The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-05-13


now would be a convenient time to
administer the thrashing which he
so richly deserved, and was half
way across the sidewalk when a
surface car came clanking up, the
Frenchman snatched up his hat,
scrambled on board, and by such
means escaped, all unwittingly, the
vengeance which would otherwise
most assuredly have overtaken
him.
TOO slate, eh?" said a voice at
the avengers elbow, and Quain-
lance, back in the doorway, learned
from the laughing remark that he
had been thinking aloud.
Just too late" he answered, re-
gretfully. What happened? Did
you notice?"
mot much,' returned the other,
a man who had been dining at a
table close to the windows on that
side. "The girl who was with him
got into the automobile and drove
of as soon as he had it cranked up
He made a jump for it-seemed to
have a mistaken idea that she
ought to take him along-but
mademoiselle was too quick for
him and he took tumble, which
made him bad-tempered."
Quaintance nodded his thanks for
the information and went back to
his own seat, where he found the
waiter still counting change. He
had thought of taking the next troll
ley car up Broadway, on the Off
chance of trailing the Frenchman,
and then reflected that such a
course could only prove futile. In
the end he decided that he might
as well have coffee and finish his
smoke. 1t would no doubt be quite
as profitable to sit down and solilo-
quize there where he had seen the
girl, with the chair on which she
had sat before him for inspiration,
as to go chasing about New York
on any such bootless errand.
He sat still, therefore, and took
ounsel with himself concerning the
past and the future. The present
was all too blank now to interest
him. Life had lost its sparkle,
gone fiat. Martins was almost
quiet and half empty.
That's the second chance I've
missed today" he muttered, very
regretfully, chin on one palm and
staring intently at the tablecloth.
Il wish she had given me Just half
an inkling of her ideas and I'd have
taken care OF that cad for her.
might have gathered as much. of
course, but-Tm far too dense. It's
evident that my wanderings haven't
sharpened my wits.
"The third time may be more
lucky, but-I'm afraid the pros
poets of third time are altogether
too thin to hang any hopes on. I've
thrown away opportunity twice.
and What can l do to retrieve
1t? I'm more alone in this mob
than ever was In Africa. ! don't
suppose there's soul in the city
| know. and there certainly isn't
single soul who knows me-"
Sunk in such depressing reflec-
tons and putting disconsolately at
his cigar he looked up without curl
osity as an elderly looking, gray
haired individual, in strictly cor
rect evening dress, who had been
regarding him with a good deal OF
interest and unremarked from
near table, came forward and stop
ped beside him.
"H'lo! Quaintance," observed the
stranger, and the object of his at
tention could scarcely control the
start Of surprise and dismay with
which hee had thus heard again the
name he had just discarded. But
he gazed with blank lack Of under
standing for brief moment at his
interlocutor. and. dropping his eyes
again, shook his head in silent
negation.
He had not the faintest idea who
the other might be, but, mindful Of
his late encounter with still more
blatant species OF confidence man,
and grimly determined that his
own incognito must be preserved at
all costs, was now prepared to dis.
pute his identity with any who
might be rash enough to question
his claim to the name of Newman.
He shook his head. decidedly.
and. picking up the pile Of change
before him, proceeded to count 1t
with are, in token that the subject
must be considered closed.
But the inquirer was not to be
put of SO easily.
"Your names not Quaintance.
eh?" he demanded briskly. And
you don't happen to have q couple
of pure rose diamonds in one Of
your waist coat pockets. do you?"
Quaintance, his chin thrust sud.
denly forward, his eyes showing
danger signals. stared him fixedly
In the face.
mo. sir. don't" he answered