The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-04-14
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family OF any prominence.
But in its management the younger
generation holds no suffrage: and 10
not slow to declare that the Primordial
is rightly named, characterizing the
individual members OF the board OF
governors as antediluvians, prehistoric
monsters who have never learned that
laughter lends SAVIOR to existence.
And so it is that the younger genera
ton (Which is understood to include
Maitland and Bannerman). while it re-
ligiously pays its dues and has the
name of the Primordial engraved upon
its cards, shuns those deadly respec-
table rooms and seeks It's comfort else
where.
Maitland found it dull and depress-
ing enough, that same evening. some
thing before seven. The spacious and
impressive lounging rooms were but
sparsely tenanted, other than by the
ennuied corps of servants; and the
few members who had lent the open
doors the excuse of their presence
we're of the elderly type that hides
itself behind newspaper in an easy
chair and snorts when addressed.
The young man strolled disconso-
lately enough into the billiard room,
thence (dogged by specter of lone
liness) to the bar, and finally, in sheer
desperation, to the dining room, where
he selected table and ordered an
evening paper with his meal.
When the former was brought him.
he sat up and began to take new In
terest in life. The glazing headlines
that met his eye on the front page
proved as bracing as slap in the
face
The Maitland Jewels" he read.
half aloud Daring Attempt at Burg
larry. Mad" Maitland Catches Hand
some DAN Anisty in the Act of Crack
ing His Safe at Maitland Manor.
Which Was Which? Both Principals
Disappear.
The news-story was exploited as a
beat" it could have been little else,
since nine-tenths of it's exclusive de-
tdAlS AoQ OOCA OOl II 1u1I. w 4uSCu lIO1u
the fecund imagination of busy re-
porter to whom Maitland had refused
an interview while in his bath, some
three hours earlier. Maitland discov.
cred with relief that boiled down to es-
sentials it consisted simply Of the
statement that somebody presumably
himself) had caught somebody (pre-
sumably Anisty) burglarizing the IL
brary safe at Maitland Manor that
morning; that one of the somebodies
(no one knew which, had overpowered
the other and left him in charge Of the
butler, who had presently permitted
his prisoner to escape and then talked
for publication.
1t was not to this so much that Matt
land objected. It was the illustra-
tons that alternately saddened and
maddened the young man; the said H.
Illustrations comprising blurred half
tone reproductions of photographs
taken on the Maitland estate; a dia-
gram Of the library, as fanciful as the
text it Illuminated, and two portraits,
side by side. of the heroes, himself
and Anisty. excellent likenesses both
Of the originals and of each other.
Mr.. Maitland did not enjoy his din
ner.
Anxious and preoccupied, he tasted
the dishes mechanically; and when
they had all passed before him. took
his thoughts and cigar to a gloomy
corner of the smoking room, where he
sat for two solid hours, debating the
matter pro and con, and arriving at
no conclusion whatever, save that Hig-
gins was doomed.
At 1915 he began to contemplate
with positive pleasure the prospect Of
discharging the butler. That, at least.
was action, something that he could
do; wherever else he thought to move
he found himself baffied by the blank
darkness of mystery, or by his fear
Of publicity and ridicule.
At 1920 he decided to move upon
Greenfelds at once, and telephoned
O'Hagan, advising him to profess IL.
norance of his employers whore.
abouts.
At 1922, or in the midst Of his ad.
monitions to the janitor, he changed
his mind and decided to stay In New
York; and instructed the Irishman
to bring him suit case containing :
few necessaries; his intention being to
stay out the night at the club, and %
void The ynatutfna1 siege ~ II. lca-