Pueblo chieftain., 1921-09-05
tFfrst Installment in Sundays
Chieftain)

his arms into it. He caresscd the
ten-dollar hat with a soft brush be-
fore he handed it to Morley Smith
with Thank you" that was either
in gratitude for the amount Morley
Smith had entered against his name
on the Christmas gratuity-s sheet or
the year before or in gratitude Tor
what Morley Smith was expected TO
sign this coming Christmas. To tho
doorman who opened the door OF the
taxicab standing before the club, Nor
lev Smith mentioned a street and
mum Der.
Tho street and number he had
chosen at random. In the manner OF
true adventures, and before they
reached it. no saw the driver scam
ming the house numbers. They drew
Il think this is 1t, SIR" said the
driver doubtfully.
Morley Smith looked at the church.
1t was an entirely respectable ana
scdato church. dark as to windows
and evidently locked and barred, as
churches arc for five nights in the
week
II say. you know" said Morley
Smith. ''is this East or west7"
"East-you said East"
ut can't be this" said Morley
Smith. 1T must have been West, Try
the samo number west. my man"
The driver wheeled the taxicsb and
bumped toward the west. When he
had crossed Fifth Avenue he looked
back into the cab as " wondering
whether his passenger wac quite sober,
but the lights from the lamps showed
that Morley Smith was entirely sober.
He was sitting erect. scanning the
buildings as they passed by them. The
taxicab stopped before a plain. old
fashioned flat-building. one Of long
row. Morley Smith opened the door
and stepped out
charge II to the club. Mr.. Smith :"
asked the driver. and tho amateur ad-
venturcr felt comforting sense OF
safety as he heard the driver II death
lay at tho end OF this adventure he
would not have disappeared utterly.
The driver would report. A fresh
sense of caution came with this
thought Yes" nc said. And I say.
chauffeur! Como back for mo In two
hours, will your I'm going in here"-
he pointed to the door of tho flats
and whom como out. I'll wait in
the restAurantyondcr. II I'm not there
at ninc o'clock. tell tho police will
you? Thanks. This Ia for you"
The flat-building was divided In
the middle by a hall. Morley Smith
could sce this through tho pane~ OF
Cd tho doors open and entered. Ho
found himself. on tho street Lowell. in
a small vc-tibulc with walls tiled be-
low and hidcously decorated above.
and set in tho tiles wcrc two rows OF
icttcr-boxcs. each with "a push button
In the small slots above the letter
boxes were names, Some were cut from
Visiting cards and some werc written.
Morley Smith examined them all
Hirsch. Casey. Wildman and so on
and pushed the button below the box
that proclaimed itself the temporary
a mysterious clicking In the lock OF
tho door that separated tho vestibuls
from the hall. and Morley Smith OPEN
Cd the door while the clicking con.
tinucd. He knew enough abou. flats
to know this was an Invitation to en-
ter.
The hali was not a. all inviting
TO one who WAS accustomed TO the
dull elegance of wealthy town and
country houses. There WAS n strong.
warm odor OF cooking foods.
minElinr OF various dinners not pleas
an; to man who had dincd: yc, IL
WAS not a, unpleasant ss might havs
been expected. The figured carpet on
tho stairs was worn 10 the warp on
tho edges of tho trcsds. Tho cheap
natural oak railines werc In need OF
varnish. and the single ra1 Jet nhrcd
at ono corner. Morley Smith looked
upward. Dimncss and adventure wcro
there, He mounted the stairs. He
mounted slowly. so as not TO lcee his
breath. As he ncared the third floor
he saw moro light. for door was
sisr. and rs hc raised his head to tho
level OF tho landing nc saw a woman
standing In the doorway. awaiting
him.
"oh, excuse mel" sh. said. al
though rho had done nothing TO call
for o,cusins. "I though, 1t was
FRANK"
The amateur sdvcnturcr WAS be-
fo-o the door now. He removed his
No" ne said. My name is Smith.
! have card here somewhere. May
I como in7"
II suppose you want to sec Frank7
rou are tho insurance man.
NO. roailyi No. nothing like hiatt
Quito another matter, I assure you"
She took tn. card and read tho
name
"wcn. rrpec, Frank any min
ute" she ssid. ''Hr ought ,o ba here
now You can como into tho parlor
and wait. II you want to. I'm getting
tend to H."
she hurried ahead OF him and light
cd n gns iot in tho rhrlor. II was
quito rlcheian: furniture that pretend
Cd to he carved but that was really
cut out OF fiat rlah.-irv,aIrncnt stuff
very ovidcn,ly-all cheap II was hc-
ginning TO show wear. too. Tho plush
was going tho Inevitable WAY Of all
cheap plush. Tho rug was going thu
way OF all cheap rugs.
That's the most comfortable
chair" said Mrr. Casey. Il think
Frank will bc here in a minute.
Sometimes hc is little late when
he stops to buy something extra for
suppcr-mcsn dinner. I'm from tho
west. and I never got over saying sun
per out thcrc We had dinner in IN.
middle Of tho day. you know
Really" ssid tho advonturcr.
Everyone docs" rIid Mrs. Casey.
you had better take of your coat
or YOU will bc cold when YOU eo
out.''
"Nh-mav I ark ~hst--ah your |
husbands occupation may boz" asked |
4. -.d.-.t.aalrnr q l