Evening star., 1921-09-18
TTE simplest matters may ap-
pear mysterious and inexplf-
cable when we lack the clue.

Cduic WHci "C idSh stAS SANS'
Conversely. the most impos-
sible and supernatural become child
ishly simple when all the foundations
.-nd nrops that sustain them are made
visible.
As a clubman. Morley Smith was
perfect specimen of the type. He was
nothing else In a thousand clubs
there are a thousand like him: every
club that is a real club has at least
one OF him. and the finest and stui-
fest clubs may have as many as sly.
Well gro0med. You could pick him
out of hundred on ladies' nights py
the perfection of his white tie. tne
INSTRUMENTATION of his evening coat
and the rather high color thas cam ta
from the six extra hiehballs ne had
swallowed to brace himself Tor tns
occasion. To Morley Smith the clun
was greater than the repuoiic' IL
was at once home and heaven 70 MN.
II any one had asked him wnere ne
wished to go when he died. ne wouLn
have answered-if he told the truth:
by Jove. Nowhere. old chap. lh's
is good enough for me-"
When, spurred to reckleSSness DH
the war spirit that irritated him but
did not include him. and enticsn oS
a book of adventure. Morley Smltn
had ventured from the club one nisu1
to seek romance & by IN 1ftruushs one Of % the
poorer class. he had not imaginea ne
would ever do 1t again. He did. now
ever Having tasted the rear anu
pleasure of finding himself in stranse
ture return at such times as the cluo-
life became dull. and he nad sonr s,a',
forth again, wrapped in MS cos'is
fur-lined coat.
He found the adventures ainusn,s ..,s
Thus far, he had found them harm
less as we'll, and back of his farther
wanderines was a natural desire 10
tempt fortune a little farther, Jus.
as a small boy taps on a goplet Wi.n
fhe back of his tabie-knife. striking
a little harder each time. to see how
bard IL may be struck before
breaks 1t always breaks at the las,
blow. Thus Morley Smith was urge1
to venture again and again. tempteo
to see how greatly he must dare be-
fore real danger came to him.
One pleasant night of the yea.
when the United States had entered
the war-late Augcst. this was.Mor-
looking out. The avenue was orlsnt ign
with lights. Soldiers in uniform, sail-
ors and the usual avenue groupings
passed The window was open. me
avenue busses went rushing Dy IN tne
street. Morley Smith slipped a h's"-
Dail SlOWly. ZIG "e''' P'
x X Z
TYP the avenue three young fellows
- came. They were not OF the
avenue sort. and they were inclined
to be playful. One struck the other
and lodged, laughing. His Fellow
feinted and put out foot. tripping
him. All three laughed. When they
came abreast of the club WINDOW
one of them stopped and looked at
Morley Smith.
Look at the big big STIR IN; Hand ne sane me-
down a highball"
Morley Smith did not change his
expression. He grew a little req
but 1t was nothing the house com.
mittee could remedy. and ne 1eit
suIting affair would be to maintain
his own dignity and that Of the cluo
by showing no anger. AS the young
fellows passed up the avenue Morisy
Smith felt disturbed and restlessI ; daw me
placidly hour after hour, without
emotion of any kind. but the young
hoodlums had forced an emotion on
him. Like a man who mas eaten zen
pickles and ice cream; ne 1ei' an u"-
"Rv ioye!" he exclaimed 'restlessfy:
and a minute later he had retrieved
his hat. stick and light top coat IRON
the club coatroom and was on ms
way to the door: once e,n ou1 hnard Of
put his foot on the running ooaio
a waiting taxicab a tho
"Where to, Mr.. smith, asked the
driver. c.ss,,v
a spirit of utter recklessness sureed
shro,,et him. He was seeking adven-
ture: very well! He would go the tuil
'''a1f NJ saw" he said. DO you know
the route to Westcote?
"Yes. Mr.. Smith.
II want to go there, you know
The driver pushed down the little
flag. sent the taxicab spinning IN q
half circle and bumped over the rougn
stretch of street to Madison: MoruEs s;s
blood actually tingled in his VEINS.
This was a big adventure. indeed. he
was going to Westcote. where he had
never been. He meant to ring the
bell Of a house he had never seen.
Thereafter he would let happen what
would.
westcote was the quietest ana most
respectable of suburbs. 1t rested
from Manhattan on Long Island, and
had Morley Smith but known it. say
ing Il will go to Westcote for ad,
veture'' was equal to saying I Will
go to chcrch for high old time"
borough bridge ana rolled along
Jackson aven6e, past the factories
Of Long Island city. through villages
that ran into each other. 1t swung
around the shore of bay and crossed
a small stone bridge that spanned a
creek. The driver slowed the cab at
the side of the street there. and
opened the door.
"This is westcote. Mr.. Smith," he
said. 81 don't know the place very
we'll. I'll have to ask some one"
"Jove. yes!" said Morley Smith. II
dare say I'll have to ask bit myself.
The number is 446. what? And the
street begins with c. don't you
know, Let's ask that postman chap.
what?"
rier.
"Beeins with a c: Might be CAL
anus street.
THAT'S it-Calamus." said Morley
had the slightest knowledge that
westcote held a Calamus street. How
do we get there, my good fellow?
The postman gave the direction
clearly, pointing with his hand and
telling the turns to make. He ac-
cepted the cigar Morley Smith or.
fered him, and the taxicab rolled
away.
rALAMUS, street was an ordinary
~ suburban residence street of the
medium class. The houses stood in
small yards, neatly kept for the most
part, and were one-family houses.
with porches. There are thousands
of similar strests everywhere. with