Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-24

Thirty-third street. Then. he had to turn
and retrace his steps. for he had been
wandering uptown, and must have COW
cred some distance, as he guessed by the
length Of time 1t took him to reach the
Wa1dorf-Astoria again. Coming near. so
that the huge building doomed above him
like a mountain flaming on all its heights,
he was tempted to cross to the other side
of the street: but. ashamed of the i'm
pulse as childish. he marched stolidly
ahead. and even forced himself to turn
his face toward the brilliant square of the
doorway. AS the light caught and pho
togra phed him in passing, man who had
been standing in front of the hotel under
the iron canopy, with the air of waiting
for some one, started after Loveland.
walking just fast enough to keep him we'll
in sight.
before the New House. which advertised
itself in a blaze of starry electric lights.
The man on his trail smiled as he saw
the tall figure in evening dress hesitate
revolving door. He himself strolled on.
but he did not go far. When he had
taken q dozen steps he wheeled. passed
the hotel again. took a dozen more steps
and again came back.
He was a short man, with square Shout
ders. a large. close-cropped black head
set on a short neck into which a double
chin bulged, as II he had swallowed a
sponge and 1t had stuck in his throat as
it expanded. His hair glittered like thick
coat of black varnish, and his black eyes
glittered also. They looked out from
under heavy lids which pouched under
meath. and were set too close on either
side of we'll cut nose. He was clean
shaver, thus making the most Of his best
features. mouth which was handsome
despite the hard lines that deep draughts
from the cup Of life had traced round it.
The man was we'll dressed, with white
silk scarf protecting his evening shirt
from the sealskin lining of his overcOat,
and he looked not only successful. but
confident Of success. Yet there was anx-
iety and nervous excitement in the flash
of his eyes toward the door Of the hotel
each time he passed and repassed.
1t was when he had just taken his sixth
turn that Loveland shot out through the
revolving door even more suddenly than
he had shot in. The watcher was near
enough to see the look on his face-the
tenseness Of the lips and drawing together
Of the eyebrows-and his own expression
said Il thought so!' as plainly as words
if there had been any one there to read
it. But Loveland was entirely absorbed
in himself. and In bitter thoughts of the
hateful experience he had just gone
through. He did not notice the man. who
fingered not far away. and the few peo-
pie passing had no idea that a little
drama was being enacted In pantomime
under their eyes. They all looked at the
tall young Englishman without an over
coat. but they did not connect the other
man with him.
1t was hardly to be hoped that there
would be room disengaged In q hotel
for nervous young gentleman with an
exposed white shirt front, no luggage and
a missing cardcase. When Val had ex-
planned that he was Lord Loveland, Just
landed from England. the hotel clerk
turned away to hide either a yawn or a
grin, and seemed no more inclined to re-
member the existence Of an unoccupied
bedroom than if his client had been plain
Mr.. Smith or Mr.. Jones.
1--WE had a gentleman from England
here last week. he said, pleasantly. His