Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-24
ADAMS GARDEN
"A NOVEL
Copyright by Paget News Service
CHAPTER Il (Conunued).
BY NINA WILCOX PUTNAM


copyright by Paget News service.)
CHAPTER I (Continued).
TIN fearfully sorry. MI. Van
Week." said the manager, "but we
will have to have, cash for your room
beginning with tonight. You see you
are posted and-and I'm fearfuliy
sorry, but. ...."
For an instant Adam glared at him.
looking like a wrathful young prince
in his fine array. and was tempted to
lars into the mans hand and tell him
to so to warmer regions. Then the
sudden remembrance that the money
would bs insufficient, checked him,
and he turned away mortified, but
putting on the best front possible IN
der the circumstances.
"All right" said he. "Tell them to
put my things somewhere till I send
for them. I'll mail a check soon.
Good night, Walters"
Good night Mr.. Van Week" re-
things myself. And-and I'm sorry.
sir" And indeed he looked 50. for
everyone liked Adam. !,
Good night" Adam replied hastily,
and ned down the steps to where
Dickey Ross and the very blonde. too
well-dressed Murrays waited. laugh
ing. in the formers car at the curb.
I've had a busy day" Adam ex-
planned as he climbed in amidst their
cries of welcome. i've had a busy
day, and I thought I'd like to get my
At midnight Adam was drunk. He
knew it when he stumbled in the
dance. Ever 10 slight a stumble 1t
was, but 1t meant he was drunk, for
he was a perfect dancer.
"Gee!" said his partner throwing
back her blonde head until it all but
rested on his shoulder, Geo, Adam,
you're drunk!" 't
Then she laughed, a silvery chime
that fell like the ripple Of a noun
tain stream. smothered in the crash
laughed back at her, swinging her
closer, the tantalizing magic of the
tune that whirled them, s%pell-bound
Is in an Arabian Nights dream.
mounting to his head like wine. The
rush on the floor was terrific. Old
and young, the spawn of the city
its demi-gods from Alladin palaces
that scared. now silent and dark,
along the mysterious vastness of the
Park; broken jetsam from the streets,
painted shells of women and bloated
men who could pay; exquisite flowers
Of women-perfumed orchids, they
seemed-in gorgeous dresses; ladies of
the chorus; men of business, men of
leisure. whirled and piroutted in the
crashing vibration of the music. High
on their little balcony, the colored
minstrels, gold-laced in scarlet like SO
many grinning monkeys, their ebon
faces unchangingly smiling, played
furiously, seeming to conjure up some
jungle vision Of voodoo dance and saw
age rite. in,parting the spirit Of the
medium of banjo, mandolin and
guitar. 1t was a whirlwind, a pande-
monium Of sense. stirring deeply the
primitive things that the routine of
life hides. and pretends not to serve;
but here, thrown bare to the world
with an honesty, an openness that
forced one to pause before condemn
ing it, so fundamental, so real it was.
And through it all swayed Adam, his
blonde partner clinging to him, the
fumes Of wine, of food, Of perfume,
him tonight as many nights before.
T The music stopped abruptly. It's
final clash leaving what for an in
slant seemed silence by comparison,
and out of 1t arose the lesser din Of
shuffling feet, unwilling to from
dancing, Of resumed talk, Of knives
and plates and scraping chairs, as the
dancers found their tables. It Was a
low-ceilinged room of white and gold.
with many columns along its sides,
and rows Of windows at each end,
through which the city, far below.
winked its myriad lights like sophis-
ficofo6 ovoc oto rim ont ~ fhA h1oNk-
ness surrounding the molten stream OF
Broadway, which poured a shining,
boiling length through, the dark
canyon of the tall buildings on either
hand; a river of flowing light and life.
in the midst of waiting, sleeping dark
ness. Half way up its %glistenins
length, this place of eating and dane.
ing and drinking-this spot in which
wine, women and jungle music were
best to be found by searching man
kind-was lifted high, blossoming a
building. like some exotic, night
blooming flower. Rector's! A name
famous the world over in years gone
by, when its suppers were as much ar
accessory Of the fair demi-mondaine
as were the pearls around her neck
To have gone there in former times
was to have proclaimed ones self o.
that glittering world which a AZ.
ford to adorn vice in gold instead o
tinseL But since the dance had
pushed back the tables from the cen
ter Of its polished floor. everyone
came; and those nice ladies who con.
demned their Trailer sisters, now rub.
bed shoulders with them unconcern.
edly as soon as the music began. Il
vas a melting-pot for humanity. And
into It came representatives Of ever
class, to be transformed, for the mo-
ment, from type or caste into mere
people.
It was to q corner table by a pillar
at the very edge of the dancing floor
that Adam led his partner when thu
music stopped. It was undoubtedly
one of the best situations in the room
and neve to be obtained except b,
expensive bribery Of the head waiter
The other two Of the party were al.
ready seated at the table, eating
June Murray, young and thin anG
blonde like her sister, with whom
Adam had been dancing, and Dickey
Rosb, a specimen Of that class whose
only distinction IL possession Of leis.
ure, and enough money to kill time II
dressing and other incidental pleas
ures. He had a homely, not unpleasant
face. which would have been freckle6
if the sun had ever been given a chancl
at It; and he was one of those WHIT
play the part Of general utility man
and who r included in invitation
principally because they can run
land usually own) an automobile. HI
arose now, to allow the elder Mia