Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-01
No MANS '
I1AND.A.n@MlAncG
6E6I0UI$ JOSEPH VANCE
ssz.. ILLUSTRATIONS !9ss.a!!E ;.. ~ *r%1.~

mo- Absolutely not It would IN.
spire ne to try to buy out the shop"
He offered his hand. Good night, and
thank you"
Good night. Mr.. Coast"
ferent glance for the customers at
show case near tho window. Tho
woman stood with her back turned.
chattering volubly to the assistant in
Indifferent French: q small, slight ng-
ure with arms uplifted, holding
chain Of gold and imperial Jade to the
light. Beside her the man loon,sd
solidly. his heavy proportions exag.
gerated by fur-lined coat, his atten-
tive pose owning trace OF proprie-
tary interest. As Coast drew near he
looked up and faced about, stripping
OF glove.
'Why, h'ar'ye. Coast"
Tone and manner proclaimed the
encounter Of old friends. Perforce
Coast took his hand, pausing, then
dropped 1t. with q grave Good even
ing. Blackstock." His distaste for tho
man affected him intensely. but ho
tried to conceal 1t beneath forced
banality: early Christmas shopping,
chi"
mot exactly" Blackstock slurred
explanations. eve just been trying
to get you ON the telephone"
/ Coasts eyebrows underlined his sur
prise. "Yes?"
eyes. Thought you might care for
q hand at bridge tonight: Just q few
Of US at my rooms: Van Tuyl. Truax,
Dundas, yourself and me. Well cut
in and out. What dye say!"
Coasts acceptance followed an in
stant's consideration. Had tho invi-
tation been extended him at any time
before noon Of that same dag, his re-
fusal would have been prompt IL
| qualified by an invented engagement.
Now, however. after what the day had
rumored of tho man, he was inclined
to grasp an opportunity to study him,
to SEQ an much Of him as possible-lit-
tie as he cared to see anything Of him.
What oclock?'
"Oh, between nine and ten-any
time. You know where hang out?
Well count on you" Blackstock
beamed, his eyes shining behind thick
lenses: to snare Garrett Coast was q
signal conquest. An additional trace
Of affeble effusiveness oiled his al
ways slightly overpowering manner.
Then doubt moderated It. and he had
an irresolute eye for his companion.
She had turned away from the case,
with an assured attitude imperative
Of an introduction. Coast received an
impression Of very large and elabo-
rately simple hat beneath which
great deal Of hair. unquestionably no
stranger to henna, framed a face
whose dead white pellor effectively
emphasized . full scarlet curve Of
lips and large eyes like pools Of vio-
lct ink, that looked him up and down
quite openly. He bowed to Black
stocks constrained words Of presentac
ton.
miss Fancher = my friend, Mr..
Coast"
She nodded, giving him q small
hand whose pressure was q thought
too frank. i've heard about you"
she said. nodding emphatically. "Glad
to know you.'
"And I've enjoyed your dancing
many times. from the far side Of tho
footlights," he told her pleasantly.
Mice Of you to say that. I'm with
The Rathskeller Girl now. you know.
Have you seen it?''
I'm promising myself the pleas.
ure."
"well. when you come. Just let me
know"
Il shant forget" Coast assured her
vaguely. "But now must run along.
Miss Fancher - Blackstock good
night"
He escaped to open air With SEN
sation of relief and perturbation oddly
commingled. Instead Of soothing. the
brandy warmed his grievance until It
turned writhing in his bosom and
stung him like an adder. So that was
the man! He pressed forward
more rapidly, but now in an introspec'
two mood, oblivious of all that no 10
Gently had gratified him.
At Fortieth Street he pulled up on.
the southern corner, over across from
the dull grey colonnade of the new
Public Library. awaiting . break In
tho stream Of traffic.
A policeman presently made q way
for him. holding back the press Of We.
hicles to permit string Of their coun.
terparts to break through. Coast
stepped down from the curb and in
another minute would have been
across, but stopped in midstride to
hear himself named in q voice unfor-
gettable, to him inexpressibly sweet.
Startled, he halted beneath the
noses of pair Of handsome horses
champing in taut-reined restraint, and
glanced at random right and left. Then
as again he was called-t'Garrstt! Gar.
rett Coast!"-out Of the corner Of an
eye he detected tho upufted salutant
two fingers Of the driver q = town
car at halt in the outer line Of north
bound trahac. In the window Of tho
car white glove huttered. moth.like.
Beside the door. with hand on tho
latch, he spoke through tho lowered
window.
May beg q lift, Katherine?"
Indeed you may. Didn't coil you,
GARRETT"
Good Of you. am fortunate. rye
been wanting to see YOU"