Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19

had awakened him. yawned stupendously
and sat up. rubbing clenched fists In his
eyes to clear them of sleeps cobwebs
Then he bent forward. clasping his knees
smiled largely, replaced the smile with a
thoughtful frown, and in such wise con-
| templated the foot of the bed for severa
minutes-his first conscious impression
| that he had something delightful to look
| forward to, yielding to a vague recollec-
| ton of a prolonged shrill tintinnabulatior
| as If the telephone bell in the front room
| had been ringing for some time.
| But he waited in vain for repetition
of the sound. and eventually concluded
that he had been mistaken; 1t had been
| an echo from his dreams. most likely
| Besides. who should call him up? Not
not even O'Hagan was aware that he had
| returned to his rooms that morning.
He gaped again. stretching wide his
arms. sat up on the edge of the bed and
heard the clock strike twelve.
Noon and - He had an engagement
at two! He frightened at the memory
and. jumping up. pressed an electric call
button on the wall. By the time he had
padded barefoot to the bathroom and
turned on the cold-water tap. O'Hagan' S
knock summoned him to the hall door.
Back again. O'Hagan. and in a des-
perate rush. I'll want you to shave me
and send some kilograms. please. Must
be off by one-thirty. You may get out
calculating his costume with careful dis
crimination-"an a black-striped neglige
shirt gray socks, russell low shoes, black
and white check tie-broad wings. You
know where to find them all?
"Shure yiss. sor.'
O'Hagan showed no evidence of sur
prise; the eccentricities of Mr.. Maitland
could not move him, who was Injured to
them through long association and OBJ
servation. He moved away to execute
| Dxyt hn
time Maitland had finished splashing and
gasping in the bath tub everything was
ready for the ceremony of dressing.
In other words, twenty minutes later
Maitland bathed, shaved, but still in
dressing gown and slippers. was seated at
his desk. a cup of black coffee steaming
at his elbow, a number of yellow tele-
graph blanks before him, pen poised be-
tween his fingers.
1t was in his mind to send wire to
Cressy. apologizing for his desertion of
the night just gone, and announcing his
intention to rejOin the party from which
the motor trip to New York had been as
planned but a temporary detection. In
nibbled the end of the penholder. select
ing phrases, then looked UP at the at
tentive O'Hagan.
Bring me a New Haven time table,
please" he began. "and--
The door bell abrupted his words. clam
oring shrilly.
What the deuce?' he demanded "Who
can that be? Answer IT, will you.
O'HaEan?"
He put down the pen, swallowed his
coffee and lit a cigarette. listening to the
murmurs at the hall door. An instant
later O'Hagan returned. bearing a slip of
white pasteboard, which he deposited on
the desk before Maitland.
Flames Burleson Snaith,'" Maitland
read aloud from the faultlessly engraved
1r~, too hot 1ooc l1
card. Il don't know aim. "hat ooes ne
want?"
wouldn't say. sor; seemed surprised
whin I towld him We were in, an said he
was glad to hear it-business pressin',
says he" "a
before. What does he hook like?''
"a gntleman sor be TIL clothes av
him an tn way he talks. '-,
well $50 Devil take the man! Show
him in" I'D .. H'1
Very good, sor" '.th
Maitland swung around in his desk
chair his back to the window, expression
poIitely curious, as his caller entered the
room, pausing, hat in hand. just across
the threshold.
He proved to be a man apparently of
middle age. of height approxmating Matt
lands: his shoulders were slightly
rounded as If from habitual bending over
a desk: his pose mild and deferential. BY
his eyeglasses and peering look. he was
near sighted: by his dress, gentleman
| of taste and Judgment as we'll as of
| means to crafty both. A certain jaunty
| and summary touch in his attire sug-
gested a person of leisure who had just
run down from his country place for a
! day in town.
| His voice when he spoke, did nothing
to dispel the illusion.
Mr.. Maitland?" he opened the CONVEX
sation briskly. II trust do not intrude
! shall be brief as possible. if you will
| favor me with private interview"
! Maitland remarked voice well modu-
] lated and a good choice of words. He
| rose courteously.
| II should be pleased to do so,'' he sug-
| gested. 'if you could advance any reasons
! for such request
| Mr.. Snaith smiled discreetly. fumbline
| in his side pocket. A second slip of card
| board appeared between his fingers as he
! stepped over toward Maitland.
! IF l had not feared it might deprive
me Of this interview / should have sent