Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-06-30

- - 49, taAtt Anto rms
restaurant a man and a woman. They
were both evidently well known, for the
head waiter was obSequions and hurried
them over to the best table he had left and
took the order himself.
The man possessed = keen. intelligent
face. You might have maraed him for a
successful lawyer. for there vas an earn
~estness about hi~ expression which pre-
cluded "A life oil idleness. Iii- age might
have been anywhere between 10 and 50.
The shoulders were broad aud the hands
which lay clasped upon the table were
slim but muscular. InGeed. everything
about him suggested hidden strength and
vitality. His companion was small. hand
some and animated. Her frequent yes
lures and mutable eyebrows BETRAYED her
foreign birth. Her age was "A matter of
Importance To no one but herself.
They were nj coffee when she said
i"There's a young man coming toward a..
lie j. looking at y"u.'
The man turned. Instantly his face
lighted up with a friendly smile Of recog-
milton.
"Who j. it," she asked.
"A chap worth knowing; a reporter Just
a little out Of the ordinary. I'm gong to
introduce him.. You can never tell. We
might need him some day. All, Norton,
how are you."
Good evening, Mr.. Braine." The re-
porter catching sight of a pair of dazzling
eyes. hesitated.
'The princess P~erigoff. Norton. You're
in no hurry. are you."
mot now" smiled the reporter.
"Ah " said the princess, Interested. Ii
was the old compliment, said in an unusual
way. II pleased her.
The reporter SAM into a chair. When in
active he was rather a dreamy eyed sort Of
chap. He possessed that rare accomplish
ment of talking upon one subject and
thinking upon another at the same time
So, while be talked gayly with the young
woman on varied themes. his thoughts
were busy specializing upon her companion.
He was quite certain that the name Braine
was assumed, nut he wa. also equally Ger
tain that the man carried an extraordinary
brain under has thatch of salt and pepper
hair. The man had written three or four
brilliant monographs on poisons and the
uses Of radium. and it was through and bv
these that the reporter had managed To
pick up his acquaintance. He lived well.
but lnconspicnously.
Suddenly the pupils of Braine's eyes
narrowed; the eve became cold. Over the
smoke OF his cigarette he was looking into
the wall mirror. A man had passed behind
him and sat down ut the next table. Still
gazing into the mirror, Braine saw Norton
wave his hand, saw also the open wonder
on the reporters pleasant face.
who Is your friend, Nortone- Braine
asked indIfferentiy, his head still unturned.
STANLEY Hargreave. Met him in Hong
kong when ] was sent over to handle part
of the revolution. War correspondence
stuff. First time ! ever ran across him
on Broadway at night. We've since had
some powwows over some rare books.
Queer old cock; brave n n ioin, but quiet
as a mouse"
"Bookish, Ell, NV kind. Bring him
over" Underneath the fable Braine
princess.
I'll don't know" said the reporter dubi-
ously. lie might say no, and that would
embarass the whole lot of u. He's q bit
of a hermit. I'm surprised to see him
here"
"Try," urged the princess. II like to
meet men who are hermits."
81 haven't the least donbt about that"
the reporter laughed. All try: but don't
blame me il I'm rebuifed.7
lie left the table with evident reluctance
and approached IIargreave. The two shook
hands cordially. for the elder man was
rather fond of this medley OF information
known a. Jim Norton.
"Sit down, boy, III down. You're inst
the kind Of q man I've been wanting to talk
To tonight"
Wouldn't YOU rather talk to a pretty
~woman.r
I'm an cid man."
bah That's a hypocriiical bluff, and
You know it. Ny friends at the next table
have asked me to hiring You over.
Il do not usually care to meet strang-
ersr
make an exception this once said the
reporter. who had seen FRAMES ewes
change and was curious to know ~hy the
appearance Of Hargreave IN the mirror
had brought about the nerally gieam. Here
were two unique men he desired to see
them face 10 face.
"Fhis once. My fault; | ought not to
he here: ] feel sur Of place. What a life.
though, Won reporters lead: To meet kings
and presidents ana great financiers. So
~cialists and anarchists. the whole scale IF