United labor bulletin., 1914-05-02
BOOK W.
A Specter at the Feast
CHAPTER ..
What the Boz Contained.

Jessie Willard's visit to Rudolph
Van Vechten partook more of the ma
ture OF a visitation-as of some heal
ing shrine's patron saint: for by Sat
urday night he had SO far recovered
that. at his uncle's repeated urgent So
licitations, he was able to attire him
self In the habiliments OF formality
and attend the directors meeting, of
which already he had been notified.
In the gallery Of the dining room
modelled after Thane Cedric's banquet
ing g-hall-an orchestra discoursed syn
copated melody In blissful ignorance
OF anachronism. The president Of
the Continental Union Banking and
Trust company and the head of the At
las Safe company occupied seats of
honor. and their long laudatory re
sponses put the finishing touch TO Ru-
dolph's impatience TO be up and away.
Midnight approached like the ter
mina;ion OF a sentry's winter vigil.
and as he determined 10 slip from his
seat near the long tables foot and
find his hat and top-coat, there came
diversion that stayed him BY con
trast. any interruption to the oratory
was interesting.
The butler noiselessly approached
the head OF the table and held a whis-
pcrcd colloquy with the host After
minute or two the Man Of Iron nodded.
the butler stole away. and the man
who was speaking at the time. reaiiz-
ing that something Extraordinary was
impending. paused. faltered. stopped.
and sat down
-Four men. clad In overalls and 5um-
pers. entered. carefully bearing among
them . large obiong box They halted
and upheld Il with patent effort while
Mr.. Van vechten arose and. IN his un-
impassioned manner. addressed his
guests.
Gentlemen" said he. some of our
friends have not forgotten the occa-
sion we are assembled here tonight to
celebrate. We have here. I am as
sured. something that will commemo-
rate this happy event in = most re-
markablc and fitting way ~. -
And much more TO the same effect
Then q space was cleared In the
center Of the long table. a few Of the
dincrs were disturbed. and the box
was deposited thereon The portsrs
withdrew.
Everybody eyed tie innovation Gu
riousiy-and q bit distrustfuiiy. too.
The box. suggesting ~ Il did the end
OF human endeavor. was not an in
spiriting center-piece. nor was Il in
harmony with the temper OF the eve
ming. but after much jocose specila-
tion respecting Its likely contents. at
the hosts command servants appear
ed with screw-drivern. and. amid an
expectant hush. the lid was removed
The disclosure. coming as II did into
the very heart OF the company's good
humor. was realized only resultantly:
for the box did not belle what IL sug-
gested. II really contained n conn:
one distinguished by its elegant cream
coiored silk-plush covering and pure
rose-gold ornamentntion. The long
extension handles were of the aame
Upon this latter was single engraved
line:
-The TIME LOCK-"
With the injection into the banquet
Of an element SO sensational and
startling, Rudolph Van vechten's de-
sire TO depart vanished: he was not
unaffected by the excitement that
stirred the rest of the company. But
presently he observed that the incl
dent conveyed a special meaning to
certain Of those present-particuiarl
to his ancle.
Was the whole thing = huge prac-
ucal joke?
The Man OF Iron pointed out that
II II was. II must have been an en-.
pensivc one for the perpetrator. Then
came the suggestion OF an internal
machine. and once more . hush fell
upon the gathering.
These men. however, were not lack
ing In courage. Very cautiously the
casket was removed from the box. the
box was taken away. and the former
was given the place OF honor. where
II reposed like a beautiful but unat-
tractive epergne.
operation distinct ticking sound.
cmanating from the casket. was plain
ly audible. and the diners. some Of
them overturuing chairs In their
haste. recoiled to the walls. where
they stood staring in horror at this
unwelcome prenguration Of tho grave.
At this moment . quiet voice was
heard to say:
Carefully. gentlemen: . siisht jar
might prove disastrous."
The company turned 10 behold .
man of Impressive appearance. He