Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-03
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when at length he was able to make
himself heard: Good enough" he said
clearly, though without raising his
voice. "Sherry's in an hour. Right.
Now behave yourselves"
Mind you show up on time!"
"Never fear" returned Maitland over
his shoulder.
A witticism was hung back at him
from the retreating car, but spent
itself unregarded. Maitland's atten'
ton was temporarily distracted by the
unusual--to say the least-sight OF
young and attractive woman coming
out OF home for confirmed bachelors.
The apartment house happened to
be his own property A substantial
and old-fashioned edifice, situated In
the middle Of . quiet block, it con-
tanned but ave roomy and comfortable
suites-in other words. one to a floor:
and these were without exception ten.
apted by unmarried men Of Matt
lands own circle and acquaintance.
The janitor, himself widower and .
convinced misogynist, lived alone in
the basement. Barring very special
and exceptional occasions Gas when
one of the bachelors felt called upon
to give tea in partial recognition Of
social obligations), the foot Of woman
never crossed it, threshold.
In this circumstance, indeed, was
comprised the singular charm the
house had for Its occupants. The
quality which insured them privacy
and . quiet independence rendered
them oblivious to its many minor
drawbacks, its lack Of many conven-
fences and luxuries which have of late
grown to be SO commonly regarded az
necessities. It boosted, for instance
no garage; no refrigerating system
maddened those dependent upon it; a
dissipated electric lighting system
never went out Of nights, because 1t
had never been installed; no brass
bound hall boy lounged in desuetude
upon the stoop and took too intimate
and personal m interest in the ten
ants correspondence. The inhabi-
tants, In brief, were free to come and
go according to the dictates Of their
consciences, unsupervised by neigh
borly women folk, unhindered by q
parasitic corps of menials not in their
personal employ.
Wherefore was Maitland astonished,
and the more SO because of the season.
At any other season of the year he
would readily have accounted for the
phenomenon that now fell under his
observation, on the hypothesis that the
woman was somebody's sister or cous-
in or aunt. But at present that expla-
nation was untenable; Maitland hap
pened to know that not one Of tho 9TH
er men was In New York, barring
himself: and his own presence there
was a thing entirely unforeseen.
Still incredulous, he mentally conned
the list: Barnes, who occupied the
first nat, was travelling on the con-
tinent; Conkling, Of the third, had left
fortnight since to join q yachting
party on the Mediterranean; Bannister
and Wilkes, OF the fourth and fifth
floors, respectively, were in Newport
and Buenos Aires.
"Odd!" concluded Maitland.
So it was. She had just closed the
door, one thought; and now stood
poised as If in momentary indecision
on the low stoop. glancing toward
Fifth avenue the while she fumbied
with refractory button at the wrist
of long white kid glove. Blurred
though 1t was by the darkling twilight
and thin veil, her face yet conveyed
an impression Of prettiness; an I'M
preston enhanced by careful groom
ing. From her hat, small affair.
something green. with superstruc-
ture of gray ostrich feathers. to tho
tips of her russell shoes-includtng
walking skirt and bolero Of simmer
ing gray silk-she was distinctly
smart" and interesting.
He had keenly observant eyes, had
Maitland, for all his detached pose;
you are to understand that he COM
pretended all these points In the flick
ering Of an instant. For the incident
was over in two seconds. In one tho
lady's hesitation was resolved; in an
other she had passed down the steps
and swept by Maitland without giving
him glance, without even the trem-
bling OF An eyelasb. And he had
yisw Of her back ~ she moved swiftly