Middletown transcript., 1914-02-28

smiled at Broadway sweetly, wistfully,
as a peasant maid might smile at a
crown prince, was ready to accept and
check the ladies' wraps, while the
small boy in buttons, who was to sort
and store the outer garments Of the
gentlemen, was ready with bright eyes
and itching palms
The party arrived promptly, coming
in a bunch and greeting Broadway va
riously from the firm and hearty hand
clasp of Bob Wallace, to the merry
kiss Of Inez vasquez Marquez, Span
ish dancer, born in Keokuk, who would
leave early SO that she might dance
| late on the bill at the Spring Garden.
There was a f1utter with the entrance
of Mrs. Gerard. for, as ever. she
brought with her her own maid, while
her footman waited in the corridor,
not for emergencies, but for appear
ances.
Her once pretty but now age-puck-
cred face had been as thoroughly con-
cealed as possible with various expen-
sive substances which are found in
beauty parlors, and her hair was prob
ably the most costly in that part Of
town that night, and this is saying
much, for very costly tresses some
times deck the fair on Broadway.
The restaurant had wrought evil
dences of it's pride in it's allegiance to
Broadway's favorite delicacy. A gi-
gantic floral lobster occupied the cen
ter of the table, its antennae extend
ed toward the host, one Of its claws
stretched toward the seat reserved for
Mrs. Gerard, the other somewhat less
fond of the ladies, for it yearned hun
grily toward Bob Wallace's place. At
each lady's place were little Holsters,
nicely wrought of gold, with jeweled
eyes, for each male guest a silver Gig
arctic case had been fashioned into a
disconsolate Holsters shape with
curled-up tail and dropping claws de-
voutly folded on it's breast.
Broadway was a perfect host, hos
pitable, easy, reader to listen than
declaim, full of admiration Tor the
ladies, full of the perfection of good
fellowship for his men guests.
At first he found it difficult to put
out Of his mind the thought that this
would be the last of all his gorgeous
nights on Broadway. The notion
fought for permanent position IN his
head that after these wal nours he
would be as far from Broar. Hay as that
earnest cow-explorer which was cred
tied with having first '-id out the
street. The thought continually OBJ
truded that this musr Js to him
funeral, not a festal teu-Jt His hand
shook as he raised his glass to the
first toast.
Visions of that blued-steeI automatic
pistol and that bottle Ttth its crimson
label fioated momently before his eyes.
All, that steel was p)t the blue of
tie diaphanous gown which the pretty
Winter Garden dancer worR across the
table from him; oh, how che red of
that red label differed from the red of
the red roses! 1t was not at all the
red of the red lobste1;
In his dining he had reached that
stage where over-stimulated emotion
found an outlet in the bitterest self
condemnation which he yet had man
aged to evolve since the beginning of
his self-condemnr+o days-that is,
since he had b~~ 1S~akened to the
realization Of the disappearance of his
fpatrimony and the utter hopelessness
of everything. He looked at the great
decoration in the center of the table
and said gravely, so that all might
hear. although re was addressing no
one but the lobster
you may b. big, old chap, but I
know bigger holster than you ever
WERE"
1t happened TT that instant that a
pause had conn D. the excited JOY
BUSINESS about AIr-~ me of those brief
unexpected sile1c9t Rhich never fail
at least once in everS S;nner-party, to
reveal to ever. nrP l0me saying which
the sayer wished - have unheard by
the majorit-. AlvNys it is something
awkward. InadvertenS, stupid or un-
wholesome which Is thus made bla-
tantly the property of everybody's
ears. This night it was our young
hosts confidential statement to the
great, red decorative lobster in the
center of his dinner table.
There was chorus of inquiry. If
Broadway knew a bigger lobster,
who was he, and where?
BE careful, Broadway! Don't name
any friend of oursi We'd get peeyish
for that s-some-lobster."
who is it, Broadway"
Name, Broadway; name!" demand
ed the whole tableful.
Gloomy and dissatisfied with that
life which he loathed to quit, yet felt
that he could not continue, Broadway
rose and bowed. I'm it," he an
swered az"
Protests chorused.
! What hard-hearted girl has turned
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