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llLlJaiiuMmai'i i PAG UPPE IF557! pF$ Wml ft 3 m yam ma By Forrest Halsey pyright 1009. by Bcnj. B. Hampton. jMAN must live," thought De Bracy. f lie stood at the window. Far below the ) checkerboard of streets was beginning to ,12aL be studded by the firefly lights of cabs UWU illUlUlS, A 11U HUM Ul kllU J'.lir, nrred into brilliancy by arc-lights was like some otititry waif painted for the town. In the north the carchlight of the Albany night-boat pushed a mov ng, luminous finger into the clouds. The notes of i street-organ came to him, softened by distance nto melody: And 'twas there that Annie Laurie Gave me her promise true. He smiled with shut lips. "Her promise true," he said. "I wonder why 1 think of old times to-night?" ccording to the clubs and drawing-rooms Oliver V.m Corlcar Dc Bracy thought little of old times and less of an old name. Still, his world recognized .iis right to live, without too close an inquiry as to Viw he managed it. The last of the honors and pcr i ui-itcs of the Dc llracys was the right to the social r ft until exhausted. "Gave me her promise true," ' trilled the piano. "Those mid-Victorian poets had such imagina t ns," mused the man at the window. "Waters, light t.ic lamps. 1 am expecting a gentleman." The room began to glow with increasing radiance s lamp after lamp cast its soft clarity upon por olains and mahoganies. Old tapestries commenced ' swim out of shadows, and low tables to glitter v.-.Mi s:lver services and shine with the jeweled con fusion of snuff boxes and miniatures. "Waters," said Dc Rracy, "how often have I told y 'it that the highest light should fall on that photo-p- ph cabinet?" referring to a huge folding screen v. ifi i in, row on row, the autographed likenesses cm. -lul aristocrats attested his ponulairty in the c r. nation year. "My best stage property, Waters Control your face, man. I sometimes think 1 shall r ver make a valet of you. That's better. Is that '.if onicc calling? Hand me that dressing-gown, the Chinese one. Xow, show the gentleman in until he goes I am not at home." The figure of Waters disappeared through the arnii'ri.d brocades of the doorway. De Uracy tied the cords at his waist, surveying the room with sardonic eyes. "An elaborate set, but the gallery, though cheap, is critical," 'he thought. "Mr. John Williams," announced Waters, holding back the curtain. The personality of John Williams had screamed from the columns of the press for years in ever growing menace, until now its roar penetrated every home from which, like the barons of old, he exacted tribute. His name had entered into the common language. The mm in the street, when he spoke of being beaten, conquered, tricked, said he had been "Wil liamscd." "Of what use can the social mouse be to this lion of achievement?" De Uracy wondered, as he advanced to greet him. This thought, in a different fashion, occurred to John Williams, as he gazed with a contemptuous curiosity on the man before him. Dead generations had taught him to distrust this type. The re.lncd aquilriity of the features, deeply tanned, thrown ii'. i h"f by the crisp blond hair that belied the man's forty years by a good ten; the tall, slender f. ',-ure in its bizarre garb of black satin, splashed by the vivid scarlet and rose pink of wonderful Eastern embroideries; the hands, long, slender, with the p unted lingers familiar in old portraits, made a pic tuic so foreign tu his usual environment that the s.ignt consilience which had sent him on his errand oisappcarcd. His nod had the curtness of a business mai.'s, rebuking an over-polite clerk. "I'm from Harburger," he said cuttingly. I'So I presume, Mr er" with a glance at the card "Wilkins. 1 am very sorry, but I am afraid Mr. Harburger has made a mistake." "My name is Williams John Williams, of the United Milling. What mistake did he make?" "Kxcusc me," said Dc Uracy. "My books arc full, and Mr. Harburger does not send mc enough clients to justify my keeping any dates open for him. As a business man, you will understand my position, Mr. Williams." The nod and smile of Oliver Van Corlcar De Uracy were unmistakably a careless dismissal. "Young man," said the other, his eyes narrowing, "I don't make calls. We can do business, 1 guess." The younger man flapped open the lid of a bronze cigarette-casket, put a paper roll in his teeth, and, turning his back on the other, puffed at the flame of a Roman hearth altar, tended by a vestal virgin in bronze. "That depends," he said between puffs. "On what?" said the older man. "Voit," said Dc Uracy. "Mc? How? Ain't my credit good?" the ghost of a smile flickering on the adamant of his eyes. "Your credit financially, Mr. Williams, docs not concern mc. Mr. Harburger is responsible if he Bends you." "I'll be damned," said John Williams. De Uracy smiled and waved It is hand the gesture might mean anything. "Sit down, Mr. Williams; 1 will explain," he said seriously. "Will you smoke? No?" He seated him self in a large chair, bending forward and looking Into the other's eyes with cool directness. "Mr. Harburger has doubtless told you," he began In a level voice, "I am a tradesman as you arc. My business is the breaking of mesalliances. My clients range from the royal families of Europe to members of corporations like the billion-dollar iron trust. Now, as a business man, may I put it to you why ihould I, with my books full of clients, if not as wealthy, fully as libi'J vu. put them all aside because you walk in and say your name is John Williams?" "Because, son" John Williams leaned forward, pointing a finger expressive of the manicurist's hope less battle with the early pick-axe "though you dress like a bowery fortune-teller, you're a man, and you'll help a fellow when he's stuck." f The cool gray eyes looked at the hard blue ones. "Tell mc your trouble," said Dc Uracy. The older man produced a case. "Smoke?" he in quired. The other tossed his cigarette away and took a cigar. "You've hcarl of my son Joe, Mr. Dc Bracy?" Williams continued. "You know he's been trained from his twelfth year to lake my place at the head SHE HAD COPIED TIEPOLO'S of the United Milling? He's a wonder. Invented the aero brake we use on our system. I've been handing over branch after branch to him from time to time, until now he is practically the head of the United. That is, he was" with a snap of the jaws. "He never cared for your society game. None of our crowd docs. But last summer outside of Sara toga he met a broken-down auto with a woman in it. Chauffer gone off and not come back. He tinkered the machine and took her home. Well, she's got him. He's gone wild over her. Runs around pouring out money, neglecting business, writing her poems. Yes, sir, the manager of the United Milling! Thi;ik of it! Poems to her hait ; I've seen 'cm! Crazy over her hair: says it's the most wonderful in the world. My God! Think of talking that way about a woman! And now he's lixin' to marry her a lady that's old enough to have rocked and spanked him, and ain't straight at that three husbands cancelled by the courts. She's one of your women. She'll take him away from us, and the United Milling. She laughs at my wife, damn her! at my wife! She even laughs at me -John Williams and she's got mc dead to rights. It's killin' his mother. That's the reason I come to you, Mr. De Bracy. "Her latest label is Mrs. Blanche Rcdington Blackburn," said the older man. "1 accept your commission, Mr. Williams," said De Uracy. "I've always said that two real men can get to gether easy in business or scrapping," said the other, producing a c-heck-book. Let mc have a pen. The ink's dry in mine." De Bracy stood watching the curtain that still trembled with the exit of his visitor. His face hard, haggard, the mouth a cruel sear. "'Gave mc her promise true,'" he murmured. "This time I am armed, however, dear Blanche." The young man-servant re-entered. "Waters," said the Uracy, "how much wages do I owe you?" The young fellow flushed and looked at his master with a crooked smile of embarrassment, "There's no hurry, Mr. Dc Uracy, sir," he deprecated. The amusement showed in the De Uracy eyes. "You never will make a valet, Waters," he said. "I owe you three months' wages, as you know. Dress mc and then you may go for the night. You will want some money; pawn this ring. "Now that we have a balance in the bank we can afford to dis regard appearances, Waters." Waters was a whim of Dc Bracy's. He hail picked up the boy from the streets, and was repaid by a fiery gratitude that burned away many a barrier. II. "Oliver," said young Joe Williams, "you never sa.v such hair in your life. Jove! it fairly seems to be alive, it glows and glitters so." h was three weeks since the meeting between John Williams nn-1 ' ''ll.cr Van Corlcar De Uracy. "WOMAN IN GREEN' Through the red flare of the setting sun a con tinuous mass of carriages and car.? chinked and purred through the Mall. The crisp tang of a December evening was in the ait. The couple in the lacing car, swathed in the disguise of their great fur coats, were skidding with whirring dash in and out of the streaming vehicles, the younger man one sense alert and watchful of his mechanism, while his sub conscious self was dreaming. Dc Bracy had not seen him otherwise than dreaming since he made his acquaintance at the huge place covered with copper and marble crullers that the Wilhainscs called home. To the skilled man of the world the winning of the youth's affection had been an easy matter. As they became intimate, however, De Bracy saw more clearly the difficulties of his new case. The lady was vulnerable, the wall of her past presented a hundred points of attack; but at each masked advance Dc Bracy found that Mrs. Blackburn had pointed out the breach and had posted young Wil liams on guard. The infatuation of the young millionaire had be come so dangerous that the occassion brooked of no delay. Dc Bracy decided to join the pair for dinner at Clarcmont, towards which they were now motor ing. "Oliver," said the boy, "I am not poetic, but re ally her hair seems like the crowing glory of my life." "Look out for that carriage," said Dc Bracy at a startled exclamation from the machinist perched be hind. "Don't let her hair get wound in your steering scar." They scudded out of the park and were flying along the heights, catching glimpses through side streets of the river, which was one golden ripple, the asphalt a gray blur sweeping under the car. "Do you know, there's quite a story about her hair," continued the man at the wheel. "She always had beautiful hair, but when she was in Europe some years ago she went under the care of a great spe cialist who kept her shut up in a place in the Austrian Tyrol six months. He tortured her horri bly, but her hair, under his treatment, became long, and thick, and wonderful, just as you'll sec it to night. But here we arc, and plenty of time for a brush-up and a smoke before she comes. By the way, Oliver, do yo.i want the t?r this evening? I'm g dug back in the brougham with Blanche." An hour later they stood on the piazza watching the lines of vehicles discharging their occupants, who rustled up the steps to become part of the evening spectacle. Dusk had fallen and the red-shrouded candles were glowing invitingly upon napcry and silver. Purple, obalt and dee.;, brewn, the far hills were wrapping themselves in the units of night. Lights began to twinkle and shimmer on the river. "Here she comes, Oliver," cried young Williams, hurrying toward a brougham whose big snf-cl minced and fretted at the steps. "Blanche, here is Mr. Dc Bracy at last." "Why, Oliver!" said a sweet, high voice. "It has been years and years." "My dear Blanche, the years for you a.-c but as a flay,'' and Dc Bracy a-sisted Mts. R-vlingt'in Black burn to alight. "I told Joe I wanted to meet you. Joe, dear, run !:':e ? g 1 child and sec if Marie has ccmc. I told her to br.n.j some heavier wraps. Inquire al the of:".:c." Joseph disappeared, and under Dc Bracy's guidance Mrs. I'.lrul.b.irr. trailed her languid laces to the Ulle whose orchid exuberance proclaimed Joseph's devo tion. With a supple sweep of line she sank into a chair and be ;m stripping her long gloves, watching the man opposite through the fringe of her lashes. "Oiivir," s u'l the v ::in, "we have three minutes while thai boy searches lor a mythical maid. We know each o'.hr . I have followed your career: any one who has read the headlines knows mine. You arc not in :'..!. f r it. thing. Tell mc, what do you Kant"' What is i ur price? Is it peace or war? If it is peace. Oliver" she leaned forward, the old per fume of i;;s enfolding him, her lips just fluttering wi. . th- words her eyes violet wells of meaning under her 1 n i r ri 1 1 ed hah "that is a gulden city. Helj) me and I will lend you the key." "My dear Blanche," said the man easily, "ten years ago you led mc into hell, and left mc, locking the gate. You arc not to be trusted with keys, Blanche." She leaned back, her lips a painted smile. "Your residence in hell has taught you to make your living, Olh er," she said. "Then pardon mc if 1 make it," he answered, smil ling. "All is fair in two things. We failed at the love, let us try war, my dear Blanche." She laughed with an accent like thin glass snapping. "I'm glad to sec you two getting on so well what's the joke?" said Joseph, behind them. "Mr. De Bracy wishes the orchestra to play 'Annie Laurie' 1 have so many amusing recollec tions c mncctcd with that song," she laughed. "Ask them t play it, like a dear boy," said Mrs. Rcding ton Blackburn. "Well," said Joseph a couple of hours later, "we must be trotting. I'm so glad I brought you people together again. 1 knew you'd like each other. I've nccr pent a jollier evening in my life we must have a lot of them. Blanche, it's a pity your maid ii: ln't iiruij; you hcaicr wraps. Come, Oliver, and Eve us to our carriage." "Yes, Oliver," said Mrs. Blackburn, rising. "I intend to sec a lot of you from now on." "My dear Blanche, I shall be always at your heels," laughed Dc Bracy. in. "Mr. De Uracy, sir." Waters laid the flesh-brush on the long marble massage-slab let into the tiled wall. Dc Uracy, swathed in toweling like a monk, stood on the first step of his sunken bath. The last few days he had tasted defeat to its dregs. The battle had been decidedly tu the lady. Never in a life of fighting and manocuvering had he been ,so out manocuvcrcd and out-fought. The announcement of the engagement was now imminent. "1 am beaten," thought De Uracy, "and by a hank of hair." "Mr. De Bracy, sir," said Waters again. "Yes," said that gentleman. I tmk them flowers to the lady at the St. Agatha yesterday. She wasn't in. Her maid said she and ' li. Williams w:.s motoring. The maid was quitting . .id 1 helped hei carry her boxes to the car. And .'lr. Dc Uracy, sir," "the valet's blue, boyish eyci were sparks of i xitement. At first Dc Uracy hardly paid attention to the i.alet's story, but as it progressed he became atten tive, questioning the man charply in places, making him repeat in others. "Waters." said Dc Uracy finally, 'you never wi'l make a valet, but you have your uses. Calm your excitement and remember your massage lessons!" Ercsh from the attempts of Waters, immaculately groomed, orchid in buttonhole, an introspective eye behind his monocle, De Uracy itrolled down to his club. It was within a week of Christmas. Here and there a holly wreath hung its green suggestion pgainst the lace window-curtains. Even the servants at the club seemed to have a silent obsequious hint of favors to come. A breakfast of unusual length was followed by a brooding hrur in the darkest corner of the reading room It was not until alm6st noon that he signalled the doorman for a cab and drove to a bird and animal stor on Eighth Avenue. Here De Uracy descended and was gone some time, returning with an amused man carrying' a large cage, which was bestowed in the bottom of the hansom. "Yes, sir," said the man, "it can be done easy. I'll be up to-night. You'll see how quick they get' wise. Norfolk-Artindale, eight o'clock. 1 1! be tlicrc on the dot." The cab drove away. "Well, of all the Christmas gifts!" grinned the man on the curb. "Them swells in nutty." The next morning while De Uracy was still in bed, the cider Williams was announced. The mesalliance breaker pushed away his breakfast tray with a groan, "Let him in, Waters," he said "In five minutes call me to the telephone. Put the cigarettes on the bed-table. Now, show him in." De Uracy leaned back against his pillows, blond, imperturbable, cigarette in teeth, the morning papers with their head-lines announcing young Williams' engagement spread before him. The door opened. "pood morning, Mr. Williams," said Dc Uracy. The old man entered and walked directly to the bed-side. "I congratulate you, Mr. De Uracy," he said. "Me?" with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, you," The old face was the color of yellow wax, the mouth a thin gash of a smile. k 'Yott played mc v.ry nca'- tucked me v.tj smoothly," said the level voice. "How much did slit promise you?" De Uracy struck a match. "Now," continued the old man, "you've done what ain't been done to mc for twenty year tricked me. You gave it out to the reporters youiself last night. Clever of you, wasn't it? But you won't laug i 1 .n',' You don't know me. You and your woman, y '! won't lira? that bo;- 'icre you two are. Yn' -han' have him. 1 ctn'i f.ijht your way, but out w'.ere T come from wc :h nk a man's g t a soul, M1d we Iiuatd our own, we- on't ! ;" ir ind srf.' fnt. We've got a way ot our own v:'h jnjr k:n I." "Mr. Williams," 0 ii I IV Br?c. "e-.en he i v think the train ;- gou-.j oil' the tricl. .: not to hi' the engineer on the hr?. 1 !!r t.iay krou v bf sines'. Any way, ou don't. I don't make con fidants of my clients. I told y.i'i I w-idd n-.a-.'l thia ei gigement and I shal1 do it at a supp-r I'm g' : ,Tto ;.ac on Christmas l.c. ITa''- a' I will '.''.'. vi '-. - business i' to be quiet an 1 si.r'i .'leeks, er i.!e h.a.i i'" the matter i:i any ..iy ; .uniiic c-,r;. trainli-.g img-sts. Now gi. busy m-.:t t'..3 morning.'' IV "Do you know, Olivet, I think i''s the kindest thing ot you to give us this Chr: tm.is Eve -upper,' r.aiJ j Wi'.Vams a- he sto- . a: the and i jiu of his f.-iend ! Bracy's apartments a week later. They had been laughing togctlici ocr .je d' sc ri i Jions m the "afternoon dreadfu'r" r the for'', e, i ing entertainment, whose mystery had It's jo,iri..''is'l.-; imaginations " l oii'rc a trump," said the young man. "There may b- truth in that," laughed his c-if p-i-ion, "but remember that not the least af m r i- ; s for giving this affair is I wish you happin- .-- sec, I know Mrs. Blackburn." "Than!: you," said the vouth. ")!ner. you're -best friend man ever had. ?ny, old man. whaf's 'ia' thing scratching around in the tievt r join. ;v jt 's like a" "Never mind," laurrhed De Br-ey, " is a su-'ih? and Joe, you know this suppr,- -. ta be a c '-ay t costume of Tiepolo's 'Supper 'f T "da,' . ' going to give your i-an.-ef i O 'r - pr want you to make her ir : 't i .s Italian head-net of '.he period. It w- 1 b" beautitu in her hair." The progress of an unusual --;-.! - :nt ws at tested by the deiis crowd ah. ,-.t hinted aun nqb of the Saint Mam: mh on Chr 'p.. i - Upon entering. : ic guest- u..-e 1 e.-ted in lifts to tiic dressing rooms, whrte .htu-'i century wars discarded, revealed sixtetnth c" ary t'l "-c" ncs. Before comparisons cauld be m:i'e ;'iey wet. hur ried to the ante-room of the huge bull-room f the Saint Mammon. The lights here were so dim as tc ciisciirc all but the faint gb :-n of bare sh uldcrs and the smolder of gems I .'d by mystery, txt eo lation grew to a .ubdu. d murmur as grot' j aftei groiK,) laughingly entered tue g'. m. "Noble Florentines," s.rd a o;,e from the 'jr'-:-ness when the last couple -re; 1 "My L r, -nardo, hearing that a company -f brave caalicrs; and bcautious ladie- dm en r'-a m FIsrence by the siege, had taken refuge in his p. ss. .ns, has bidd it you in all courtcs.-, a- it :s the I of th L . i Christmas, to dine w.'.i him :rid ; .i-s the 'I iy ironi noon to the set of sun in the j i rn"la of a viila on the hills overlooking Ravenna, i I ,r ' ar e-,us joyous gentle, wonderful and pleasant thing shall be done for your amusing and in special '. "jr of a young lord, his friend, and a gentle lady. "Signores and signors, entes the feast is spread " Stringed music began to play .1 the curtails forming the whole back of tue roam were drawn away, revealing in a flood of light w ,t hid b- en the grand ballroom of the Saint Mamm -i. A deep "Oh!" of long drawn wo. ler came f-om the crowd on the threshold. The ballroom had disappeared. A stone fiv- 3f black and white mosaic extended to a terra va!l of old Italian marble, over which climbed ur, ' ' Vw hundreds of roses on their vines. T. s: " columns supported a roof of lattice ct fi-t r..cl the ceding and on this and hanging fror i c fugc proftiMon glistened masses of purple graies. The yellow light of noon sifting throtii h the grape leaves dapled the terrace with moving shadows an i glinted in prismatic colors from the antique gci I, silver, and Venetian glass of a tabic covered wit' altar iacc that stood against the rose-covcred wall. Beyond, clear etched in summer sunshine, mile on mile the olive vineyards stretched to the red roof? of Ravenna. Butterflies dipped among the roses. On lonf golden perches tro'dc buds preened vivi I wing A lithe young Saracen, his bare arms and legs clasped by rUer ban is, knelt in a corner tending some hawks who shook their gilded blinkers at a monkey chained by a jeweled girdle to the tcrricc wall. De Bracy mood indicating the seating of his guests. Young Williams and his fiancee entered, th woman a pace in advance Mic ha-i copied Ticpolo't "Woman in Green,'' and over her splendid hair she wore a head-net of diamonds and old cameos. With out waiting for De Bracy's hand, she swept to the head of the table. Hour after hour, marked by changinc shadows and struck by distant church bells, the dinner went on. Tumblers, iu,rdcrs, fortune-tellers, pefets wrestler-, capered, sang and made their appeal Finally, the curtains parted, revealing the greatest tenor of the age. "Ave Maria," he bang The monkey clashed his chain .am! charered. De Uracy signalled the young Saracen. "Take him out," he said. The Saracen bent, loosened the monkev's chain, made a misstep and fell. "He's got away!" Catch him!" shouted Waters. A cry from the women and a fury-fias'i lea, t upon the table scream on scream, as the motikev Hew in length and sprang straight at the head of 'Mrs Rc iliugton Blackburn an explosion of ve'.ls an 1 h jumped from her shoulders, clambering up th" swinging grapevines to the roof. There he sv chaf termg, picking at an Italian hairnet, while all around him flowed a copper mass of glorious bur. Below, Mrs Rcdington Blackburn cast her (,hss into Dc Bracy's face. "You beast," she hissed, her face, hard, old, seamed through its cracked enamel wl. lc in the r-1 glory of the setting sun her heal shone bald. "U is easily explained, Mr. Williams," said Dc Uracy. Her maid told my man that when she was m a retreat m the Austrian Tvrol she contracted a sickness that left her bald. So I had a monkey trained to snatch the head-net wherever he saw it. He saw it on Mrs. Blackburn. Did you sec that the 1 n 1 1 MfWl lTT l4t-tr,, - " ."Yes," grinned the ol ilr! tnnti "nwl AA 1his?" handing him a slip of paper. Mr. Williams," said De Bracy, "this check is too great. I am overpaid " "No, you ain't. You've saved the United Milling and give my wife a Christmas gift that'll make the rest of her life happy." i i-.u-it''i'J-iJti'l' .2.'