The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-05-12

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sort where it is always sunshine
and summer, where night is even
as day. He felt glad that the
friendly barber had diagnosed his
desires 80 felicitously. And, when
soup was brought, he bethought
himself of his Burgundy.
:. He held a brief consultation with
the willing waiter, who hurried and
came back bearing carefully long
basket In which rested a cob
webbed bottle. Two glasses were
set one by the empty chair, and
into that at his elbow trickled a
ruby liquor, the very life-blood Of
grapes grown in the far Cote dor.
He lifted it meditatively.
Your good health, Newman"
said he to himself, his face express
sionless. Here's luck to you, my
young friend. I hope you and I'll
get on together.
Goodbye, old Quaintance.
You've done for oyurself You al
ways were quixotic fool, and I've
no more use for you. l hope I'll
never hear of you again."
Then he sat back with a care
free, whimsical smile, a new man
by virtue of his self-baptism, idly
observant, in vein for any adven-
ture.
II don't think on the whole,
though, that I'd bring my maiden
aunt here-if l had one," he solilo-
quized, frowning in sympathy with
fair dame whose escort had usurp-
ed a walters function and was in
troublew it'll the wire of a quart
bottle of champagne.
ITS more of place for the kind
that have cut their eye teeth-like
you and l, eh, Newman? The sea-
shore OF Bohemia, where people
battle in Perrier-Jouet, is only safe
for the sophisticated. Look at that
scoundrel! He's ruined her out
fit."
Such was indeed the case. Cork
and champagne had come forth ST.
simultaneously, drenching the luck
less couple opposite.
The man flushed scarlet at the
overt laughter which greeted the
ludicrous upshot of his foolish eff
fort. but his unfortunate partner
made shift to smile bravely across
at him as she shook her head. Her
thin gown was soaked through, and
nothing would serve to efface the
results of the deluge she had under
gone. She whispered something to
him. and quietly withdrew. He
called for his check, and followed
her, somewhat shamefacedly.
Quaintance looked elsewhere as
each in turn went past him toward
the door, and, when he glanced that
way again, subconsciously aware
Of some sensation in the atmos-
phere. saw that the vacant table
was once more occupied. The spoon
he was lifting to his lips stayed
suspended In midair while he also
stared at the two who had just sat
down.
Outsidee, on Fifth avenue, a han
some went whirling past the scin-
tillant windows with very audible
clatter and Jingle. A surface car
came laundering up Broadway and
stopped at Twenty-sixth street with
great grinding of brakes, its moi
some progress accentuating the in
slant of hush within.
A waiter came busting into the
room, GREATNESS, important, dish
laden. and its effervescent gaiety
began to froth and bubble again,
the spell which had caused its brief
suspension thus speedily broken.
Quaintance set down his spoon,
and scowled in abject disgust with
himself He had surely, he thought.
come back to civilization a boor as
well as a fool that he should be-
have so. Beneath his breath he
banned the over-attentive waiter.
now at his elbow. and, having help
ed himself to the proffered food. sat
trifling with 1t till he deemed It
safe to adventure second recon.
naissance of the newcomers.
One of them was a man. but his
back was toward Quaintance. who.
none the less, knew instinctively
that he was not a likeable fellow.
He was short, thick set, close crop
ped after the French fashion; well
clothed yet. Ill dressed; over-orna-
mented, from the frogged and fur
lined coat he had cast aside to the
stubby. plebian white fingers SO
carefully poised from the elbow to
show off far too many rings.
The other, n girl. was seated
opposite Quaintance and facing him
from across the room. Her glance
had met his, although for no more
than the merest fraction of a single
second. as she had sunk into her
chair. and within that infinitesimal
space of time he had recognized
her again. She had flushed shrink