the club. There
are one or two things | want to talk
over. I'll do you as well as can, but
/ can't answer for anything. You must
take OF luck"
Gerald Rathbone looked round the
charming room and laughed a full.
blooded, happy laugh.
II wish you could see my chambers
in the Temple, he said. But you rel
lows who live up this end do your
selves so jolly woll!'
Il suppose one does overdo it, Char
liewood answered, lin the way OF little
comforts and things. It's a mistake,
no doubt; but one gets used to what
one was brought up to. and so one
Just goes on, dependent upon things
that a sensible man could easily do
without. Now, sit down n have a
sherry and bitters; dinner will be up
in a minute. And try one OF these
It's a bad plan to smoke
before dinner, I know, as a rule, but
these little things just go with the
sherry and bitters, and they are spe-
cial. I get them over from Rio; they're
made of black Brazilian tobacco. AS
you see, they're only half as long as
finger, and, instead OF being
wrapped in filthy, poisonous rice pa
YER they're covered with maize-leaf."
Rathbone sank into the luxurious
chair which his host pointed out to
him, took the sherry in its heayily-cut
glass, and lit one of the cigarettes. He
stretc ed out his feet toward the fire
and enjoyed a moment of intense
physical ease. The flames and the
shaded electric lights shone upon his
fine and happy face, twinkled upon
the stud in his shirt-front, and showed
him for what he was at that moment
a young gentleman intensely enjoying
everything that life had to give.
Ito Be Continued.)