The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-19
The Price of Wiggins's Orgy By Ag%rnon Blae,,vood

unnecessary quantity OF the room round with
tumbled about IN the increasing gioom and
found himself face TO face with the-Head
waiter The unexpected meeting braced him
curiously increased
I'm looking for my bin" observed virgins
thlckly' wondering for the twentieth time OF
whom the mans face reminded him. "you
haven't seen IL about anywhere I shupposeg"
lie sat down with more dignity than he could
nave supposed possible and produced q bin
from his pocket. the lining OF the pocket com
ing out with It like dirty glove
Most OF the guests had gone out by this time
ana the big hall was dark Two lights only
remained. and these reflected from mirror to
mirror made its proportions seem vast and
unreal Ihey few from place TO place. too. dis
trossingly-these lights
Sixty cents will settle that sir" replied the
man. with a respectful bow.
Nonshensei" replied the other "Whv 7
ordered Lancashire hotch-potch grilled shole A
"a bird or something OF the Kind and the
Il beg your pardon sir. buff Won will per.
INIT me TO say so-the others will soon be here
now. and-as there will be a specially large
attendance, perhaps you would Ike To make
sure OF your place" He pocketed the silver
Virgins gave him with a bow. pointed to the
lar, uln corner OF the room. and stepped aside
little TO make space for Virgins to pass
At vast distance on the Head Waiter va.
moving to close the main doors. utterly ob;ivi-
Gus now OF his existence. He felt glad OF that
Something about that fellow was disarreeable
MIN with Hood OF conviction. The man was
more than peculiar; he was sinister
Inc air smest horribly Of cooked food. tobacco
smoke breathing crowds. scented women and
me rest Whins Of II. hot and foetid. brought
MN little TO his senses. Then sud
uenly he noticed that the big man with the face
that was dark and smooth like the muzzle OF
cannon. was watching him keenly from a
taoie on the other side where electric light
still burned.
by George There he IS again. tina. fsuer,
wonder whatsh he's smiling at me for Look
ing forsh bill too. p'raps- Now. in a Soup
hishen nothing OF the kind"
lie bowed in return smiling insoIentlv hold
ing himself steady by chair 10 do so He
showed and stumbled his way on into the
shadows half-mingling with the throng passing
out INTO the street Then. making sharp
turn back into the room unobseryed he took
Few uncertain steps and collapsed silently
anu heIWessy upon a chair that was hidden
oehlnd n big palm tree in a dark corner
And the last thing he remembered as he
sank, boneless. like soft hay. into that corner
was that the sham palm tree bowed toward him.
then ran on into the ceiling and from that
elevation which in a way diminished its size
bowed TO him yet again
II was just after his eyes closed that the
door In the gilt paueiling at the end OF the
room softly opened and a woman entered on
uptoe. She was followed by other women and
several girls; these again. from time TO time.
Dy men, all dressed In black all silent and ali
ushe-ed by the majestic Head Waiter to their
places. The bg man with the face like a gun.
muzz,e superintendent. And each individual on
until certain sentence had passed his lips
Evidently password: Tt is Saturday night"
SAID the one being admitted. and we close
early, replied the Head Waiter and the big
man. And then the door was closed unit; the
next soft tapping came.
But Virgins. plunged in the stupor OF the
hrst sleep. knew none OF all this His frock.
coat was punched about his mock his black ito
under his car. his feet resting higher than his
head. He looked like a collapsed airship in a
hedge. and he snored heavily.
II was about hour later whom h. n,oroa
ms eyes, climbed painfully ana heavily 20 hts
Feet. staggered back against the wal utterly
0eWildered-and stared. At the far end OF the
great haIl' ts lottiness now dim. was a group
OF people. The big mirrors on an sides 70.
hected them with the effect OF increasing their
numbers indefinitely. They stood and eaf uDon
an impr0riscd platform The electric Hv-ts
shaded with black. dropped a pale glitter uron
their faces They were systematically grouped
the big man In the centre. the Head Waiter
al a small table just behind him The former
was speaking I'm COW. measured tones
Tn his dark and distant corner Virgins fret
Of all seized tho carafe and quenched his fever.
Ism thirst Next DE advanced slowly and with
the utmost caution 90 q point nearer the rronp
where he could hear what was being said lie
was stiu a good deal confused IN mind and had
no idea what the hour was or what be lad
been doing On the meantime. There were sorua
twenty or thirty people. he saw. Of both sexes
we'll dressed man yof them distinguished in an.
pearance. and an wearing black. even their
gloves were black. some Of tho women too
wore black veis-ycry thick But in ali the
faces WITHOUT exception tnoro HOmpfniur-
was % about tho .rs and mouths shat was
peculiar and-repeilent
Obviously This was meeting of some Kind
Some society had hired the hall Tor n private
gathering. Virgins understanding this berar
20 feel awkward tie did not wish 90 int-udo.
Dc had no right 90 listen. yet o. make himself
known was to bofray that he was stiI very con.
eiderahiy intoxicated. The problem Presented
itself .u these simple terms 90 bis dared intel.
hEenco iIc was also aware Of another frrt.
about these h,aCkr0bcd people tnc.a was lomc.
ming which made him secretly and horribly
afraid.
The biz man with The smooth face Ike gun.
fNft.e sat down after softly uttered speech
ana tho group instead of nuUiandIug with their
NtndH. waved black h1udtcr.h'0fs The Gutter.
ine sound az .hnm frirNod aIonE fbe wastes 40
Ni.l toward OBJ. concealed easrs1r.uprr Then
iH' I'fad Waiter rasn fo introduce the next
speaker. ana t.o instant Wleg.ua saw hlm he
understood SHAT Dr. vas u ha fIre that was
familiar Tor tle false beard uu longer adorned
l.. Nl.. tIo wig Maf altered thr shape uf hia
I.I'I'Id ard tr appearance off hIe eyes bad
"''u removed. aud fU. likeness ID bore fo the
rNIHrf. rnfIaf. MEr...H 'utn employer. was too
remarkable f1 Dol ignored VIRGINS just no.
.'d a rry. Due i1. e1ap apparently dII
escape h.m fH. several u.UHfrH OBI. the frYup
turned choir heads iu l'H direction and stared
What N.rg.r. fI.n heard Jim a0mrnIaf die.
f..H''I sentences owing f" .Ie .ulr.ur .u hIa
core HH. n' fr.f apparently mIar.ra.r... Yet
. Ha. 'r''FHfrI. .r knew. With a creeping
aui .rraffInrrl horror thHt would fHUt reveal
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