Pocahontas star herald., 1914-01-30
CHAPTER ~.

The asphalt giiitered with the glaze
OF recent rain. rejecting countless
lights OF many colors. The sidewalks,
crowded with gay theater-goers. were
as coiorful and animated as the chang.
ing figures OF n chlld's kaleidoscope,
and he smiled at them. Even the odor
of burned gasoline which drowned the
perfume Of fair women's presence
seemed as frankincense and myrrh 10
him-for this was Broadway, the be
loved thoroughfare.
And was Il not to be his last night
in fits glitter. his last hearing OF fits
medley. his last gllmpsing Of its nerv.
GUS gaiety? He smiled-the wan smile
Of the prisoner who sees his friends
and joys In them before he marches
10 the gnlllotlne.
In the restaurant there was obvious
stir when he arrived. There always
was 4 stir In restaurants when he ar.
rived. With a practiced and a clever
eye he examined with great care the
private dining.room wherein was to be
sung the swan-song OF his spendthrifti.
ness. II was extremely well arranged
the table was a dazzling sight. the
flowers were gorgeous and OF all-per'
vsding fragrance. the colored candle.
shades cast subdued, artistic glow
upon the whole. The head waiter
himself. his neck enchained In sign
of Office. was in personal control OF
details. lis statf had been well picked
from Broadway.s favorites among sub
ordinates; a very pretty girl, who
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 vas to sort
and store the outer garments OF the
gentlemen. was ready with bright eye,
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 MARQUEE. 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 flutter 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.
slve 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 evi.
dences Of its pride in its 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 II yearned hun
grily toward Bob Wallace's place. AT
each lady's place we're little Holsters,
nicely wrought of gold, with jeweled
eyes, for each male guest silver Gig
arctic case had been fashioned into q
disconsolate lobster's shape with
curled-up tail and dropping claws de-
voutly folded on its breast
Broadway was perfect host, hos.
pltable easy, reader to listen than
declaim, full of admiration for 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 pcrmanont position in his