United labor bulletin., 1913-11-08


for months. Not blind was raised;
no sign of life was manifest.
Then the watcher began to grow
restless. Is the minutes licked Oh
and nothing occurred, he glanced at
his watch with increasing frequency.
Presently he rose and went over to
push button, upon which he pressed
with unnecessary violence, afterwards
Fastening back to the window under a
sudden apprehension that the man
might take advantage of his brief In
attentiyeness to vanish-as the fellow
had caught him mapping before
A cocktail was presently set beside
him upon a tabouret; he gulped 1t
down, then lighted cigarette which
he began to smoke feverishly. But he
tossed it away after puff or two; he
had smoked too much the night be-
fore, and the tempered spirits could
not remove the furry taste from his
tongue.
Another glance at his watch; near
ly an hour had he waited. for it was
now ten minutes to ten. Would the
fellow never appear?
And then Van Vechten's attention
was all at once diverted. He had or
dered ands consumed a second COCK
tail, and was attempting a fresh cigar
ette, when he paused, the blazing
match suspended in mid-air.
He saw another and quite different
stranger approaching along the oppo-
site walk. He knew instinctiyely that
| this could not be the first man, but his
manner copied that worthy's so pre-
cisely that Van Vechten was con-
strained to watch him instead of main
tanning his Improbable vigil.
He lighted his cigarette, fipped the
match away, and waited.
This second Individual was walking
hesitantly, just as the other had done,
and also seemed to be devoting his at
tention to the house numbers.
He paused before the house across
the way. There could be no doubt but
which was only imperfectly outlined
upon the red-curtained fanlight. Then
that he was searching for the number.
abruptly all signs OF hesitation van
ished from his bearing; he went de
terminedly up the steps and rang the
bell.
At that very instant the clock in the
hall began striking ten
First of all, Van Vechten was struck
by this coincidence. Even before in
| ventorying the mans semblance, he
asked himself how many had preceded
him; how many were yet to come. And
how did they time their arrival so
nicely?
There had been something furtive
about the second fellows admittance,
Van Vechten recalled; not particularly
on the mans part, but suggested rath-
er by the narrow crack which the open
door at first disclosed, making one
think that the chain had not been re-
leased until after parley. And then
the aperture had widened only enough
for the visitor to squeeze his bulk
through. whereupon the door had
promptly banged shut Van Vechten
retained merely a sense of absolute
darkness beyond the threshold; not
the slightest glimpse had he caught
OF servant or attendant The door
might have been tended by invisible
hands.
Again he asked himself: Would the
incident be repeated in another hour?
The wait between ten and eleven
o'clock dragged with most exasperat.
ing slowness: but the self-appointed
watchers interest was at such high
pitch that he left his third cocktail un-
tasted.
AS the hour approached. he darted
quick glances along the street in an
ticipation of a new arrival. And sure
enough. at a minute or two before the
hour, here came a third muscular. reso
lute-looking young man, not over-fas
tidiously attired. who was scanning
the house numbers as intently as his
two predecessors had done.
And just as the chimes in the hall
began tolling eleven. he mounted the
steps and rang the bell.
Van vechten scarcely breathed. Sc
intently was he following the proceed
ings across the street As before, the
door was opened perhaps an inch. a
brief colloquy patiently ensued, then
the gap widened barely enough for the
young man 10 squeeze through And
also as before, the door was slammed
without Van vechten obtaining the
least glimpse OF whatever mysteries
might lie beyond.
By now he was taking account OF
time only with reference to Number
1918. He was in such state OF mind
that he forgot that he was tired and
sleepy, or that he ever had been bored
Other club members-the few unfor'
tunates anchored to the city-were be
ginning to drop in, but Van Vechten
was too intent to give any of them
particular notice until Tom. Phinney
arrived.
1t was impossible to ignore Tom
Phinney. Not that Van Vechten want
ed to. because he didn't-as a rule
Their friendship antedated their col
lege days; which w2s odd enough II