University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-07-19
Continued from last issue)

Funny things happened Paddock
whispered. 81 met the duchess once
abroad She sent for me this noon and
almost bowled me over. Seems she's
heard of Mrs. Bruce as the wittiest
woman in San Marco. And she's jeal-
Gus. You're a clever boy says her
| ladyship to me. Coach me up so
can outshine Mrs Bruce What do you
know
"Ah-but you were the pioneer.
Minot reminded him.
/ We'll, | was, for that matter" said
| Mr.. Paddock But | know now il
wasn't clever idea, if this woman
can think of it. too"
What did you tell herr"
II was shocked | showed it. II
seemed deception to me. Still-she
made me an offer that-well, | told
her I'd think it over
Good heavens. Jack, You wouldn't
try to sell 'em both dialogue?"
"Why not? Play one against the
other-make 'em keener for my goods.
I've got a notion to clean up here quick
and then go back to the real stuff.
That little girl from the Middle West
I've forgot all about her, of course.
But speaking of cleaning up-Tm
thinking of it, Dick. my boy Yes, I
believe I'll take them both. on-secret-
ly. of course. 1t means hard work
for me. but when one loves ones art,
no service seems too tough"
You're hopeless" Minot groaned
Say not So" laughed Paddock, and
went away humming a frivolous time.
At a quarter before seven. for the
first time. Minot entered Mr.. Tom
Stacy's Manhattan Club and Grill. To
any one who crossed Mr.. Stacv's
threshold with the expectation of i'm
mediately encountering lights and
gaiety, the first view of the interior
came as a distinct shock The main
dining-room of the Manhattan Club
was dim with the holy dimness of
cathedral. Its lamps, hung high, were
buried in oriental trappings. and shone
half heartedly. Family through the
gloom could be discerned white ta-
ble-cloths, cleaning silver. The
scene demanded hushed voices, noise
less footsteps. 1t got both.
The main dining-room was followed
out of the center of the great stone
building, and its roof was off in the
dark three stories above. On each
side of the entrance, stairways led to
second and third-flOor balconies which
stretched around the room on three
sides. From these balconies doors
opened into innumerable rooms
rooms where lights shone brighter,
and from which the chief of police,
when he came to make certain finan-
cial arrangements with Mr.. Stacy.
heard frequently a gentle click-click.
1t may have been that the furnish
ings of the main dining-room and the
balconies were there before Mr..
Stacy's coming, or again they may
have set forth his own idea of suit
able decoration. Looking about him.
Mr.. Minot was reminded of a play
like Sumurun after three hard sea-
sons on the road. Moth-eaten rugs
and musty tapestries hung every
where. Here and there an atrocious
cozy corner belied its name. Iron
lanterns gave parsimonious light.
Aged sofa-pillows lay Imply. "Ori-
entail" Mr. Stacy would have called
the effect. Here in this dim, but
scarcely religious light. the patrons
of his grill ate their food, being !
not without misgivings as they
stared through the gloom at their |
plates.
The long tables for the Harrowby |
dinner were already set, and about |
them hovered walters of color 20 |
match the room. Most of the guests |
had arrived. Mr. Paddock made it
point to introduce Mr.. Minot at once /
to the Duchess of Lismore This no.
Bile lady with the packinghouse past
was making a commendable effort to
tighten the Manhattan Club by
wonderful display of jewels.
Then felt / like some watcher of
The skies, when a new planet swims
INTO his ken whispered Minot, as
he duchess moved away.
Paddock laughed.
"a dowdy little woman by day. but
pillar of fire by night" he agreed.