Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-06-15
CHAPTER V.
A Question Of GUESSING.

A Question Of GUESSING.
Some men are SO stupid at times
that one wonders how they get on
IN life at all. and after a few mo-
ments OF ridiculously profound
thought I WIS quite ready to consign
myself TO this class. Hero was a man.
obviously a slave 70 a habit which
was slowly but surely eating his very
life away. who virtually admitted his
shortcomings in the plainost OF Eng
hsh, and yet who rushed from my
presence in horror and disgust when I
attempted 70 persuade him 70 leave In
toxicants slonei Here was his serv-
ant an honest Trustworthy fellow.
who not only admitted his masters
faillngs but gave many details Of his
unfortunate downfall. and yet who re-
garded me with suspicion and dread
when ! ventured 20 ask him a most
natural question: And here was a fool
of q lawyer who could not see through
a milestone with a hole in IL!
I reached for the telephone ard call
ed I'D MacArdel
Hello. Msc!- said Busy to
night?"
Nothing special" he replied. Iacon-
fcally. What's up2~
Dine with me at tho club at seven.
viii your" I asked. 7 want you 70
tell me something
~An right" said Mackrdel Seven
sharp. and I'll order the dinner. Good
by" and he hung up his receiver with
a snap.
I did not resent McArdeTs abrupt.
ness, for I knew no had a room fun OF
people waiting to rec him and the fact
that ne was TO order tho dinner was
enough 20 make man forgive any
thing short Of an objectionable sin.
MacArdel was late OF course. He
was born half an hour after he was
expected and his timetable through
life has always been that much be-
hind 70 a second: so called for the
things and made the cocktails myself
i cannot order a dinner as MacArdel
can, but I can construct a cocktail
that would make tho nectar OF the
gods taste like Bloomsbury coffee
The dinner was as good as the cock
tnl and we went % the roof for our
coffee and cigars.
MacArdel tipped back In his chair
Ind rested his heels on the broad COP
ing. for We were sitting IN a secluded
corner, back Of pillar. and the only
hight we had came from tho restless
city far below us. sparkling and gilt
tertng like the reflection OF a Sen
TENDER sky at midnight. An occasion
AZ slimnosr Of moonlight broke through
NE neecy. scudding clouds. so that,
from time 20 time. we caught glimpses
OF each other as we lazily pulled our
cigars. The silence was emphasized
by the disiointed m1rmur OF voices
about US. and the ncver-ending dis
t2nt rumble IN the streets beneath.
II was a dreary night and a dreamy
place and I dreaded 70 bring up the
disagreeable topic that we had met
70 discuss. So we slipped our coffee and
smoked out our cigars almost oblivfous
'of each others presence. Brt when the
fresh cigars were lighted. MacArdel
'yawned impohtely. as was his habit
when We were alone. and said briefly:
We'll, what is it,"
I told him OF my experiences IN the
morning. taking care not TO omit a
single detail OF what had observed
In my interview with either Carney or
Bobbs. When had finished he re-
marked, with equal breviU:
We'll. what Of IT,"
That's the way with MacArdeI!
He can be, and usually is. the most
Incorporating fellow that ever lived.
What OF It'll" I exclaimed. There's
a deuced lot Of IL. tell youi I want to
find out what this fellow is doing and
get him TO leave IL alone. II you had
over seen HIS sister and could under
stand, as I do. the desolateness OF her
position, you'd be as anxious as I am
to reform him"
Woman IN the case, Of course, E"
murmured MacArdel softly, taking a
deep PUT OF smoke which he held in