Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-23
BOOK IL.
THE UNDERWORLD"
Chapter III.
1.-THE Weakling."

lie tCnlH udiQuio VI SaSiStoi
found the transition from the CRIME
OF the Plainfield steel works and the
squalor of fifth-rate American
boarding house TO the ordered mag.
nificencc and trim beauty OF an Eng
lish aristocrat's surroundings good
deal more trying than he expected
Granted good health and true zest
in life, it is questionable whether pow.
crty is not far happier state than
riches for the average man or woman
At any rate, once the legal formslities
connected with the succession to the
title were gotten over, the newly
fledged marquis found himself bored
to WEAKNESS by the ceremonious state
in which he was compelled to live.
Life big London hotel was pleas
ant enough. The great establishments
which cater for the passing guest
used to be patronized so extensively
BY Americans before the war that
their methods and ways had been al
most unconsciously adapted TO trans
atlantic standards. Even when the out
break OF hostilities replaced the flood
OF ordinary visitors with army Of
ficers and their relatives, the atmos-
phere OF the hotel did not change.
Then, weather permitting, there was
always the infinite variety of old Lon
don to fill the daylight hours, while
scores OF theaters offered rival at
fractions for the evening
1t was only when the stalwart
young marquis Travelled to his coun-
try seat in the Midlands, and endeav-
ored to make himself at home among
people whom he felt that he ought
TO consider as his own kith and kin,
that his troubles really began. He was
awed into submissive silence by a
most superior estate agent His ten
ants insisted on regarding him as a
humorist merely because lie spoke
with an American accent. He was
frankly afraid Of the portly butler,
who seemed to watch every mouth
full he ate, and disapprovc in silent
horror Of his table manners,
Thus, the butler blanched visibly
when his iordship broke two eggs
into glass tumbler and mixed them
therein ID mode Americana. Next
morning, John tried to eat an egg
ia the English fashion, and made a
horrible mess on the tablecloth. He
felt he ought to apologize to his own
servants, yet was conscious Of the
irritating fact that the American
method Of eating boiled eggs was the
right and sensible one, whereas the
British system Of juggling with !
hot eggshell and small spoon de-
il1Anded three generations of train
ING.
ID ! word, the new peer had hardly
settled down into strange yet in
ereasingly pleasant environment be-
lore the call Of the blood made itself
telt and be returned to the United
States.
II must be remembered that he
could not ignore either the message
given by the revivalist preacher
Branton, or the serious purpose which
life seemed to have brought hand-in-
hand with great wealth and high
social position. He thought, therefore,
BE could deal with certain problems
moro effectually In the land OF his
birth than in . country whose people
and ways were - yet distinctly for
eien. In returning to America he de-
cided to drop the title, and thus avoid
the snobbery which besets the path
Of 4 marquis even in . land Of de-
mocracy. Hence, It was as plain John
Burton that he rc-entered New York.
This reversion to type was easy, be-
cause the passport he obtained on GO
ing to England with the lawyer who
first brought the news Of his patri-
mony was made out, of course, in his
correct name - ! citizen Of the United
States.
He did not 60 back to Plainfield.
Such course, a. John himself put It
ferse1y, would be simply looking for
trouble, but he rented a beautiful
house in . town Of greater size and
more varied social conditions--New
York, in other words--and there de-
iiberztely set himself TO read, improve
his manners, and study eugenic prob
lems. Unfortunately, his own strength
OF character and innate self-rcliance
prevented him from seeking the serv-l
ICES OF an experienced mentor. What
John really needed was the kindly sa-
gacity Of man Of the world. But he
was too independent either to seek
such aid or yield to its direction II ii
were available. So, like every other
headstrong nature, he paid in full for
dearly bought experience.
Oddly enough, he fancied he would
gain a good deal in department II he
took dancing lessons. Without asking
znyone's advice, he went to the first
dancing academy whose sign caught
his eye. Therein fortune played him
scurvy trick, because in all that
great city he could hardly have fallen
into worse hands than those Of Prof.
Moretti. tall. swarthy. slenderly
built Italian who blended certain ex-
pertncss in his art with q crafty and
designing nature that sought victims
fmong his weather. pupils.
One night John had been to a the
alter and had seen some new play
which presented psychological prob
lem from an unfamiliar angle. On re-
turning home, feeling restless. he de-
cided to smoke and think out per-
picking situation on the lines sug-
Eested BY the dramatist. He entered
fhe library, favorite room wherein
he could always secure a certain
measure Of privacy.
II was his habit, when deply moved,
10 pace back and forth in front of a
spacious fireplace. But the floor was
richly carpeted, and his movements
were SO silent that when a slight rasp-
ing sound came from the dining room
which was on the same level but
across the entrance hall--he became
aware Of it instantly.
lt A. s,~.t Ne eave the matter little