The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-01-18

NGordon2 My wife, Mr.. Cor
Dicky's manner was nervous, pre-
occupied, as he spoke His mothers
face showed very plainly her resent
ment at being obliged to meet the man
upon whose steady staring at me she
had so acidly commented a few min
utes before.
For my own part, was so upset
that | felt actually Ill, as the eyes OF
the persistent stranger met mine How
had this man, who had so terrified me
by his persistent pursuit and scrutiny,
managed to obtain all introduction to
Dicky?
Dicky made place for the man
near me, and Signalled the waiter
81 know you have dined' he said,
courtcously, but you'll at least have
coffee and cordial with us, will YOU
mott"
Thank YOU" Mr.. Gordon said in a
deep, rich Voice 81 have not yet had
coffee. Ii YOU will be so kind should
like an apricot brandy instead of a
cordial"
Dicky gave the necessary order to
the waiter and we all sat back in our
chairs.
|, for one, felt as though | were
spectator at play waiting for the
curtain to run up upon some thrilling
episode For the few minutes while
we waited for our coffee, Dicky had
to carry the burden of the converse
ton His mother, with her lips pressed
together in a tight, thin line, evident.
ly had resolved to take no part in any
conversation with the stranger. | was
really too terrified to say anything.
and, beside the briefest OF assents to
Dicky's observations, the stranger said
nothing.
With the coming OF the coffee, how
ever, there Gsturred a litth nciden,
that intensified the vague terror | felt
Of Mr. Gordon.
When the coffee and tiny glass Of
cordial were set before him Mr.. Cor
don said something in an undcrtonc
to the waiter who bowed, slipped away
and came back with curiously
shaped spoon with tiny prongs under
meath il, which fitted over the top of
Mr. Gordon's dcmitasse.
"One or two?" the man asked de
ferentially with hand outstretched to-
ward the sugar tongs.
Mr.. Gordon waived him aside. took
ur the tongS himself, and placed two
cubes OF sugar in the curiouslv shaped
spoon. Then he carefully poured a
portion OF the tiny glass OF apricc,
brandy over the sugar and held out his
hand for a lighted taper, which the
well trained waiter seeing what he
wished, had ready for him al precisely
the rlgh, moment.
A Dilcttante's Hands.
As the blazing match touched the
Soaked sugar, the alcohol caugh, fire.
and little blue flame. heavy with the
aroma OF the burning brandy, arose.
Mr. Gordon bent over the coffee as
solici,ously as IL he were devo,ec
tending the shrine. When the flame
sank he added more drops OF the bran.
DIV until the tiny glass was empty.
When the last blue flame had died he
stirred portion OF the sugar into his
coffee and sipprd the beverage with the
enjoyment of sybarite
| have seen people burn brandy over
their dcmitasscs many times, but there
was something abou, the way Mr.. Cor
don did II, something IN the appearance
OF his long, slender, white hands. the
hands OF dilettan,e that thrilled me
with q sensation OF terror.
For the conviction wa, borne in upon
me that somewhere, somehow. | had
seen this man bend over his coffee In
the same manner before.
| told myself that the idea was most
preposterous, for ! was sure that never
IN my life before the morning a, the
Sydenham hotel had I ever seen Mr..
Gordon, Bu, the conviction persisted.
overwhelming my reason and my com.
mon sense Those long. slender. ner-
vous, white hands were as familiar TO
me as were Dicky's.
There was something about the mans
whole personality tha, both attracted
and repelled me. With one breath |
felt 'ha, had a curious sense of liking
and admiration for him, and was proud
oil the interest in me which he had