Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-05-08

street Here, pausing beneath the
chandelier, he looked about him for
moment, determining that, as else
where. all things were in order-but
gray with dust.
Finding the atmosphere heavy. stale,
and oppressive, Maitland moved over
to the windows and threw them OPEN
A gush of warm air, humid and redo
lent of the streets, invaded the room,
together with the roar of traffic from
its nearby arteries. Maitland rested
elbows on the sill and leaned out, star
ing absently into the night; for by
now it was quite dark Without con-
Germ, he realized that he would be late
at dinner No matter; he would as
willingly miss it altogether. For the
time being he was absorbed in vain
speculations about an unknown wom-
an whose sole claim upon his consid-
Grafton lay in certain but immaterial
glamour of mystery. Had she, or had
she not, been in the house? And, if
the true answer were in the af1irma-
tive, to what end, upon what errand?
His eyes focused insensibly upon
void of darkness beneath him-night
made visible by street lamps; and he
found himself suddenly and acutely
sensible of the wonder and mystery of
the City; the City whose secret life
ran fluent upon the hot, hard pave
ments below, whose voice throbbed,
sibilant, vague, strident, inarticulate,
upon the night air; the City of which
he was part equally with the girl in
gray, whom he had never before seen,
and in all likelihood was never to
see again, though the two of them
were to work out their destinies within
yet. =.
TT would be strange said Maitland
thoughtfully, eff :" He shook
BORN" quoted Mad Maitland, senti-
mentally
1.-TWO shall be born the whole wide
world apart"
A piano organ, having maliciously
sneaked up beneath his window, drove
him indoors with a crash of metallic
melody.
AS he dropped the curtains his eye
was arrested by CLEAN of white upon
his desk-a letter placed there, doubt
less, by O'Hagan in Maitland's abb
sence. At the same time, a splashing
and gurgling of water from the direc-
ton of the bathroom informed him
preparing his bath. But that could
wait.
Maitland took up the envelope and
tore the flap, remarking the name and
address, of his lawyer in its upper left
hand corner. Unfolding the Enclosure,
he read a date a week old, and two
lines requesting him to communicate
with his legal adviser upon "a matter
of pressing moment"
''Bother,o said Maitland what the
dickens
He pulled up short, eyes lighting
That's so, you know he argued
Zimmerman will be delighted, and
and even business is better than rush
ing round town and pretending to en-
joy yourself when it's hotter than the
seven brass hinges of hell and you
can't think of anything else
I'll do it,"
He stepped quickly to the corner of
the room, where stood the telephone
upon a small side table, sat down, and,
receiver to ear, gave central a num-
Der. In another moment he was in
communication with his attorneys res
idence.
rs Mr.. Zimmerman in? L would like
to-
'@Why. Mr.. Bannerman, How do
you do?"
You're looking 100 per cent. bet
ter"
Bad. mad word, Naughty"
Maitland, of course
Been out of town and just got your
note
Your beastly penchant for econ
omy. It's not stamped; l presume you
sent it round by hand of the future
president of the United States whom
you now employ as office boy. And
O'Hagan didn't forward it for that
reason"
Important, Ell? I'm only in for the
night"
Then come and dine with me at the
Primordial- I'll put the others off,
Good enough. In an hour, then?
Good-by-''
Hanging up the receiver, Maitland
waited few moments ere again put
ting it to his ear. This time he called
up Sherry's, asked for the head-waiter,
and requested that person to be kind
enough to make his excuses to Mr.
Cressy and party" he, Maitland, was
detained upon a matter of moment,
but would endeavor to join them at a
later hour.
- Then, with a satisfied smile. he
turned away, with purpose to dispose
of Bannerman's note.
Baths ready, sor'
O'Hagan's announcement fell upon
needless ears Maitland remained mo-