The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-01-09
book /.


First of all. Van vechten was struck
by THE coincidence. Even before In
the mans semblance. he
asked himself how many had preceded
him; how many were yet to come. And
how did they time their arrival 80
nicely7
There had been something furtive
about the second fellows admittance,
Van Vechten recalled; not particularly
on the mans part, but suggested rath-
or 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 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 hourf
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
ri NJ
enough. az a minute or two before the
hour. here came third muscular, reso-
lute-looking young man. not over-fas-
tidiously attired, who was scanning
the house numbers a. intently ~ his
two predecessors had done.
And Just ~ the chimes In the hall
began tolling eleven. he mounted the
steps and rang the bell.
Van vechten scarcely breathed, 80
intently was he following the proceed
ings across the street. AS before, the
door was opened perhaps an inch. .
brief colloquy patiently ensued, then
the gap widened barely enough for the
young man to 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
1913. He was In such q state of mind
that he forgot that he was tired and
sleepy, or that he ever had been bored
Other club MEMBERSHIP few unfor
tunatee 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 q rule
Their friendship annotated their col
lege days; which was odd enough 4
none cared to sum up the differences
between their two characters. Ton
Phinney, never celebrated for his wit
was once inspired TO epigram by al
appreciation of these tempermenta
'dissimilarities, and an his utterance Il
not without pith 1t IL worth quoting.
He confided to his right-hand neigh
Dor at a certain formal dinner: "Rud
dy not only belongs to half of tn,
world that's not wise to how the othe
half lives. but it's the half that doesn'
care rap and would be tired to dealt
II you tried to tell It."
With a lazy lifting OF one slendc
hand, Van Vechten arrested Phinney'
noisy progress across the lounginf
room. AS soon az Tom comprehende1
who was hailing him, his good-hr
mored expression died away with CON
zeal rapidity. look of mingled amaze
ment and alarm taking its place.
Moses and green spectacIesl" h
voiced In ACCOMPLISHMENT. "YouI Gu
of bed this time of dayf Sunday, tool
He hurried to his friends side and q,
amined him critically.
Seen doctor yeti You'd better.
you're not able I'll 60 fetch old Pottl
> sleeps hero. you know"
These remarks were ignored.
Draw up chair" was the respons
no, not that stuffy one; II make
me perspire only to look ~ 1.-THE wi
dow rocker"
Tom did precisely ~ he was direc
led. "wellf". he sruntsd. cycling Va
veohten with concern that was onl
half simulated. But In moment
felt his case impelled to follow hi
jfrfend,s
What's upf" he demanded. startn
'hard--even belligerently--at the siler
House Of Mystery.
Van vechtsn listlessly consulted b
watch, stifed = PAWN. and then said:
twenty-five minutes to twelve r
'lay you = hundred that while u
!c1ook's striking the hour chap vi