The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-11-27
CHAPTER v.--continued.

They also passed on down the hall,
gesticulating, their voices swallowed
up with others. arising confusedly.
This and that couple or group passed
by. also talking, among them many
persons obviously OF n~otoriety, impor-
lance or distinction. though unknown
to their observer. Rawn stood and
watched them all. The scene was to
his liking. The stir. the confusion. APP
pealed to him. The Towering of the
great city's night life was here, such
as that is. 1t was the focus of our
country's civilization, such as that
Is. Men worth millions passed. shout
der to shoulder, a wondrous process
sion. such as that Is.
And here and there. always moving
and mingling with those men whose
reception or whose raiment announced
them as persons OF Importance, moved
women. beautiful women, floating by.
brightly. r%adiantly. rustlingly-women
blazing with jewels, women with
bright eyes. women whose apparel be-
spoke them al accepted integers Of
the city's vast human sum-.
Rawn stood studying the procession
for a long time. cycling group after
group carefully. A conclusion was
forming In his mind. He was learning
that when a a has achieved power.
success. wealth. notoriety even. he
turns with his next thought to some
woman: andfinds some woman waiting.
And then 1t occurred to John Rawn
with sudden and unpleasing force
that. although he was among this
throng, he was not Of 1t. Himself a
man OF power, success. yes, even OF
wealth, he lacked In certain betoken.
ing appurtenances thereto. A not un-
usual wave Of self-pity crept slowly
over him. Why should he, a man Of
his attainments. lack In any degree
what others had?
He stood pondering. not wholly hap
by. until presently he felt. rather than
saw. a glance bent upon him by a
mar who passed. a stately and we'll
garbed young woman upon his arm.
lie was a man now In faultless eve
none less. indeed. than the dyspep
ming dress. yet easily to be recognized
tic director who SO summarily had
been dismissed by John Rawn himself
not three hours. ago. His dark face
became even darker as he saw the
victor Of that controversy standing
mere alone. He smiled saroonicaliy.
To Rawn 1t seemed that he smiled
because he saw the solitary attitude
or o. man as good as himself. as ft
as himself for all the insignia OF
power. yet publicly se.f-confessed as
lacking all such insignia. He start
ed. flushed, frowned. He had shown
these men, these influential magnates
In New York, that he could be their
master upon occasion-he had mas
tered this man passing yonder. Yet
now he stood here alone. with no
woman to advertise his power to the
world: and men laughed at himl No
woman wore his silks. displayed his
Jewels. He was John Rawn, born to
the purple; yet he might be taken
here for a country merchant on his
f1rst trip from home.
He turned to the key-counter. The
clerk. with infallible instinct-without
his request-handed him the key to
his rom. not lacking acquaintance
with men Of Mr.. Rawn's acquaintance.
and knowing money when he saw IL.
!. Rawn passed down the hall,
went up two flights In the elevator.
turned into the left-hand corridor, and
at length knocked deliberately at q
door where q light showed.
"Come!" called O soft voice. He
knocked again. a trine hesitant. and
looked down the corridor. each way.
The voice repeated. "Comei" He
pushed open the door.
Virginia Delaware stood before her
dressing-glass. her toilet for evening
completed except perhaps Tor a touch
about her couture. She turned now.
and flushed AZ she saw her visitor.
mr.. Rawn!" she exclaimed: Il
thought II vas the maid! / had Just
called her."
"Rawn turned and shut the door.
Never MIND her." he said. Il will
b zone In q minute. ] Just wanted"
You must sol" shs exclaimed.
You ought not to have comet IL
got rermitted--it ID not right"
How stunning you look. Miss Della,
sy1re!r VA I'll be said. He had never
before neon hnr nrfnvod IN ~ aoSn9