The Washington times., 1919-04-08
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS

When they stopped, the chauffeur
] dropped from the rumble and came
around to where . tall head porter
in blue and silver uniform was
opening the tonneau door.
Brandes said TO his chauffeur:
Here are the cheeks. Our trunks
: are at the Grand Central. Get them
aboard, then come back here for
Us at 10. o'clock"
The chauffeur lifted his hand to
his cap. and looked stealthily be-
tween his fingers At Brandes.
"'Ten o'clock" ne repeated; very
good, sir
Rue instinctively sought Brandes'
arm as they entered the crowded
lobby, then remembered, blushed.
and withdrew her hand.
Halted ~ Instinct.
Brandes had started toward the
desk with the intention OF register
ing and securing q room for the
few hours before going aboard the
steamer; but something halted him
some instinct OF caution. No. he
would not register. He sent their
luggage to the parcels room, found
a maid who took Rue away, then
went on through into the bar, where
he took q stiff WhIskey and soda, q
thing he seldom did.
In the toilet he washed and had
himself brushed. Then, emerging,
he took another drink en- passant.
conscious Of an odd dull sense OF
apprehension for which he could
not account.
At the desk they told him there
- ~
He sauntered over to the newsstand.
stared at the display Of periodicals,
but had not sufficient interest to
buy even an evening paper.
So he idled about the maFble-col-
umned lobby, now crowded with
typical early-autumE throng in
quest Of dinner and the various noe
turnal amusements which the city
offers at al times to the frequent
ers Of its thousand temples.
Rue came out Of the ladies' dPe80-
ing room. and he went to her and
guided her into the dining room on
the left, where an orchestra was
playing In her blue, provincial
travelling gown the slender girl
looked oddly out OF place amid lace
and jewels and the delicate tints
OF frail evening gowns, but her
cheeks were bright with color and
her gray eyes brilliant. and the
lights touched her thick chestnut
hair with a rudy glory, so that
more than one man turned to watch
her pass, and the idly contemptu-
Gus indifference Of more than one
woman ended at her neck and chin,
What Rue ate she never after
ward remembered 1t was all mere
L. -
tions for the palate, for the eye, for
the ear when the excellent orehes-
ira was playing some gay overture
from one OF the newer musical COM
edies or comic operas.
Partially OVereOmes DepressIOn.
Brandes at times seemed to shake
off a growing depression and rouse
himself to talk to her, even jest
with her. He smoked cigarettes
occasionally during dinner, a thing
he seldom did, and, when coffee was
served, he lighted one OF his large
cigars.
Rue, excited under an almost
childishly timid manner, leaned on
the table with both elbows and
linked fingers, listening, watching
everything with an almost breath
less intelligence which strove to
comprehend.
People left; others arrived: the
music continued. Several times
people passing caught Brandes eye,
and bowed and smiled. He either
acknowledged such salutes with
slight and almost surIy nod, or ig-
nored them altogether.
One OF his short, heavy arms lay
careIessly along the back Of his
chair, where he was sitting side
ways looking at the people in the
lobby-watching with that same
odd sensation Of foreboding OF
which he had been conscious from |
the first moment he had entered the
city line.
What reason for apprehension he
an hour lay between him and the !
had he could not understand Only |
seclusion OF the big liner; . few
hours and he and this girl beside
him would be at sea.
Once he excused himself, went I
out to the desk. and made an in
quiry. But there was no telephone
or telegraph message for him; and
he came back chewing his cigar.
Finally his uneasiness drew him
to his feet again:
Rue" he said. I'm going out to
telephone to Mr.. Stull. IT may take
some little time. You don't mind
waiting, do you"
mo- she said.
Don't you want another ice or
something
She confessed that she did.
So he ordered il and went away.
AS she sat leisurely tasting her
ice and watching with unhagginE
interest the people around her, she Il
noticed that the dining-room was
already three-quarters empty Peo-
pie were leaving for cafe, theater,
or dance; few remained.
Attracted by Tive Men.
or these few, two young men in
evening dress now arose and walk
ed toward the lobby. one ahead OF
the other. One went out: the other,
in the act of going. glanced casually
at her as he passed, hesitated.
halted. then, half smiling. half in
quiringly. came toward her.
Jim Neeland," she exclaimed i'm
pulsively. - mean Mr.. Nee
land" a riot OF color flooding
her face. But her eager hand re-
mained outstretched. He took il
pressed it lightly, ceremoniously,
and, still standing, continued to
smile down at her.
Amid all this strange. internal
Il