The Augusta herald. (Augusta, Ga.) 1914-current, March 18, 1914, Page FIVE, Image 5

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WEDNESDAY. MARCH 18. r^. Ts this doesn’t appeal there are forty nine other styles at LEVY'S to choose from Felts, Derbies, Panain as , Straws, Boukoffs. Whether it be the new Curling Flat Brim Derby or the soft High Telescope with the Scotch Plaid Band. Maybe a hew “Eng lish” Straw or a com fortable Pairin'* or Boukoff. For years we’ve held our reputation the easiest plnce to buy a Hat. Call in and see. THE J. WILLIE ■LEVY CO. BAILIE EDELBLUT FURNITURE COMPANY SPECIAL THURSDAY SALE Mahogany and Oak Costumers, full size, fine finish, $1.50 grade, going at 78 c $15.00 Metal Kitch en Cabinets, finished Oak. complete with fixtures, $6.38 Watch our Sunday’s ad on porch rockers April SO Days 14 PROLOGUE. "ft breaks the speed limit to smithereens. “ That's a candid opinion abort/ this story. There may hav> been swifter tales, but not re cently. It's an aeroplane of a yarn, movin’’ sn fast that yon lose your breath while yon fol low it. But you don't need any breath, anyway, because you for get about respiration v/ilh your eyes on reading of this kind. Every man has his day of day’ Yours may have come and yoi may be swimming in the full tidi of fortune. If so, read how P barite found his. If your ow > ■> is r, t!l in the offing, yoi n m >v /■ arnir.g how the littU s a k\ re l headed bookkeeper n n a f ::ne and an heiress Jed at h:s enemies and hat •> nc of e most amaxmg ad i c urr.i i r penned —all in less t me that akes the hour hand to roar.it ■ek dial twice. (Continued from Yesterday) Releasing the clonk, P. Sybnrit* withdrew to « respectful distance and held himself coolly alert against repri sals that never came. The other pick ed himself up quickly, cast about for the taxicab, discovered It swiftly mnk lng off. already forty yards distant, and with a howl of rage bounded through the gate and gave chase at the top or his speed as the taxi turned the northern corner. Gravely. P. Sybarite retrieved the stranger’s hat. Then he went back to the stoop and sat down Turning the affair over in his mind. P. Sybarite decided ifalrly enough) that It was on the whole mysterious, lend ing at least some color of likelihood to George’s gratuitous guesswork. Certainly it would seem that one now had every right to assume Miss Molly Lessing to be other than as she chose to seem. She might very well be Marian Blessington after all! In which case the man with the twisted mouth was, more probably than not. none other than that same Bayard Shaynon, whom the young lad.* was reported to have Jilted. Turning the topper over in his hands it suddenly occurred to P. Sybarite to wouder if he did not In It hold a vslu able clew to this enigma of Identity Promptly he took the hat Indoors to find out Investigating It most thor oughly by the flickering, bluish glare of the lonely gas Jet that burned In the hallway. It was n handsome and heavy hat of English manufacture. It carried nel ther name nor initials on Its lining, and lacked every least hint as to Its ownership—or, as It seemed, until the prying fingers of P. Sybarite turned dowD the leather and permitted a visit lng card concealed therein to flutter to the floor. The hall rack was convenient. Hang lng up the hat, P. Sybarite picked up the card. It displayed in conventionn 1 script the nnrne Bailey Per,field, with the address. 97 West Forty-fifth street One corner, moreover, bore a penciled hieroglyphic which seemed to read, "O K.-B P.” “Whatever.” P. Sybarite mused “that may mean.” I|e turned the card over and exam lned Its unmarked and taciturn re verse. Stealthy footstepe on the stairs dis tracted his studious attention from the card. He looked up to see George de srendlng with the wash pitcher wrap ped in. but by no means disguised, by brown paper. “Hel lo! Where’s Mollyr “Miss Leasing?” P. Sybarite looked surprised, "isn’t she upstairs—with Violet?” “No." “That's funny.” “Why. wben'd she leave you?” “Oh, ten minutes ago or so." “She must have stopped in her room for something.” "Perhaps.” “But why didn't yeu come up?” "Well, you see. I met a man outside I wanted to talk to for a moment, so I left her at the door.” “Well. Vi's waitin'. Run on up. 1 won't be five minutes. And knock on Molly's door and see wbat's the mat ter.” “All right” returned P. Sybarite se renely. CHAPTER IV. Wheels of Chance. HIS constructive mendacity llgh* Upon his conscience, P. Syba rite permitted George tlm enough to leave the bon and gain Clancy's, then quietly f ed_ as far as toe jutu, from SAe DAY OF DAYS By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCF Copyright. 1012. by (be Prank K Sunucv l point he cut across the southern si■: walk, turned nest to Ninth avenue and then north to For®'-second streci Here lie boarded a crosstown car. This was quite the most Insane freak In which he had indulged himself tin s many years, and. frankly mlmlttli t tills much, he was rather pleased ill otherwise. He was bound to call ,> Bailey Penfield and Inform that gen tlcman where he might find his lint. Incidentally he hoped to surprise som, thing or other Informing with regai to the fortunes of Miss Lessing Alighting at Sixth aveuue. lie walk ed to Forty-fifth street, turned off to ward Fifth avenue and In another mo nient was at a standstill In the ex tremest bewilderment before No. 97 By every normal Indication the him was closed and tenantless. From roe' to basement Its every window wn blind with shades close drawn. T'' front doors were closed, tbs basemen grating likewise. Disappointed In the conviction the' he had drawn a fnlse lead, the lit' man strolled on eastward a little di tance: then, on sheer luqiulse. gave i Ills project and. swinging about, stilt i ed to go home. But now ns he approached No 9" the second time a taxicab turned from Sixth avenue, slid to the cm before that dwelling and set down i< smallish young man dressed In the er. treme of fashion, who. negligent • handing a I ill to the chauffeur, ran nlm hly up the steps, rang the doorbell and promptly letting himself Into the dark vestibule, closed the door behind him The taxicab swung round and disap peared Not so P. Sybarite. I’re soundly Intrigued, he waited hopeful; for this second piidnight caller to re appear, hs battled ns himself. Bm though he dawdled away a patient In minutes, nothing of the sort occurred nere was mystery within mystcr Indeed! Why (P. S.vburite asked him self with impatience) need be remain outside when another entered tin bouse without let or hindrance? Upon this thought he turned boldi up the steps, pressed the bell button laid hold of (lie doorknob and entered into a vestibule as dark as his bewii dernient and as empty ns the palm oi hts hand, proving that the young gen tleman of fashion had experienced n dlfiiqulty in penetrating farther lnl- V “Well, what do you want?” fastnesses of this singular establish ment. In reflecting that where one had gone another might follow, P. Syb arite pulled the door behind him. Instantly the bare and narrow ves tlbule was flooded with the merciless glare of half a dozen electric bulbs, and at the same time he found himself suataluing tbe Intent scrutiny of n pair of inhospitable dark eyes aet in an impassive dark face, which last was abruptly disclosed in the frame of a small grill In one of tbe liner doors. “Well," he was gruffly asked, "wbat do you want?” Irritating discourtesy Inhered in the speaker’s tone. P. Sybarite stiffened hts neck. “To see Bailey Penfield,” he returned firmly, “of course " “No such party here,” was the an swer. Tbe man drew back and made as if to shut tbe grill. “Nonsense!" P. Bybarite Insisted sharply. ”1 have Iris card with this number. Gut it from him only to night" "Card?” The face returned to the grill. P. Bybarite mode no bones about dls playing Ids alleged credential. "I believe you’ll find that authentic.' be observed with asperity. By way of Hnswer the grill closed with a snap. But his Inclination to kick the door was nullified when with out further delay it opened to admit him. Nose In air. he strutted In, and tbe door bunged behind him. THE AUGUSTA HERALD. AUGUSTA, GA. Tic slots! in llie main hull of an olu fashioned residence. To his right s double doorway revealed s drawing room luxuriously furnished, but. ns far as lie could determine, quite uiitennni ed On the left a long staircase bug gisl tile wall, with n glow of warm ; light at Its head. To the rear the hall ended in a single doorway, through which lie could see a hamtsome nin hogany buffet, elaborately arranged with shimmering da mask, silver and crystal “It's all right." announced the ward en of the grill, his suspicions to nil seeming completely allayed "Mr Pen field ain't In lust at present, but"-here he grinned shrewdly "I reckon you ain't so dead set on aeelit' him ns you made out. Will you go right on up oi would you like* a bite of somethin' to eat first?" At the mere hint of food a frightful pang of hunger transfixed P. Sybarite Abandoning false pride P Sybnrit, yielded: "I don't mind if I do. thank yon.” "Straight on back; Pete’ll take car, of you all right " A thumb I lid lent tat the door in the rear of Hn It’ll P Sybarite found the hack room one of gmsl proportions whatever tin* architect’s original inteii tlon. now serving as a combined lounge and grill: richly anil comfortably fur Dished In sober, masculine fashion, boasting in all three buffets set forth with a lavish display of food and drink In one of many deeply upholstered club chairs a gentleman of mature years and heavy body, with a scarlet face and a crumpled, wine stained shirt bosom, whs slumbering serenely; two thirds of an extravagant cigar cold be tween Ills fingers. In others two young men were confabulating quietly, but I with a most dissipated sir. heads to gether over a brace of glasses. At a corner service table a negro In a white Jacket was busy with ii sliver chafing dish, which exhaled a tantalizing aroma. The negro, at she entrance of P Ryb arite. glanced quickly over his shonl der. and, Neelng a strange face, clap ped (he cover on the chafing dish. "Yas-suh -cornin'!" he gabbled “It’s abo’ a pleasure to see you' again " “At least." suggested P. Sybarite, dropping into n clialr. “it will be, next time.” “That's right, sub-that’s the troof!” The negro plHced a small table adja cent to his cllsiw. "Tha's what Ah alius says to strange gemmen fust time they comes hyeh. suh; makes 'em feel more at home like. Jus' lemme know what Ab kin do for yo’ tonight. That 'ere lobstuh Newburg’s Jus’ about prime fo' entln' this very minute, es yo' feel s lilt peckish." "I do.” P. Sybarite admitted. "Just a spoonful”— ”An' uh 111 drink, suh? Jus* one HI Inncrcent cocktail to fix yo’ mouth right?” “If yon Insist, Pete—ls you Insist." “Yas-suh; and wlf the lobstuh. suh. Ah venture to suggest a nice, cold 111 ha’f pint of champagne?” The negro waddled away, returned and offered the guest a glass brim ming with amber tinted liquid. Tender morsels of lobster smothered In cream and sherry, piping hot; daiotl est possible wafers of bread and butter embracing leaves of pale lettuce; a hoi low stemmed glass effervescent with liquid sunlight of a most excellent bouquet—and then another; these serv ed not in the least to subdue P. Hyba rlte’s Internal Jubilation. Finally "the house,” through the medium of Its servitor. Insisted that be top off with a cigar. Ten years since bis teeth bad grip ped a Fancy Tales of Smoke! Now. It mustn't be understood that P. Sybarite entertained any mlsappre henshms as to the nature of the in stitutlon Into which he had stumbled. He bad not needed the sound, some tlmee In quieter moments audible from upstairs, of a prolonged whir, ending In several staccato clicks, to make him shrewdly cognizant of Its questionable character. So at Ipngth, satiate and a little weary—drawn by curiosity besides—be rose, endowed Pete lavishly with a handful of small change, something over fiO cents—all he had In the werld aside from his cherished g&— and slow ly ascended to the second floor. Here In remodeling the house for Its present purposes partitions bad arbl trarlly been dispensed with. Aside from that inclosing tbe well es the stairway, the floor was one large reom wholly devoted to seme half a dozen games of chance. Upon ail the gaming tables maaslva electric domes concentrated their light The walls, otherwise severely un adorned, were covered with lustrous golden fabric; the windows were Invls Ible, cloaked In splendid golden hang lngs; tbe carpet, golden browa la tone was of a velvet pile so heavy that It completely muffled tbe sound of foot steps, indeed, tbe room was singular ly silent for one that barhqred some twosoore players In addition to a full corps of dealers, croupiers, watchers and wslters. The warmth of the room was noticeable. A brief survey of tbe gathering con etneed P. Hybarita that, barring the servants, he was s lonely eiceptlon to the rule of evening drees. Bat this discovery discomfited him not at all. With an eye alert for the man with the twisted mouth be strutted from table to table ostensibly ns little 111 at ease as a press agent in a theater lobby. A few minutes sufficed to demon j ■trate that tbe owner of tbe abandoned hat was not among those present, which fact, coupled with the doorkeep er's averment that Mr. Bulley Penfield was not, persuaded P. Sybarite that 1 tbe former was neither more nor less than the proprietor of this gaming house. (To Be Continued Tomorrow.) THE WISE DRY ROODS GO’S. Special Sale of Spring 1914 WASH GOODS Cord' d Ratines, in black and besl col ors, at 35* $1.25 40 inch Silk Ratines, all new shades, at 9 8* 27 inch fine Silk Finish Pongee Linens, in black, white and leading shades, at .. ...35* 50e 30 inch Linen Crash Suiting in natural colors, at 35* 36 inch Dark Grey Linens, worth 50c, at . 39* 20c Brown Dress Linens, at 14* 27 inch black, white and colored Ratines, worth 35c per yard, at 29* Genuine Irish Poplins, worth 35c, at .. ..25* 27 inch Poplins, worth 20c per yard, at .15* JDc Figured Crep s special at 10* The best grade galateas in a big range of new patterns and colors, at Big range of the very Intest things in Crepes, at 12i/ 2 <, 19*, 25*, 35*, 50*, 75*, SI.OO, and $1.25. Anderson’s 32 inch Ginghams in a big range of beautiful spring styles with solids to match, at ' 15* Spring Ginghams, worth 12 1 /.e, at 10* 71/jC Apron Ginghams, at 5* Regular 12 1 /*e new Spring Percales, at ..10* 10c yard wide Percales, at B%* Regular 25c and 35c Madras, yard wide madras in an xceptionally good range of patterns for men’s shirts, tomorrow only at 19* FIVE