The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-06-10
DAY OF
DAYS
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright. 1872, by the Frank A. Munsey Co.


he observed with asperity.
BY way of answer the grill closed
with Il snap. But his inclination to
kick the door was nullilied when with
out further delay it opened to admit
him. Nose in air. he strutted in. and
the door banged behind him.
He stood in the main hall of an old
fashioned residence. To his right
double doorway revealed drawing
room mxuriously furnished. but. as far
as he could determine. quite untenant.
ed. On the left Il long staircase hug
ged the wall. with Il glow of warm
light ut its head. To the rear the ball
ended in Il single doorway, through
which he could see n handsome ma
hogany buffet deliberately arranged
with shimmering damask. silver and
crystal.
It's all right" announced the ward
en- of the grill, his suspicious to all
seeming completely allayed. Mr. Pen
field amt in just at present, but''-here
he grinned shrewdly-"I reckon You
amt so dead set on Scein' him as you
made ont. viii you go right on up or
would you Ike bite OF somethin' to
eat first?
At the mere hint of food n frightful
pang Of hunger transfyed p. Sybarite.
Abandoning false pride, P. Sybaritc
yielded:
II don't mind if do. thank you"
"StraiGht on back. Pete'l take care
of you all right"
A thumb indicated the door in the
rear of the hall p. Sybarite found the
back room one Of good proportions,
whatever the architects original inten.
ton, now serving as Il combined lounge
niShed in sober. masculine fashion.
bOaSting in all three buffetS set forth
with Il lavish display of food and drink
In one Of many deeply upholstered club
chairs a gentleman of mature years
and heavy body. with a scarlet face
and crumpled. wine stained shirt
bosom, was slumbering serenely; two.
thirds of an eXtravagant cigar cold be-
tween his fingers. In others two young
men We're CONTEMPLATING quietly. but
with Il most dissipated air. heads to-
gether over brace of glasses. At a
corner service table a negro in white
jacket was busy with silver chatting
dish. which eXhaled a tantalizing
aroma.
The negro. at the entrance Of F. Syb-
arite. glanced quickly over his Shout
der. and, seeing a strange face. clap
ped the cover on the chatting dish
"Yas-suh-comin'" he gabbled It's
sho pleasure to see you again"
AT least" suggested P. Sybarte
dropping into a chair. lit will be. next
time"
That's right, suh-that's the troof"'
The negro placed a small table ada,
cent to his elbow. "Thas what All
allus says to strange gemmen fust time
they comes hyeh. sub; makes 'em feel
more at home like JUS femme know
what All kin do for 20 tonight That
ERE lobstuh Newburg's jus about
prime 70 catin' this very minute, eff
yo' feel a bit peckish."
81 do" p. Sybarite admitted Just
a spoonful
AN uh Ill drink. sub? Jus one Iii
inherent cocktail to fix yo' mouth
right"
If you insist. Pete-if you insist"
"Yas-suh; and wifi the lobstuh, sub.
All venture to suggest a nice, cold lii
ha'f pint Of champagne"
The negro waddled away. returned
and offered the guest a glass brim-
ming with amber tinted liquid.
Tender morSes of lobster Smothered
in cream and sherry. piping hot; dainti-
est possible waters of bread and butter
embracing leaves of pale lettuce; hol-
low stemmed glass effervescent with
liquid sunlight of a most excellent
bouquet-and then another; these serv-
ed not in the least to subdue p Syba-
rites internal jubilation.
Finally the house." through the
medium of it's servitor. insisted that
he top off with a cigar.
Ten years since his teeth had grip
ped a Fancy Tales of Smoke.
Now. it mustn't be understood that
p. Sybarite entertained any misappre-
tensions as to the nature of the in
stitution into which he had stumbled
He had not needed the sound. some
times in quieter moments audible from
upstairs, of Il prolonged whir ending
in several staccato clicks. to make him
shrewdly cognizant of its questionable
character.
So at length. satiate and a little
weary-drawn by curiosity besides-he
rose, endowed Pete lavishly with a
handful Of small change. something
over 80 cents-all he had in the world
aside from his cherished Sand slow
ly assembled to the second floor
Here in remodeling the house for its
present purposes partitions had arbi-
trarily been dispensed with. Aside
from that inclosing the well Of the
stairway. the floor was one large room
wholly devoted to some half Il dozen
games of chance.
Upon all the gaming tables massive
electric domes concentrated their light
The walls. otherwise severely I'M
adorned. were covered with lustr0us
golden fabric: the windows were iuvis-