Newspaper Page Text
. — K -
DAY OF
DAYS
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
C«P7rtght, mt I; a* Fraik A. Money C*
PROLOGUE.
"It breaks the speed limit to
smithereens. ”
That's a candid opinion about
this story. There may have
been swifter tales, but not re
cently. It’s an aeroplane of a
yarn, moving so fast that you
lose your breath while you fol
low it. But you don’t need any
breath, anyway, because you
forget about' Respiration with
your eyes on reading of this
kind.
Every man has his day of
days. Yours may have come
and you may be swimming in
the f ill tide of fortune. If so,
read how P. Sybarite found
his. If your own ship is still
in the offing, you will enjoy
learning how the little spunky
red headed bookkeeper won a
fortune and an heiress, foiled
all his enemies and had some
of the most amazing adven
tures ever penned—all in less
time than it takes the hour
hand to round the clook dial
twice.
(Continued from Yesterday).
P. Sybarite* removed hla gnld and
thoughtfully cached It under one of the
cushions of his cab. It seemed a Ion#
change to fake with $100. but $U*0
wasn’t a great deal, after all, to
msi. flush as be, and better lose it
all, said he. than make a oolao like a
peripatetic mint In a den of thieves
•nd worse.
The cab drawing np to the curb, out
P. Sybarite hopped. *a dollar In hand
for the chauffeur, and with It th. id*
monition: "I’m keeping yon. Walt 11
I come out if I’m all night and do 't
let your motor die. 'causa 1 may m
a hurry.” r-fy.'
"Gotchar said the chauffeur tersely,
and. pocketing the bill, lighted a dga
rette.
P. Sybarite held back an Instant to
Inspect the approach.
Since this was a Sunday morning It
was decorously dull to the street the
doors to the bar were closed, and the
lights within were low and drowsy
Even the side door, giving access to
the corridor by wblcb one gained the
"restaurant*’ was dosed much of the
time.
A row of vehicles lined the curb,
•mong them a single taxicab of decent
appearance.
Now, as P. Sybarite went to enter
Dutch House shadows appeared on the
ground glass of the aide door, and,
opening with a Jerk, it let out a gush
of fetid air and together with Respect
ability on the prowl—Incognito, sly fur
tire of air and In haste.
He paused for a bare Instant on the
threshold, affording P. Sybarite oppor
tunity for a good, long look.
•’Two-thirty.*' said RafpectabJlJty
brusquely over his shoulder.
The man behind him growled an In
distinct affirmation. **TwQ*tblrty; don't
worry; I’ll be on the Job."
"And take care of that boy.”
'Grab It from me. bon. when h,
*akes up he won't know wb.re be',
been."
The door closed, and Respectability
w, “ rudely Jostled by P. Sybarite.
'1 he ebony und gold cane of Respect-
•hiiity quivered In mid air.
“Put down that cane. Mr. Brian
ehaynon,” said P. Sybarite peaceably.
*lth you In a way to let all New York
«n ,w how you apend your wee ama'
hoiira!" »
'Vlth a gasp (prudently lowering hla
, kl Mr. Sbaynon bent to peer Into
Jhe face expoacd aa P. Sybarite puahed
'-h hla bat. stared an Instant. gog-
* >ng. wheeled about and flung heavily
buynrd hla taxicab.
The Bizarre:' wheezed be to the
chauffeur, and dodging In banged tba
ooor.
CHAPTER VIII.
Wh.ra Angela Fear to Tread.
A S for P. Sybarite, he watebed the
vehicle awing away and round
L •he corner of 8eventb avenue,
a allgbt Ironic amlle wreathing
*“ ‘ lp * that had abown auch hatred.
»b a algb. abating himself together,
h* wen Into Dutch House. r
The main floor waa strewn with ta-
, which sat a motley gather-
g of gangatera. foola, woman, confl-
men . gambling tout, and the
Winkling nf drunkards, for and by
>m tba place waa and la maintained.
__ 0 * n<1 out among tbeao circulated
•orpa of ablabodled waiters, with soil-
«»hlrt bosoms, iron Jaw, and not In
frequently cauliflower ears.
"Pying out P. Sybarite, one of these
we down upon him with ee elr of tb»
“W uttering camersdMle.
“Well, bo," grunted he cheerfully,
polishing off the top of the table with
a eatureted towel: “yob don’t come
round's often as y’uster."
“That's a fact." murmured P. Syba
rite. Where's Red?"
"MacMsnus?" aaked the waiter, be
ginning to believe that this strange
little creature must be a '‘regular'' of
the “bunch"—one whose name end
face had slipped hla memory.
“November,” P. Sybarite corrected.
"Oh. he's stick In' around — pretty
busy tonight. Wouldn't fuse him. 'f I
waa ynh. 'less It's somethin' extra.”
“I make you." eald the little man.
"But this Is bit business. Tell him 1
have a message for him. will you?"
t "Just aa you uy. bo.” returned Ike
other cautiously! "What's It goln' to
be? Bucket of grape or a tub of suds?"
"Do I look like the foolish water.?*'
Inquired P. Sybarite with mild resent
ment. "Back me up a shall of lather.”
Then fell a brief lull In the melange
of music and tongues, during which a
boyish voice lifted up In clear remon
atrnnee at a table some three removed
from that at which P. Syharlf. ait:
“But 1 don't want anything more to
drink I"
P. Sybarite looked that way. The
owner of the voice (now again drown
ed outi was a youngster of apparent
ly twenty years—not more—clean of
limb and fentnre. with a hot flush
discoloring hla good looking face, s
beetle glitter In hla eyes and a stub
born smile on hla lips. He waa plain
ly Intoxicated, but aa yet at a stage
sufficiently mild to admit of hla recog
nlelng the self evident truth, tbit hr
needed not another drop.
Yet his companions would hav. him
drtnk more deeply. Of these one was
a woman, handaome. In a daring and
costly gown and aa yet not ao old. but
In whom eye. flickered a curious,
febrile glare.
The other wai a mu singularly
handsome In a foreign way—Italian, at
on Indifferent gnats—.light tnd graire
ful of person In well tailored If some-
wbat flashy clothing, displaying too
mneb Jewelry.
The mualc stopped altogether for e
time, and again the boy's vote, rang
out clearly:
“Tell you—-r. bad enough. I don't
want—lie down Jus' for few minutes
I'm goln' tit here tUl them ah—foolish
lega o' mlna straighten 'emsolves out
then'm going home."
“Here's your bur. bo,” P. Sybarite*!
waiter announced.
“Keep yonr change," uld the guest
teuderlng a quarter.
"T-anke," with a look of surprise.
“There's Red now.”
"Where r
“Over there with the skirt and the
kid sonse. Yub kin see for yourself
he's busy. D’yub want I sb’u'd stir
him up now?"
"Ob, yea,” said P. Sybarite In the
tone of one recognizing an oversight.
"What's doing orar there—anything?"
be proceeded carnally.
Th. waiter favored him with a bard
stare. "Red November*! business ain't
none'r mine.” he growled curtly.
"Ob,'* aald the little man hastily, "I
waa only wondering. But I wish you
would alip Red the high sign. All 1
want la one word with him.”
"All right. You’re on.”
Slouching off, the man at length
mustered up courage to touch Red's
elbow. The gangster turned sharply, a
frown replacing the smile which had
Illumined hit attempts to overcome the
boy's recently developed aveislon lo
drink. The waiter murmured In hie
private ear.
Promptly P. Sybarite received
•harp look from eyes as black and
bard as shoe buttons, and with equa
nimity endured It—oven went to the
length of n nod accompanied by bis
quaint. Ingratiating amlle. A courtesy
ignored cuuipieieij. the dark ayes rear
ed back to the waiter's face.
He shuffled back.’ scowling, reported
sulkily "Says yon gotta wait" and turn
ed away In nnswer to a summons from
another table.
Unrnffled. P. Sybarite sipped hla
beer—sipped It sparingly and not with
out misgivings, bat sedulously to keep
In character aa a familiar of th* dive.
“I won't—that', flat! I refuse posi
tively—go upstairs-sleep It off. I'm
a'right—give you m'word—In th. head. |
All my trouble's—there mutinous doga
of legs. Rut I'll make 'em mind, yet.
Trust me"—
And again lb. babel blotted ont tba
boy's utterance.
But P. Sybarite had experienced a
sudden rush of Intelligence to the
bead.
Could this, by any chance, bo “that
boy" who. Mr. Brian Sbaynon bad
been, assured, wouldn't know where
he’d been when be waked? Wet aa
attempt to Insure that dealred consum
mation through the agency of a drug
being made In tbe open restaurant?
If not. why waa Red November neg
lecting all other affaire to press drink
upon a man who knew when bo bad
enough? If so. wbat might »•« the na
ture of the link connecting tbe boy
svlth the "Job" to be on which at half
post 2 November bad corenaotod with
Brian Sbaynon?
Wbat Incriminating knowledge coaid
this boy possess to render old Sbaynon
willing that bis memory, should bo
expurgated by such a mind and nerve
■battering agent aa tbe knock out drop
of White Light commerce?
It seemed unlikely that the boy eonld
get away against the wishes of tbe
gang leader, however steadfastly he
might stand upon hla determination to
drink no more. For nothing waa to be
hoped for from tbe balance of the
company. They would not lift a hand
to Interfere.
Testimony In rapport of this Infer
ence P. Sybarite received within the
next few minutes, when the boy's tem
per abruptly veered from good natured
obduracy to open Irritation.
“No:" he cried In a high voice, and
with an Impatient movement (truck
the glass from November's hand.
Though It went to the floor with n
splintering crash, the Incident attract
ed little more than casual glances from
those at the other tables.
Novetnber’e countenance, however,
turned gray with anger beneath hla ol-
lve color. Momentarily hla glance
clashed with the woman's. At the
same time he flashed a like warning
to bla two followers at the next table.
At thla P. Sybarite row and non-
chalantly moved over to November.
Hla approach remarked by the latter
with an evil leer, by tbe woman with
a start of consternation, by tbe boy
with sodden suspicion.
With relief P. Sybarite noted symp
toms of this dawning distrust. It
made the problem simpler, to have the
boy alive to bla peril.
'Tve a message for you—a burry call
—won’t keep"—
'Well T* snapped the gangster.
•What's It about? Spit It nutl”
'Why, Nells says"— P. Sybarite be
gan deliberately and paused to cough
politely behind hla hand, and leant-.!
confidentially over the table.
At this Juncture tbe boy pushed back
hla chair and rose.
•Pardon me. m’ dear; I'm golp'
borne." be said thickly to tho w, man.
"Ah. alt down." Interrupted Novem-
mer quickly, pitching hla protest ac
cents to n key of cajolery unlike the
tone with which he hud greeted P.
Sybarite—“ait down and hav, another.
Wbat'a your hurry?"
"No," tha boy Inalsted. "I'm going
borne. Lo' mo alone."
"Nells," P. Sybarite Interrupted In an
Imperative tone; and succeeded mo
mentarily In distracting November’s
attention—"Nells says to tell you abe
wants you—now—Immediately. Do
you get that?"
"D—n Nella!" snapped the gang
leader. "Tell bor to go to the devil.
P. Sybarite Tipped Up th* Table.
And you”—be menaced P. Sybarite
with a formidable look—“you slide
outa here-ln a hurry! See?”
With thla, rising In bla place, ho put
forth a hand to grasp the arm of the
boy, who waa aullauly pushing paat
the woman.
"Wait!” be Instated. "You can't go
before you pay up '—
Whipping from bis pocket a note (of
wbat denomination be oever knew—
but It waa largei, P. Sybarite slapped
It down upon tho table.
"Tbit'll pay whatever he owes," be
announced: and to the boy: “Clear
ont — quick — do you hear? — while
you're got a chanco"—
“What business la It of yours?" No
vember demanded, turning upon him
furiously.
With an enigmatic amlle, P. 8yba
rite dexterously tipped up bla aide of
tbe table, and. overturning It. eaugbt
the gangater unprepared for any such
maneuver, and planing him, squirm
lug. in the angle of wall and floor.
Immediately tho woman came to her
feet shrieking, while the little ,man
selxed the befuddled boy and swung
him toward the door.
Simultaneously, November's hench
men at the adjoining tnhle leaped Into
tbe brew) with an ala<|||iy that sent
their chairs clattering lieck upon the
floor.
But In his msgnlflcent assurance. P
Sybarite had foreseen and planned cun
ningly against precisely that same
emergency. Ao sooner had be sent tho
boy staggering oc bis way than be
whirled completely round wltb a ready
guard, and In DO more than the very
wink of exigence.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow.)
. An element of nobility must come
rato our political life, our corernment.
our legislation, uur JourcalUm. «t
will coma to ns through .our women
and tor workman--Henrik Ibsen.
Father Galllard. locksmith and me
chanic in the village of la Saulaie,
was a very smart old fellow. No one
In the whole neighborhood for many
miles around had ever seen his equal
for repairing all kinds of machinery,
no matter how modern or complicat
ed. He had even made hlmaelf. out
of all kinds of odds and ente, a com
pleto automobile, which, tnough I
could not perhaps compare with i
Panhard or Dxlmler, worked wonder
fully well and never got out of order.
Motorists who broke down near la
Haulaie unanimously proclaimed Gall-
lard a marvel of ingenuity and re
sourcefulness and regretted the fact
that they could not always arrange
to break down within reach
shop.
Decides being a smart mechanic,
Galllard waa a Jolly, pleasant old fel
low. fond of a chat and a social glass
of wine and exceedingly popular with
everybody.
The people of la Soulaie said that
he had only on© fault and that was
Ms mad Idea that ho was able to con
struct a perpetual motion machine and
Jhe older he grew the stronger grew
also his conviction, until hla friends
became quite worried about him. The
one who worried most waa his daugh
ter Jeanne, a pretty girl with a pi
quant little pug nose, sparkling eyes
and a perfect figure.
In vain all the wise-acres of ths
neighborhood, the school ■ tescher, ths
priest, the doctor and tbe government
road (inspector and surveyor told old
Galllard he was simply wanting bis
time trying. iu evlvg £ preMem tbs*
could not be solved, that he might aa
well pour water Into a bottomless bar
rel. He was as stubborn as a mule
and refused to listen.
"My Idea*” be said, ‘‘la to make a
mill driven net by water but by leaden
hour than for a century.’*
"Really you ought to have more
sense, father,” said Jeanne. "You
have plenty of paying work and with
butter at ita present price, you ought
to attend strictly to your business.”
“That la right,” Mid Jollot. ‘‘Mad
emoiselle Jeanne la always right.”
He was very much in love with
Jeanne and spent considerable of his
time courting her and aa he waa >a
handsome and gay young fellow he
was quite successful.
But Kalllard would hear nothing
of their marrh
"She will marry only the man who
invents a perpetual motion machine
or who helps me to Invent one,” he
said.
' In that case,” aald Jollot **I an
very much afraid Mademoiselle Jean
ne will die an old maid."
Seeing, however, that It was impos
sible to persuade the old man, Jollot
suddenly changed tactics and began to
humor him.
1 have thought the matter over,”
ho said one day, “and being in the me
chanic line myself, I have come to the
conclusion that there ta no reason why
it should be Impossible to make such a
machine on your plan.”
I thought you would see it” ex
claimed Galllard delighted. **I give
you my word that I will accept you
as my son-in-law the very day you
prove to me that you have succeeded.”
A few days latsr Jollot came rush
ing Into Galllard’s workshop crying:
"I shall make it work. I will be a
success. Come and see for yourself.
It will be a success as soon aa I hsve
shop und ths model of your mill gnd
you must promise me to let me have
the key and not come near me or thla
place until I am ready."
Galllard willingly consented and
Jollot went to work. For a week he
his baste to get out of the shop ran
against the table and nearly upset
the mill which Immediately stopped.
"What a clumsy fool I am,” he cried,
‘now all my efforts ars lost I shall
have to begin all over again. The
machine Is so delicately balanced, the
least Jar upsets it”
"Oh. never mind,” Mid Galllard,
“the principle la eatabllshed. That la
the essential thing. The rest la only
a matter of patleaos.”
"That Is true,” assented Jollot "I
shall soon get it repaired.”
But he kept the shop as tightly
locked as before.
The wedding was celebrated with
HAS AMBITION TO FOLLOW
OPERATIC CAREER
shot auch as you use in your guns. A | spent 4II his tlmd in the shop, tak-
current of shot will turn the wheel and | t n g his meals with Galllard and Jtan-
all I have to do Is to Invent a wsy to
make the shot raise Itself to Its origl
nul position above the wheel.”
"That ought not to be difficult," said
the Ignorant peasants, ’’and there Is
no doubt that a smart fellow Ilka
you can mukr tl.at work,” And the
approval of these common people
cheered up Galllard wonderfully.
Ha locked himself up for hours at
a time in his workshop at the bottom
of the ykrd and invented more and
more Improvements on his wonderful
mill. But In spite of the perfectly
balanced wheel, the splendid ball bear
ings, and the most expensive lubricat
ing oil It did not come up to his ex
pectations. It would work perfectly
for a few moments but then it would
slow down ana finally stop altogether.
The Inventor grew more and more
miserable and tor© bla hair in despair
at every new failure.
”Oh,** he would sigh. ”lf I could
only make it work for an hour!”
"Why don’t you give It up?” said tits
neighbor Jollot.* k young watchmaker
who had recently * moved into the vtl-
Uge, "U will no more run for aa I
no to aave time.
1 One day at dinner he said
If I make the machine run for half
an hour, will that satisfy you that
have succeeded, Galllard?”
"Certainly,” aald Galllard. "If It will
run for half an hour It will run for
ever.
The next day In the afternoon he
came out beaming with Joy.
"It la ready for your inspection.
Oalllard.”
Galllard Jumped to hla feet and run
Into the workshop where he found the
mill running a little /lowly but evi
dently gathering speed. It went on
rmcothly for over half an hour und
Galllard wept with Joy.
'Now I shall die ronfont.” he cried.
“Jeanne come and see the machine
"I think Jeanne went to the grocer
a little while ago,” said Jollot. “And
will you let me publish the
hannsT’
Galllard looked at the ml!! wht~h
was still running swiftly and aald;
Any lima you want to. Just look
arter that yourself."
Jollot didn't waste any time, but In
a (rent feast and everybody con
gratulated th* happy young couple
who had conquered Gatllard'a atub>
barnneaa. After th* wedding break*
teat Galllard aaked for th* key of
th* shop, which his eoa In tew read
ily turned over to him, and h* want
Inside to examine the mllL It did not
take him Iona to discover that one of
the lea* of the table bad been hollow-
ed out to alve room Iter a shaft which
connected wltb a crank outside la th*
rear at the shop, very cleverly conoeal-
•d. He had been cheated, done, At
rtfat he grew furious hut then th,
tears came Into hla eyes,
"Don't be sad, father," aald Jeanne
who had followed behind him with her
husband and threw her arms around
hla neck. "It waa I who turaad th*
crank that awful lose half hoar. w.
Just had' to chtaL
'Love la worth more than mechan
ics," said Jollot.
But the disappointed Inventor re-
fused to he comforted.
THE END OF A GREAT CAREER.
Ho had often been In battle and oa-
„ fc «p*d without a
H, had met stampeded cattle and
been much more than their
,, , match;
He had roughed It In x'»*?*. and
the
LADY DUPFERIN.
London,—Next month London will
am the debut of Lady Dufferln aa a
public singer.
The Marchioness of Dufferln, who
before her mintage to the Eteri of
Avon waa Mlaa Flora Davis of New
York, I* eald to hare a trained vole*
of rare soprano quality sad enormous
power.
To her Intimate friends Lady Put-
ferln la aald to hav* oonflded her am
bition to follow en operatic career.
She explained by (tying that as she
hi,l given up her earlier Ilf* to the
rearing of her three children and aa
they no longer required her absolute
attention, she felt Justified, In follow*
tng her great ambition. -Rh* says
that bar career as a singer la *f more
Interest to bar than the rectal Ufa
aa th* wife of a British pier.
H* had roughed it In Alaska.
lace* from hlg shoes.
Ha had been a reckleee rover and i
lived In many lands;
H* bad driven camels orar great I
_ haras burning lands-
H ' h ?o.S!Vi{SJ5.. ,,Te
He had bean a Texas ranger and
„ ’ : daring armyTcSit;
Ha had been through every ,d
H.had^'i'EffioTV
Ires steeplejack;
From tho poles to the equator bo I
traveled and come back,
Ha could almost freeze one’s marrow
whan ha had. ths wish to try:
Hla escape waa mighty nSivw whan
„ he waa a Russian spy;
But he'll wade no more through
slaughter, for ha a red hla i
tal coil
When he drank a glua of water that
his wife forgot te baa.
—Chicago Rocord-Heruld.
NOT 50 LONESOME.
Tba new summer
over tba pieturesqua New J
itaSrnoted I
It’s beautiful!
tha.boas farmer,
close by. "But. aren't yen .
—so tor from th* village and i
bora?“
"Lomesome!” echoed the farmer. l_
genulns astonishmant -TFldr„on a
clear day wa can see Mocst Wash
ington!"—Everybody**. <
VERY gERIOUE INTENTIONS.
-Sea here, yoong man." eald tho
■tern parent aa h* entered tha parlor,
-yon have been catting on my daugh
ter rotter ITOwnaHjvjrr"^*”™ -
Intentions serious?” .
“They certainly are,
th* young man. “I’m
piano for