The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-01-05
CHAPTER I.

fANoCAIAy CAoNOANOu AAAA4SclA III q "
ger seat of a Subway express and
opened before him a damp afternoon
PAPER with an eye for the market
;eports) was surprised, when the
rain crashed heavily into the Four
'eenth Street station, to find himself
foot and making for the door: this
although his intention had been to
'light at Grand Central. Thus it may
'e. that trickster in us all. which We
are accustomed vaguely to denomi-
late the ~subconscious. mind, directs
our actions to an end predestined.
Surprised. he h%esitated: and for
hat was rewarded by having his heels
rodden by the passenger behind. This
decided him, absurdly enough, and he
went on and out. solacing himself
with a muttered something, hardly
aefinite, about a stroll benefiting him.
SO. transferring to a local train, he
'llghted at Twenty-third Street.
:iimbed the stairs and proceeded
oriskly west, buffeted by a rowdy
wind.
Striking ~diagonally across Madison
Square Park. past the drearily letting
:ountaln and between arrays of empty
benches scarcely beggarly (since that
glass had deserted them for warmer
ounging places) he turned northward
On Fifth Avenue. threading the early
evening throngs with a spring of i'm
patience in his stride to distance cas-.
1al competition; and received upon a
mind still impressionable. for all that
1t had ample food for meditation and
aursed a private grievance, a variety
Of p%leasurable suggestions.
Dusk, the early violet dusk of late
November, brooded over the city,
olurring its harsh contours, subduing
It's too blatant youth. lending an H.
fusion resembling the dim enchant-
ment Of antiquity.
Near Twenty-ninth Street he check
I'd sharply and stood briefly debating
something suggested by sight of a
shop window we'll known to him:
1T might save time: one may as
we'll be sure"
Turning. he descended a pair of
stone steps and crossed a tagged
area to a door set at one side of a
window dressed with a confusion of
odd, enticing things: a display that
tempted the eye with the colors of the
rainbow fainting under weight of
years and dust. A bell tinkled over
head as he opened and shut the door,
citing himself into a deep and mar
INV rnnr, orNu-1oI With , ho+oc~-or
eous assemblage of objects that CLAM
mered with weird %splendor in a semi
gloom made visible by half a dozen
electric bulbs generously spaced. In
rear, beyond a partitioning screen,
shone a warmer light.
For the momen he saw no one. Ad-
rancing a few PAGES he halted. wait
,ng.
From behind the screen, at the back
81 the shop. the proprietor appeared,
soft stepping, smiling to greet a good
customer Of discerning taste. The lat
ter went to meet him with a pleasant
air of liking.
Good evening, Mr.. Miller"
Good evening. Mr.. Coast. Some
hing | can show you this evening""
The telephone, If 0 please"
Coast laughed a little and was an.
swered cheerfully.
"Certainly. This way"
He was conducted behind the
where. beneath a strong light,
an assistant at a jewelers. bench sat
taboriously occupied with some task
Of delicate artifce. He looked I'D as
Coast entered, with a greeting cordi-
ally returned. Coast went directly to
telephone, a wall instrument. I'M
the receiver and detailed a
number to Central. The proprietor
into an adjoining room.
instant later Coast spoke again.
That you, Soames? This |
IS Mr.. Coast. Is Miss Katherine at
home? Then will you find
out. please. Ask her if she has time
o see me for a few moments before
dinner. Very well.'
There was a lengthening pause. dur
ng which the antique dealer silently
returned. his genial eye alternating
between Coast and a crystal decanter
ne had fetched.
Yes, Central. waiting" Coast nut
nis hand over the transmitter and
a %reproving head. Going to
.ry to poison me. Miller?"
Just a drop of old brandy, Mr..
Coast-very old. from my home in
france"
Coast nodded. recalled to the tele-
,Eone. Hello. Soames. Very
veil. Tell her l called, please. /
70! no message. thank you. Goodby."
AS he hung up the receiver, a warn
az Naturalization sounded at the