The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-10-07
But he stood committed to the humor

But he stood committed to the humor
of the majority, and lacked entirely the
shadow of an excuse to desert; in addi-
ton to which he was altogether too
lazy for the exertion of manufacturing
a lie OF serviceable texture. And 50
abandoned himself to his fate, even
though he foresaw with weariful partic-
ularity the program of the coming
hours.
To begin with, thirty minutes were to
be devoted to a bath and dressing in his
looms. This was something not so un-
pleasant TO contemplate. 1t was the
afterwards that repealed him: the din
her at Sherry's, the subsequent tour OF
roof gardens. the late supper at a club,
and then, prolonged far into the small
hours. the session around some green
covered table in a close room reeking
with the fumes of good tobacco ana
not with the fever of gambling. !.
Abstractedly Maitland frowned, terse-
ly summing up: "Beastly!'-in an UNI
dertone.
At this the green car wheeled abrupt.
ly round q corner below Thirty-fourth
street, slid half a block or more, east,
and came to a palpitating halt. Matt
land, looking up, recognized the en-
trance to his apartments and sighed
with relief for the brief respite from
boredom hat vas to be his. He rose.
negligently shaking off his duster and
stepped down to the sidewalk.
Somebody in the car called a warning
after him, and, turning for a moment.
he stood at attention, an eyebrow
raised quizzically, cigarette dropping
from a corner of his mouth, hat pushed
back from his forehead, hands in Goa
pockets: a tall, slender, sparely-buflt
figure of a man, clothed Immediately
in hannels.
When at length he was able to make
himself heard. Good enough" he said
clearly, though without raising his
voice. "Sherry's in an hour. Right.
Now. behave yourselves"
Mind you, show up On time!'
Never fear returned Maitland over
his shoulder.
A witticism was flung back at him
from the retreating ear, but spent tt
self unregarded. Maitland's attention
was temporarily distracted by the un-
usual-to say the least-sight Of a
young and attractive woman coming
out of a home for confirmed bachelors.
The apartment house happened to be
his own property. A substantial and
O d-fashioned edifice. situated in the
middle Of a quiet block, 1t contained
but five roomy and comfortable suites
in other words, one to a floor; n these
were without exception tenanted by I'M
married men of Maitland's own circle
and acquaintance. The ~janitor, himself
a widower and a convinced misogynist,
lived alone in the basement. Barring
very special and exceptional occasions
Gas when one of the bachelors felt
called upon to give a tea in partial re-
cognition of social obligations), the foot
OF woman never crossed its threshold.
In this circumstance. indeed. vas
comprised the singular charm the
house had for its occupants. The quail
ity which insured them privacy and a
quiet independence rendered them
oblivious to Its many minor drawbacks.
its lack Of many ~conveniences and lux
uries which lave of late grown to be
so commonly regarded as necessities.
1T boasted, for instance. no garage; no
refrigerating system maddened those
dependent upon 1T; a dissipated cleo
trio lighting system never went out