The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-07-23

/ tanned but i've roOny and comfortable
suites-in other words, one to a floor;
and these were without exception ten
anted by unmarried men of Matt
lands 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
enc oil the bachelors felt called upon
to give tea in partial recognition OF
social obligations), the foot of woman
never crossed its threshold.
In this circumstance, indeed, was
comprised the singular charm the
house had for its occupants The
quality which insured them privacy
and a quiet independence rendered
/ them oblivious to its many minor
drawbacks, its lack of many conven-
fences and luxuries which have of late
grown to be so commonly regarded as
necessities. 1t boosted, for instance,
no garage; no refrigerating system
maddened those dependent upon it; a
dissipated electric lighting system
never went out of nights, because it
had never been installed; no brass
bound hall boy lounged in desuetude
upon the stoop and took too intimate
and personal an interest in the ten
ants correspondence The inhabi-
tants, in brief were free to come and
go according to the dictates of their
consciences, unsupervised by neigh
borly women folk, unhindered by a
parasitic corps OF menials not in their
personal employ.
Wherefore was Maitland astonished,
and the more SO because of the season.
At any other season of the year he
would readily have accounted for the
phenomenon that now fell under his
observation, on the hypothesis that the
woman was somebody's sister or cous-
in or aunt. But at present that expla-
nation was untenable; Maitland hap
pened to know that not one OF the 9TH
er men was in New York, barring
himself; and his own presence there
was a thing entirely unforeseen.
Still incredulous, he mentally conned
the list: Barnes, who occupied the
first fiat, was travelling on the con
tinent; Conkling, of the third, had lett
fortnight since to join a yachting
party on the Mediterranean; Bannister
and Wilkes. OF the fourth and fifth
floors, respectively, were in Newport
and Buenos Aires.
"Oddi" concluded Maitland
So it was. She had just closed the
door. one thought; and now stood
poised as if in momentary indecision
on the low stoop, glancing toward
Fifth avenue the while she fumbled
with a refractory button at the wrist
OF a long white kid glove. Blurred
though it was by the darkling twilight
and a thin veil, her face yet conveyed
an impression OF prettiness; an i'm
preston enhanced by careful groom
ing. From her hat, small affair,
something green, with a superstruc-
ture of gray ostrich feathers, to the
tips of her russell shoeS-including q
walking skirt and bolero of simmer
ing gray silk-she was distinctly
smart" and interesting.
He had keenly observant eyes, had
Maitland, for all his detached pose;
you are to understand that he COM
pretended all these points in the flick
ering of an instant For the incident
was over in two seconds. In one the
lady's hesitation was resolved; in an
other she had passed down the steps
and swept by Maitland without giving
him glance, without even the trem-
bling of an eyelash. And he had a
view of her back as she moved swiftly
away toward the avenue.
Perplexed he fingered upon the
stoop until she had turned the corner;
after which he-1et himself in with a