The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-07-08
By HAROLD MacGRATH
:, THE Princess Perigotr, Norton

THE Princess Perigoff, Norton.
You're in no hurry, are you?"
4 Not now smiled the reporter.
An" said the princess, interested.
1t was the old compliment, said in an
unusual way. 1t pleased her.
The reporter sank into chair.
when inactive he was rather q
dreamy eyed sort OF chap. He pos
sessed that rare accom- lishment Of
talking upon one subject and thinking
upon another at the same time. So,
while he talked gayly with the young
woman on varied themes, his thoughts
\ were busy. specializing upon her COM
panion. He was quite certain that the
name Braine was assumed, but he
was also equally certain that the man
carried an extraordinary brain under
his thatch OF salt and pepper hair. The
man had written three or four brill
liant monographs on poisons and the
fuses OF radium, and 1t was through and
I'by these that the reporter had man
aged to pick up his acquaintance. He
lived well, but lnconsptcuously.
Suddenly the pupils of Braine's
eyes narrowed; the eye became cold.
Over the smoke Of his cigaret he was
Hooking into the wall mirror. A man
had passed behind him and sat down
at the next table. Still gazing into the
mirror, Braine saw Norton wave his
hand, saw also the open wonder on
4 the reporters pleasant face.
"Who is your friend, Norton?''
Braine asked indifferently, his head
still unturned.
Stanley Hargreave. Met him in
Hongkong when i was sent over to
handle part Of the revolution. War
correspondence stuff. First time l
ever ran across him on Broadway at
night. We've since had some pow
vows over some rare books. Queer
4 old cock; brave as a lion but as quiet
as a mouse"
"Bookish, Ell? MY kind. Bring
him over" Underneath the table
Braine unanswered to touch the foot
Of the princess.
81 don't know" said. the reporter
obviously. He might say no, and
\ that. would embarrass the whole lot of
US. He's a bit OF a hermit I'm sur
prised to see him here"
Try" urged the princess. "I like
to meet men who are hermits."
81 haven't the least doubt about
/ that" the reporter laughed. "1'll try;
but don't blame me If I'm rebuffed."
He left the table with evident reluc-
lance and approached Hargreave The
two shook hands cordially, for the
elder man was rather fond of this
medley Of information known as Jim
Norton.
"sit down, boy, SIT down. You're
Just the kind of man I've been wait
ing to talk to tonight"
Wouldn't you rather talk to pref
ty woman 7"
"I,m an old man."
bah! That's a hypocritical bluff,
and you know it. My friends at the
next table have asked me to bring
you over"
~ do not usually care to meet
strangers"
make an exception this once" said
the reporter, who had seen Braine's
eyes change and was curious to know
why the appearance of Hargreave in
the mirror had brought about that
metally CLEAN. Here were two unique
men: he desired to see them face to
face. .l,i u.
"This once. Ny fault; ought not
to be here; ]. feel out of place. What
a life, though, you reporters leadi To
meet kings and presidents and great
1 financiers, Socialists and anarchists,
the whole, scale Of life, and to slap
these people on the back as II they
were everyday friends" 81
'sNow you're making fun Of me. For
one king there are always. twenty
thick brogans ready to kick me down
the steps: don't forget that"
aHargfeave laughed. Come, then;
Iiet us get It over Will. =
! fcontfnuesi foraorrST.