Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-16
CHAPTER !.
Dust.


day a green touring car. swinging out
of the East drive. pulled up smartly.
trembling. at the edge Of the Fifty
ninth street car tracks, then more Sc
dately. under the dispassiOnate but
watchful eye OF mounted member of
the traff1c squad. lurched across the
Plaza and merged itself in the press
OF vehicles south bound on the avenue.
Its tonneau held four young men.
all more or less disguised In dust. dus-
tiers and goggles: forward, by the side
of the grimy and anxiouS-cyed mechan-
ic, sat fifth, in all visible respects
the counterpart of his companions. Be
meath his mask. and by this l do not
mean his goggles, but the mask Of
modern manner which the worldly
wear, he was, and is, different. He
was Daniel Maitland. Esquire: for
whom no further introduction should
be required after mention OF the fact
that he was. and remains, the identical
gentleman OF means and position iE
the social and financial worlds. whose
somewhat sober but sincere and whole
ASoitSo ipa'i'iA III 'iit "ii"' - IA
conceivable escapades had earned him
the affectionate regard of the younger
set. together with the sobriQuet of
Mad Maitland"
His companions of the day the four
in the tonneau, were in that humOr Of
subdued yet vibrant excitement which
is apt to attend the conclusion of a
har <lr;r
Maitland. on the other hand tjudging
h. by his preoccupied pose). was al
RED weary of. if not bored by. the
h$S drained enterprise which. in
tEed on the spur Of an idle moment
a13 directly due to thoughtless re-
max of his own. had brought him 100
miles Tor sol through the heat of a
q broiling afternoon. accompanied by
spirits as ardent and irresponsible as
his own. in search OF the dubious dis
traction afforded by the night side of
the city.
AS, picking its way with elephantine
nicely, the motor car progressed down
the avenue-twilight deepening. arcs
upon theis bronze columns blossOming
suddenly. noiselessly into spheres of
opalescent radiance-Mr. Maitland
ceased to respond. ceased even to give
heed. to the running fire of chat
largely personal which amused his
companions. Listlessly engaged with
q cigarette. he lounSed upon the green
leather cushions, half closing his eyes.
and heartily wished himself free for
the evening.
But he stood committed to the hui
NOR of the majority, and lacked entire
ly the shadow of an excuse to desert;
in addition to which he was altogether
too lazy for the exertion OF manu-
featuring a lie OF scrviceable texture.
And so abandoned himself to his fate.
even though he foresaw with weariful
particularly the programme of the
coming hours.
To begin with, 30 minutes were to
be devoted to bath and dressing in
his rooms. This was something not so
unpleasant to contemplate. 1t was the
afterwards that repealed him: Dinner
at Sherry's. the subsequent tour Of
roof gardens. the late supper at club.
and then. prolonged far into the small
hours. the session around some green
covered table in a close room rocking
with the fumes of good tobacco and
hot with the fever of gambling. :.
Abstractedly Maitland frcwned.
tersely summing up: "Beastly! in
IN undertOne.
At this the green car wheeled alb
ruptly round corner below Thirty
fourth street, slid half a block or more
east, and came to a palpitatiEg halt.
Maitland. looking up. recognized the
entrance to his apartments. and sighed
with relief for the brief respite from
boredom that was to be his. He rose.
negligently shaking of his buster.
and stepped down 70 the sidewalk.
Somebody in the car called
warning after him. and turning for
moment he stood at attention. an eve
brow raised quizzically. cigarette
dropping from a corner Of his mouth.
hat pushed back from his forehead.
hands In coat pockets: tall. slender,
sparsely built figure Of a man. clothed
immaculatcly in fiannels.
When al length he was able to make
himself heard: Good enough. he said
clearly, though without raising his
vptce. "Shcrry's IN an hour. Right.
Nov. behave yourselves
Mind Won show up on time,
Never fear returned Maitland over
his shoulder.
A 1itticism was flung back at him
from the rctrrsting car. bu; spent
itself unreEardcd Nai'iand's aftsn-
ton vas Temporarily distracted by the
unusual-to say the lcasi-sight q:
young and attractive woman coming
out Of q home for confirmed bachelors.
The apartment house happened to
BE- his own property. 4 substantial