The Detroit times., 1909-05-10
CHAPTER l..
Copyright 1908. By W. J. Watts.


with Fate at the Night and Day
Bank.
On a mellow afternoon in late fall.
Quaintance stood In Madison-sq.. New
York. looking OH the enlivening scene
for the first time after long. weary
years OF exile. conscious that no.
where In all his wanderings had he
: found place so thoroughly 10 his lik-
ing. The surface cars clanked through
the maelstrom with gongs changing.
motors and cabs and carriages accu-
mulated In deep ranks or spurted on
their way, while anxious-eyed pedes-
TRANS. risking life and limb amongst
them. progressed from point to point
by reckless rushes. The hoarse honk-
honk OF motor horns blended with
the shrill bells OF swift electric coupes
The ceaseless hum OF human voices
was like vast hive OF restless bees.
The tin-pan tinkle OF a street piano.
attempting Dixie came thinly
through the tramp OF feet. The watch.
er's heart warmed to the old-tlme mel.
ody, and the deep breath he drew was
one OF such contentment as he mai
been stranger to for long.
He could still count the days which
had elapsed since his release from the
stark. deathlike silences and gloom OF
that gray jungleland wherein all he
had been lay buried.
Only an hour ago he had stepped
ashore from an African steamer, and
even on the voyage across he had not,
somehow, managed to shake on the
consciousness OF isolation from his
kind. But now. at last, he could real
ize that the past had been but a dreary
nightmare, out of which he had awak-
ened to new day, among his home
folk. sane. safe and sound. And the
sense Of close companionship with the
brisk. busting throng about him were
beyond words comforting TO him.
He smiled 10 think of the dark fears
which had oppressed him, and turned
slowly northward.
The Night and Day bank will prob
ably serve my turn" he opined, and
laid hand on one waistcoast pocket
To ascertain that its contents were
still secure.
He felt much like Rip Van Win
kle. and as II happened. that did not
displease him. He was above all
things DESTROYS TO 20 about his own
business unrecognized. and since no
one but himself knew that he was still
the ignorant.
At thought of his absolute independ-
cnce he smiled again. and so openly
that two or three Of the passersby
turned TO look back at him over their
shoulders.
Stephen Quaintance was good to
look at. tall. broad-shouldered young
man. well set up. OF easy carriage. An
air OF quiet self-confidence sat well
upon him. Women as we'll as men
would have trusted themselves impli-
city to the safekeeping OF an intan-
: gible something In his direct and lev
ei regard
Thin as he was, he filed to perfec-
ton his we'll cut suit of blue serge, and
he caught the eyes OF more than one
fair maiden cast careless-curiously In
his direction as he strolled slowly up
town.
Had he been told that his own stead
fast eyes, slightly melancholy. were
OF the most magnetic. that he was or
personality too distinctive to escape
altogether such fiattering attentions
as these, he would have laughed
amusedly and thought his informant
O fool. His lines had fallen chiefly in
places where mans eyes attract no
particular notice except when In close
connection with the sights OF loaded
gun, where nimble trigger finger isI
OF far greater account than appear
ance. So while each pretty face ne
passed met with his warmest approval,
It's interest was impersonal and ming.
led with many others. In mis- sight
they were collective and not individ.
ual. No one Of them had tho power