The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-04-16
BOOK /.
CHAPTER Ii-Contlnued.

hHsI oI III, van pecnten was SLrucK
by his coincidence. Even before in
ventorying the mans semblance. he
asked himself how many had preceded
MIN; how many were yet to come. And
how did they time their arrival so
nicely?
There had been something furtiye
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 a parley. And then
the aperture had widened only enough
tor the visitor to squeeze his bulk
through, w%hereupon the door had
promptly banged shut. Van Vechten
retained merely a sense OF absolute
~darknes beyond the thresholds: 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 he hour approached, he darted
quick glances along the street I'm an.
tlcrpation OF a new arrival. And sure
enough, at a minute or two before the
hour. here came a third muscular. reso-
i~ute-iookins young man, not oyer.fas-
t~idiously attired. who was scanning
the house numbers as intently as his
TWO predecessors had done.
And just as the chimes In the hall
began toiling eleven, he the
steps and rang the bell.
Van Vechten scarcely breathed. SO
intently was he following the proceed
lngs 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 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 ccount OF
time only with reference to Number
1913. He was in such a 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-
Inmates 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.
IL 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.
iege days; which was odd enough II
one cared to sum up the differences
between their two characters. Tom
Phinney. never celebrated for his wit.
was once inspired 10 epigram by an
appreciation Of these tempermental
dissimilarities, and as his utterance Is
not without pith 1t is worth quoting.
He conided to his right-hand neigh
Dor at a certain formal dinner: "Rud-
dy not only belongs to a half of the
world that's not wise to how the other
half lives, but it's the half that doesn't
care a rap and would be tired to death
II you tried to tell it,"
With a lazy lifting OF one slender
hand, Van Vechten arrested Phinney's
noisy progress across the lounging-
room. AS soon as Tom c~omprehended
who was hailing him. his good-hu-
mored expression died away with COM
ical rapidity. a look of mingled amaze
ment and alarm taking its place.
Moses and green spectacles!" he
voiced In astonishment. you! Out
Of bed this time of day? Sunday, tool"
He hurried to his friends side and ex-
amined him critically.
Seen u doctor yet? You'd better. II
you're not able I'll go fetch old Pottle
sleeps here. you know"
These remarks were ignored.
Draw up a chair" was the response
mo. not that stufy one; It makes
me perspire only TO look at 1.-THE will
low rocker"
Tom did precisely - he was direct
ed. "welif" he grunted, cycling Van
vechten with a oncer that was only
half simulated. But In q moment he
felt his gaze impelled to follow his
friends.
What's upf" he demanded. staring
h~ard--even belligerently-at the silent
House Of Mystery.
Van vechten listlessly consulted his
watch. stiled . yawn. and then said:
twenty-five iainutes to twelve. I'll
lay you q hundred that while the
olochso striktng the hour = chan yin