New-York tribune., 1917-07-29


ouietness of the massive rooms, which seemed
so mAssively upholstered against both TIE
sbocks of a material world and the calcitrs-
tions of a spiritual one It was more than
mere quietude; it was assiduously organized
torpor. On every mortal that passed those
ponderous doors an invisible hand seemed to
be laid, coercing that mortal to restraint, to
lowered tones, to that tranquility which had
sIwavs stood to Mylott as the final flower
of civilization.
He passed silently on through the high
eeilipged rooms with the unctuous and tri-
urphant solemnity of an undertaken not un-
conscious that his final arrangements were
inpeccable and not without faith that the
resultant ceremony would be pride to its
originator.
II was at the door Of the vast upper room'
where hickory logs glowed in the open NAV
ef a fireplace Communicated from French
monastery, that Kempner hftOed up to the
advancing MylOtt-
as he coming?" asked this second man,
who apparently had been on guard at the
door that opened into the room with the
hickory-log fire.
The question was put in little more than
3 whisper.
"He1l be here inside of half an hour" was
the triumphant response as Mylotts glance
swept the group that clustered about the fire
tentatively, silently, like a group of pail
bearers awaiting the end of the service.
Cropsey was there, and Marr and Admiral
Eliot and Hewitt and the Senator. 1t had
taken much maneuvring to eliminate the un-
desirables. Mylott had done his best to have
the audience perfect one, one worthy Of
Gruelich's gift, and the chance Gruehch was
bringing them. Even Bishop Bracket with
his redeeming weakness for Havanas and the
humanities had been adroitly edged aW9y
from that midnight meeting.
They wanted no brake on the wheel OF
Gruelich's recountal. They wanted it just as
he would pour it out to them. Crotty, the
psychologist, would be late, but ones college
naturally had first claim on ones time.
The door opened, and Spayer stepped brisk
" into the room. He was small, sharp
nosed. ineisive, with head as smooth as a
pool ball. He held his watch in his hand.
His Quick eve ran about the ponderously ex-
pectant circle. Every brusque movement OF
Spayer's seemed to announce that time was
money, even to a man of many millions.
EWhere's Gruelich?" ?" he demanded.
"Hen be here any time now" whisper
ingly explained Mylott He glanced approv-
ingly about the slowly enlarging circle
TNHEY had gathered silently, one by one,
like conspirators. They had waited r.
spectfully, with the exception of Spayer,
whose money made him bit OF an outsider
Mylott sank into his chair, with glance at
his own watch.
The hickory Goals glowed deep in the mon
astery fireplace, making it cave from whlcr
mysterious entertainments might indeed creep
The dull light of the chamber the dull tone
of the chair leather, the sense of ordered
calm, all seemed to call for something luri'
+ and moving, for something elemental an
( vivid.
M Most of the men were smoking. blu
haze HOated and eddied above the ligt
shades.
"But it's midnight now" said the fretfu!l,
81 unmodulated voice Of Spayer out OF N
silence.
"He1l be here" was Mylott's reprovingl,
FL low-toned rejoinder.
KS "But what's Gruelich got to tell, anyway? !?
g inquired the still fretful Spayer.
MylOtt looked at him with mild reproof.
W. "What's he got to tell? Why, he's been a
Il the front! He's got everything to tell, every
e thing the censor has been shutting of
f everything that's going to be worth hearing.
II "But which front?" demanded Spayer
lighting a cigarette.
III "He's been through the best part of II
+ from the first Liege, where the picrit
i fumes laid him up for nearly week, an
4 Mons and Louyain and Namur and Iermonde
He was over at Aerschot, finishing up ri
book on Cathedral Towns, when the troubl
first broke out"
"And Gruelich's the lad to tell about it!
asserted the Senator with Celtic eye hXe
coldly on Spayer
ID Mylo.t himself knew that no man coul
Eel! them about it as Gruclich could-Grus
lich the rhapsodist. the bundle of sensible
ties, INC peSi laiheF OF 'He Leu'NN'""' ="
man who could hold them there until i
the morning over nothing more than Main
sbssr hunt, the wandering adventure-seeke
who had the gift Of language, the artist wit
an eye for every light and shade OF life
lhttle tragedies, who had at last wandere
: Into field fitted to his gifts The troubl
with Cruelich in the past Mylott admitted
was that he had been almost too good talS
s er; nc 50 often oyerbalsnced his theme. Bu
this time he would have something Wort
4 talking about
"Thcn why didn't you get nm IN daylight! !!
Spays= was demanding Of the Senator
It was My.ott who answered that question
He spoke with the quiet dignity Of msste
OF ceremonies whose department has bee
criticised in public