Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-05
CHAPTER u.
Post.Prandiai.

few inches, SnlItlnS poSItioH INC oottoi
10 benefit of faint air that famed
in through the open window. Matt
land, twisting the sticky stem OF
Iiaueur glass between thumb and fore
finger, sat In patient waiting for the
lawyer to speak.
But Bannerman was in no hurry:
his mood was rather one contempla-
tive and genial He was round and
cheyubic little man, with the face OF
a guileless child, the acumen OF sue
cessful counsel for soulless corpora
tions THAT is to say. OF high order),
no particular sense of humor, and q
great appreciation of good eating.
And Maitland was. famous in his day
as one thoroughly conversant with the
art of ordering dinner.
That which they had just discussed
had been uncommon In all respects:
Maitlands scheme Of courses and his
specification as to details had reused
the admiration of the Primordials chef
and put him on his mettle. He had
outdone himself In his efforts to do
Justice to Mr.. Maitland's genius; and
the Primordial in It's deadly conserva-
tism remains to this day one OF the
very few places in New York where
good, sound cooking is to be had by
the initiate.
Therefore Bannerman thoughtfully
sucked at his cigar and thought
fondly of salad that had been to
ordinary salads as his S0-horse-power
car was to an electric blackboard.
While Maitland, with all time at his
purchase. idly licked the ash from his
cigarette and followed his attorneys
meditative gaze out through the win
dow.
Because Of the heat the curtains
were looped back, and there was moth
ing to obstruct the view. Madison
square lay just over the sill, a dark
wilderness of foliage here and there
made livid green by arc lights. Its
walks teemed with humanity, its
benches were crowded. Dimly from
It's heart came the cool FLASHING OF the
fountain, In lulls that fell unaccount-
ably In the roaring rustic OF restless
feet. Over across, Broadway raised
glittering walls Of glass and stone;
and thence came the poignant groan
and rumble of surface cars crawling
upon their weary and unvarying
rounds.
And again Maitland thought Of the
City, and of Destiny, and of the gray
girl the silhouette Of whose hand was
imprisoned beneath the brass bowl on
his study desk. For by now he was
quite satisfied that she and none other
had .trespassed upon the privacy OF his
rooms, obtaining access to them in his
absence by means as unguessable as
her motive. Momentarily he consid.
cred taking Bannerman into his con.
fidence; but he questioned the ad-
visibility of this. Bannerman was SO
severely practical In his outlook upon
life, while this adventure had been
so madly whimsical, SO engagingly
impossible. Bannerman would be sure
to suggest call at the precinct police
station. 81. II she had made way
with anything, it would be different;
but SO far as Maitland had been able
to determine, she had distracted moth.
ing, disturbed nothing beyond . few
square incEes of dust.
I Unwillingly Bannerman put the
salad out of mind and turned to the
business whose immediate moment
had brought them together. He
hummed softly, calling his client to at.
tention Maitland came out of his
reverie, vaguely smiling.
I'm waiting, old man. What's up?'
1.-The Graeme business. His lawyers
have been after me again. even had
q call from the old man himself"
Eyes? The Graeme business?'
Maitland's expression was blank for a
moment; then comprehension informed
his eyes. ooh, yes; in connection with
the Dougherty investment swindle."
That's it. Graeme's pleading for
mercy"
Maitland lifted his shoulder sig
nificantly. "That was to be expected
wasn't it? What did you tell him."
"That I'd see you"
did you hold out to him any hopes
that I'd be easy on the gang?"
ri told him that l doubted 1t you
could be induced to let up"
"Then why"
why, because Graeme himself is as
innocent of wrong doing and wrong in.
tent as you are"
you believe that?"
IT d." affirmed Bannerman. His
fat pink fingers drummed uneasily on
the cloth for a few moments. There
isn't any question that the Dougherty
people induced you to sink your money
in their enterprise with intent to de.
fraud you"
II should think not" Maitland inter,
jected, amused.
But old man Graeme was honest,
in intention at least. He meant no
harm; and in proof of that he offers
to shoulder your loss himself, if by so
doing he can induce you to drop furth-
er proceedings. That proves he's in
earnest, Dan. for although Greame ID
comfortably well to do, it's known
fact that the loss of cool half million,
while it's drop in the bucket to you,
would cripple him"
Then why doesn't he stand to his
associates, and make them each pay
back their fair share Of the loot?
That'd bring his liability down to
about fifty thousand"
because they won't give up without
a contest in the courts They deny