The Irish standard., 1908-08-29

"But there was something else"
'It can wait"
"Take later train, then"
"What! With this grave peril hang.
ing over me? Impossible! Might"
Bannerman, discounted, saw Matt
lands shoulders disappear through the
, dining room doorway, meditated pur-
suit, thought better of 1t, and reseated
himself, frowning.
Mad Maitland, indeed!" he com.
mented.
AS for the gentleman so charac.
terized, he emerged, moment later,
from the portals of the club, still
chuckling mildly to himself as he
struggled into a light evening over.
coat. His temper, having run the
gamut of boredom, interest, perturba-
ton, mystif1cation, and plain amuse.
ment, was now altogether incense
quential-a dangerous mood for Matt.
land. Standing on the corner Of
Twenty sixth street he thought it over,
tapping the sidewalk gently with his
cane. Should he or should he not car
~ OuI AhCOAt4OA dS OCS1d1O GU "
Bannerman, and go to Greenfields that
same night? Or should he keep his be-
lated engagement with Cressy's party?
An errant cabby, cruising aimlessly
but hopefully, sighted Maitland's tall
figure and white shirt from distance,
and bore down upon him with a gal
liant clatter of hoofs.
"Kebsir?" he demanded, GREATNESS
ly, pulling in at the corner.
Maitland came out of his reverie and
looked up slowly. why, yes, thank
you," he assented, amiably.
Where to, sir?"
Maitland paused on the forward
deck of the craft and faced about. look
ing the cabby trustfully in the eye. Il
leave it to you," he replied, politely.
"Just as you please"
The driver gasped.
"You see," Maitland continued with
courteous smile, II have two engage
ments-one at Sherry's, the other with
the 1920 train from Long Island City,
What would you, as man to man, ad-
wise me to do, cabby?"
'Well, sir, SEEM as you put 1t to
me straight" returned the cabby with
engaging candor, "1'd go home, sir, If
/ was you, afore got any worse"
Thank you," gravely. Long Island
: City depot, then. cabby." -
Maitland extended himself languid-
ly upon the cushions. Surely" he
told the night, "the driver knows best
he and Banner1man."
! The cab started of Jogging so &C.
dately up Madison avenue that Matt
land glanced at his watch and elevated
his brows obviously; then with his
stick poked open the trap in the roof
IF you really think it best for me
to go home. cabby, you'll have to drive
like hell" he suggested, mildly.
"Yessir!"
A whip.lash cracked loudly over the
horses back, and the hanson, lurch.
ing into Thirty-fourth street on one
wheel, was presently jouncing eastward
over rough cobbles, at regardless
pace which reused the gongs of the
surface cars to clangor of hysterical
expostulation. In a trice the IL" ex.
tension was roaring overhead; and q
little later the ferry gates were yawn-
Ing before them. Again Maitland con.
suited his watch, commenting briefly:
in time"
Yet he reckoned without the ferry,
one of whose employees deliberately
and implacably swung to the gates in
the very face of the astonished cab
horse, which promptly rose upon its
hind legs and paved the air with ges-
lures Of pardonable evaporation. To
no avail, however; the gates remained
closed, the cabby with language)
refined his steed back yard or two,
and Maitland, lighting cigarette,
composed himself to simulate patience.
Followed wait Of ten minutes or
80, in which number Of vehicles
Joined company with the cab; the pas.
seAger was vaguely aware of the jar.
ring purr Of motor car, like that of
some huge cat, in the immediate rear.
"A circumstance which he had occasion
10 recall ere long.
In the course of time the gates were
again opened. The bridge cleared of
Incoming traffic. AS the cabby drove
aboard the boat, with nice considera-
ton selecting the choicest stand of
all, well out upon the forward deck,
a motor car slid in, humming, on the
right Of the hanson.
Maitland sat forward, resting his
1orearms on the apron, and jerked his
cigarette out over the gates; the glow
ing stub described fiery arc and took
the water with a hiss. Warm whiffs
of the rivers sweet and salty bresth
famed his face gratefully, and he be.
came aware that there was a moon.
His gaze rowing at will, he nodded an
even.tempered appreciation of the
nights splendor-in the city thing
unsupported.
Never, he thought, had he known
moonlight so pure. so silvery and
strong. Shadows Of gates and posts
lay upon the forward deck like stencils
of lampblack upon white marble Be-