New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-26

OF his knowledge and belief be- had never seen bcior"
h. had undertaken h, society work
This was q man about 'hir'y-iyc year, ODD 81 mriu'n
height slender build clean shaved and with brown hair
and eyes. When he tr- realize that inns man h't III.
voluntarily aroused III, curiosity. be- remembered that
he had noticed him a. nearly every social junction ne
had attended IN the last fortnight. l. was not exactly
attraction that he lcl' toward the stranger. VINO, IN
outward aspect al least no, unlike thousand other
men He was pqucl at IN, inability 10 define the feel
Ing In kind 81 subconsClou way be- iclt almost mat
TN, man. whomspcvcr he might Ice. was m some way
bound up with his own he. Intuition was the nearest
word he could find for TIN, attitude, and Ryker ,hr'nk
from such mental incrr'i'ulcs
Nevertheless he continued his iur'iyc observations
OF the other man. AMI time passed hc noted 'h' 'hc
stranger was rarely absent from any important event
H. learned easily enough that ne man name was
Chappcllc; but was unable 10 find anyone VINO could
tell him more than that Moreover he observed that
Chappcllc also rcirlincl from making himself c'Spiru-
Gus 40 matter what the house or The occasion, ne
seemed 20 know few persons with any degree 81 init
macv Even the host and hostess were pcrunc'"ry
when they greeted him, although, Of course invariably
polite A. Rykcr began 10 marshal these rather vague
impressions in his mind he perceived further that
Chappclc lid not invite conversation, AMI That several
time when hs addressed hc appeared t" he 'rlie
III At ease. .
How they became acquainted he could never recall
definitely He rather ianccd that Chappcllc had &C
cos'cl him first: but all he knew WAS that there hal
been cursory exchange Of mods, and then they were
talking small talk. Chappccs manner was one OF re-
fncncnt and soon Rykcr discovered in his comment a
slight vein Of sarcasm, which appealed 10 nm because
OF his own tendency in that direction. But ne could
not shake Of the sensation that he going 10 know
this man well and that he going 10 exercise potent
influence on his life Whether this was to be sinister or
bencfccn he could not tell; but he never relaxed ms
study OF his acquaintance. He watched nm from
every angle appraised the quality OF ms conversation.
impressed his face and figure on his mind with photo
praphc acuracv Still. he could find nothing 70 help
dissolve that vague and troubling cloud
In point Of fact, there was nothing about Ihappcllc
to inspire either suspicion curiosity, and the knoW
edge Of this rritacd Rykcr still more He ianGcd that
the fellow parrcd every ddoit question ne put IN the
hope Of finding something about HIM; but ne might
be Of a rctccnt nature y he studied the clcar-cut
feature and closely shaved chin he was sure he had
never encountered him in any Of his earlier activities.
And he was equally sure the man was not what ne as
sumcd 70 be- But who was he; Who was he:
DYKERS luck was with him In all these weeks ne
N had made il point never 10 be far away from
Chappclc whenever they met, and one night he 50 con
trivcd il that they left musical reception together
1t had been a tame affair and the evening was still
young. As they walked up the avenue together the
talk turned 10 books. which they had discussed often
and Chappcllc mentioned a edition he had just
picked up Rylcr betrayed enthusiastic interest, and
Chappcc suggested that they drop IN AT his apartments,
which were on a side street not FAR away and have 4
look at curious volumes he had there They could
also have a smoke and drink and quiet chat.
Rvkcr siifcd his establishment and his cXuation.
He felt that the mystery about 10 be solved What
might be he could imagine; but at all events his
curiosity would be satisfied Chappcllc, II developed,
occupied only one room. II the top floor OF an
od-fshioncd apartment, house. Rykcr made a quick
survey as his host ushcrcd him in. There tclc-
phone on the wall and the rest Of the space was filled
with crowded booShcvcs. screen obviously concealed
a bclcouch and there a few chairs, two OF which
faced each other across small table Uttered with books
and papers in the middle Of the room. few pictures
and odds and ends made up the rest Apparently 1t