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NO MAN'’S v
LAND A noMARCE
ByoIOUIS JOSCPH VANCE
SmAMWUSTRATIONS BY Ay iy™2
CHAPTER 1,
A gentleman who, leaving hia offices
on lower BHroadway a trifie after four,
presently ensconced himself In a cor |
mer seat of a Subway express and
opened before him a damp aflterspon
paper (with an eye for the market
Teports) was surprised, when the |
traln crashed heavily fnto the Fowr |
teenth Street station, to find himasel! |
afoot and making for the door: thls
although hia (ntention had besn to
alight at Grand Central. Thus 1t may
be, that trickster in us all, which we
are accustomed vaguely 1o denomd
Date the subconsclous mind directs
Qur actions to an end predestined é
Surprised, he bhesitated: and for
that was rewarded by baving his Beels
trodden by the passenger bebind This
decided him, absurdly escugh, asd he |
went on and oul, solascing himeel!
with & muttered something bardly
definite. about a stroll benefiting him
SO, transferring to & local trals, be
alighted at Twentythird Sirest
citmbed the stalrs asnd proceeded
briskiy west, bdufleted by & rowdy
wind.
Striking diagonally across Madlsos
Square Park. past the drearily jetling
fountaln and between arvays of emply
benches scarcely beggariy (eince That
class had doseried ithem for warmer
lovnging places) he turned porthward
on Filth Aveaue, threading the sariy
evening throngs with & spring of 1=
patience in his stride 'c dlstance s
ual competition, and zecelved upon &
mind otill Impressfonabie for ali thal
it had ample tood for meditation and
nureed a private grievances a variely
©of pleasurable suggestions
Dusk. the early viclet dusk of la'e
November, brooded ever ilhe ity
blurring ts harsh costours eabdulog
its too biatant youth, leadiag sz ¥
toslon resembiing the dim epchas!
went of astiquity
Near Twenty ninth Siree! he eheck
«d sharply and stood Leteßy deolating
something suggested by sight of »
shop window well knowg 1o him
“It might save Lime: one tusr As
well be sure--"
Turning. bhe descended & palr of
stone steps and crossed s Sagged
area 'o a door set al one side of &
window dressed with a confusion of
©odd. eoticiof things: a dlapiay that
tempted the aye with the colors of the
ralpbow fainting ander weight of
years and dust. A bell tinkled over
tead as be opened and shut the door,
letting himself into & deep and sar
row room crowded with a heterogen
eoufs assemblage of objects that giam
mered with weird splendor In a sem!
gloom made visible by haif a dozen
electric bulbs generously spaced. (o
the rear, beyond a partitioning screen,
shone a warmer light
" For the moment he saw no one. Ad:
veuclq‘ s few paces he bhalted, wall.
ing.
From behind the screen, ut the back
©of the shop, the proprietor appeared,
soft stepping, smiling to greet a good
customer of discerning taste. The lat
ter went to meet him with a pleasant
air of liking.
“Good evening, Mr. Miller—"
‘Good evening, Mr. Coast. . Some
thing | can show you this evening?”
“The telephone, If you please”
Coast laughed a little and was an
swered cheerfully.
“Certainly. This way.”
He was conducted behind the
screen, where, beneath a strong light,
an assistant at a jeweler's bench sat
Jaboriously occupled with some task
of delicate artifice, He looked up as
Coast entered, with a greeting cordl
ally returned. Coast went directly to
the telephone, a wall instrument, un
hooked the recelver and detalled a
number to Central. The proprietor
disappeared into” an adjoining room.
An instant later Coast spoke again.
“That you, Soames? . . . This
18 Mr. Coast. ]s Miss Katherine at
home? . . . Then will you find
.out, please. Ask her if she has time
to see me for a few moments before
- dfnper.- ~ . . Very well”
-_There was a lengthening pause, dur
4ng Wwhich the antique dealer ‘silently
' returned, his genfal eye alternating
between Coast and a crystal decanter
‘e had fetched. :
“Yes, Central, walting.” Coast put
his hand over the transmitter and
wagged a reproving head. “Going to
try to poison.me, Miller?”
“Just a drop of ald brandy, Mr.
‘Coast+-very old, from my home in
France.”
- Coast nodded, recalled to the tele
ptone. “Hello, Soames. . . . Very
well, Tell her I called, please. . . .
No! no message, thank you. Goodby.”
As he bung up the receiver, a warn
4ng tintinnabulation sounded at the
front door. Miller, busy with glasses,
et tn saistant. * o that.
éfi oo !&g :m E
‘%B, Chariey, -ne Bald, 100 ABSISLAAL
siipped Trom Bis seat, swiiohed o 8
wore lght is the froat of ihe ehed
apd vantabed round ihe sreen
As be €4 s, Const Begid the Tow
ble of & man's volow followad 83 &
woman's risgieg wegh. & heught e
loud.
unummu.amm!
bowed. tool M and held M e Bis Bpe
for & moment wihowt wWatipg ledas
18g the mellow bonguet of the Bpuer
“That te goed ” be sadl Bl stpged
“The very beat M7z Const Thewe's
ifithe like ¥t out of Praien ™
“Te gind | thought of Ingentag o
your good selure”
“Why, o s L My Nieade Wi W
ware weltome .o« Your heaiih
Mr Comst”
“And youre Me MWilies *
Ther dranh coromaniowely Twonel
put dows an ssmpry ghase “Thetl ™ e
declared Trom the iiam o & *on
Sretuiaied Beast “wae deilctons
“Anciher drep™
“No Abealetely saf I seuid W
spire me 56 117 W By ol e sdeg
e affered ks Sand “Ceed aight end
thask you”
“Gend sight Mr Coaet *
On Bis war out, Cossl dad an e
fereat glamce for 18 Sasimmere & &
i |
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P 4 B
“I'm a Pereistent Beggar, You Know, Katherine.”
show case near the w«indow, The
woman stood with her back turned,
chattering volubly to the assistant In
indifferent French: a small, slight og
ure with arms uplifted. bholding »
chain of gold and imperial jade to the
light. Beside her the man loomed
solldly, his heavy proportions exag:
gerated by a furlined coat, his atten
tive pose owning a trace of proprie
tary Interest. As Coast drew near he
looked up and faced about, stripping
off a glove.
“Why, h'ar'ye, Coast!"”
Tone and manner pruclaimed the
encounter of old friends. Perforce
Coast took his hand, pausing, then
dropped It, with a grave “Good even
ing, Blackstock.” His distaste for the
man affected him Intensely, but he
tried to conceal it beneath a forced
banality: “Early Christmas shopping,
eh?”
“Not exactly.” Blackstock slurred
explanations. “I've just been trying
to get you on the telephone.” .
Coast’s eyebrows underlined his sur
prise. “Yes?” o
“Yes., Thought you might care for
a hand at bridge tonight; just a few
of us at my rooms: Van Tuyl, Truax,
Dundas, yourself and me. We'll cut
in and out. What d’ye say?”’
Coast’s acceptance followed an in
stant’s consideration. Had the invi
tation been extended him at any time
before noon of that same day, his re
fusal would have been prompt if
qualified by an invented engagement.
Now, however, after what the day had
rumored of the man, he was inclined
to grasp an opportunity to study him,
to seo as much of him as possible—llit
tle as he cared to see anything of him,
“What o'clock?” ¢ :
_.“Ob, between nine and_ ten—any
time. You know where i hang out?
Sesaed A 8 sree st g Balh
fepane e ERbcw Daavels Canet s
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pm”mmmi
Thet Sendi Sedersiad ¥ sad S el
ah Beewetets wew Bod esk g
ebl Saned awe) Tee e e
R as sl silude RgEßeitee
W ek Weselariien Casel Besed W
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hthes Faaeter o we Bt S
| Cnes.
e sehied e M« eeal
Sand whans oeeeiie Yae & e
e feead. Tee Beaed st ey
;u-munm el
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Caad Tes emieaed peas dekatng
lmmmuwanm
L N T
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The Befabelor Gt s oy Baew
Have poe tean B
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Pagneis Bus mew | anaed Sas S
Swe Fesater ]
wagha
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Cwbiien of twiel addl gustac 00l Wl
sommdagied laetead of siling he
el wadmhel Lie grureedes aass W
el Weliag B B hoeals eel
gAN Ehe e aliler B Uhed W
e e e proemaed lonwasd
e Saghlly i Bew B e REiegee:
ee ol ehEViess of A M e e
|ty Bed gresthed Yo
| & Pessienh Burews Se pelind & o
il sentlend Bodmm el gadtae Pron
Lilhe Sl e eieasde o ke Bew
Public Library, awaltipg a break In
the stream of traflic.
A policeman presently made a way
for him, holding back the press of ve
bicles to permit a string of their coun
terparts to break through. Coast
stepped down from the curb and In
another minute would have been
across, but stopped in mid-stride to
hear himself named in a volce unfor
gettable, to him inexpressibly sweet,
Startled, he halted beneath the
noses of a palr of handsome horses
Locking Up the Jurymen
Outrageous and Possibly Illegal Cus
tom That Has Come Down From
Old Times.
Some of the shabby brocade of court
etiquette has been cleared out of our
courts, such as gowns and wigs. Some
that still hangs In faded shreds is
dusty, but inoffensfve. But. some sur
viving practices are serioysly objec
tionable. . .
For instance, the outrageous habit
of locking jurymen up. Why? Dur
ing the progress of a civil case which
lasts three or four days jurymen can
go home nights. But when the case
is given to the jury, the jury must go
into continuous eession, under’ lock
and key, until it reaches a verdict.
There I 8 no sufficient reason why we
should not go home at the end of a
day, and come back to our: work next
morning, just as we men do in any
other business. The imprisonment of
a jury tends to hasty decisions, to the
forced verdicts of weary minds lin
capacitated for thinking. Much bet
ter to drop a difficult case, go home,
sleep, come fresh to the jury room in
fmumq e !
e g taskione cighe s w 3
-e S st e
il Dol of Bl saßues o
wra b GRSI gl e aes
!'fiw Begans oF e Bt of & Bows
e B e e e oF Sl
Beed Geells G e sanles oF e
s SRhe ks Buvanad ek e
Buwihs G Beer #AO & Sl o S
i, A agee et S swasl
' "|ey & 0 Eaibetie ™ :
el g B TR oel e
v :
| ek of pen |el Romanare -
Sows Saaig o .
| B g B e daS ißt W e
R wSel B G ghees of He ow
Agenens guileits, Seeios S
e e I el
b eweswl, eRBuE Snulil e gues Bhe
s Dexen He Apnesd Shem W 5
T
e R e Benecoud ol The
Gune wlevais Sy Seee @himanoiel
e sone ves Roea of e g
TAL Vgt ERe ek
W hese Bere pon ganng Ceseens
e Y e emaged el
et BOE 8 Dilis st @ Tl el
o Bee salum TR eBB PRSIROE
§ mibees | bl somne Sasr aetaes of
e aok e den Beded me AR
Dt Thene, of seneee
| tes T tees stogyieg *
L el
. hes wewd Cartony | 00l
Raes Sewn aitag of pee Sus wiew
e 20 eyl
N BN sgtes W wes Selegaiity *
‘e wrereerhel Gervetl
Tt 8 tendueddoscs wsiciberce e
repininad sar ibev war tevedsre”
Perliage el sar thie e (Y 8
s ‘RS ABOE Shet pow o 0 Dey e
dppeies -1 Bt Eaew ekl served
- b AR agwews Deas Teesty (e
Serems aad delare Taigaißeast s
Thasmantteg loonght e to Tl corper
Send B Tawe Thet bt selscidenos
Be ‘e songhl e word
el fe e BT
L UPredettinaion- -atetber same for
et &
“¥ o e Bgetions ”
‘Ciretelul rether ”
Fhe aghed & poatis facgd Thad
faded 15 o oigh asd aflter & Wognent
o anticipative sllemre. almow! appre
henslre foit obiiged to sl “What
were rou Ihiskisg stent e O
spls Y
“Marh Ihe wsual 12ing e afradd—"
(38 Garvett’” Her solce was e
Fal thougs obe Mughed “Agsin™
“T'es & perelsiont beggar you Rkrow,
Katkerine Hot ctherwise,
alsn | Bappeted 1o Bear your asme
mentioved today gosslp . .
At idie remo? 2
1O BE CONTINUED)
Always Use Right Mand
Wik bis left hasd be ook pipe and
obaceo from his pocket and with bis
' right bapd be felt for & match He
{ kad note His feliow idler st the
olher end of the park bench gave him
' & watch and then let kis own clgar
| go out In bis sstonishment at seeing
ks left-banded nelghbor light his pipe
with ble right band.
“That's funny.,” sald he. “You are
just sbout the most confirmed left
hander | ever met, yet for that little
| trick you use your right band as If
§ born to 1.
} “All ieft-handed people do~ was
+ the reply “Just think over the list
of your suioking acquaintances and
see if you ever {new one who lit lis
pipe with bis left tand. I'll bet you
didn’'t. | never did, and I have num
bered among my pipeloving friends
several men whose right hand seem
ed nearly helpless for everything
.1..-” £ .
Fish-Eating Germany. .
The inclination of the German na
tion to eat all kinds of fish in all
kinds of forms is supported by a lively
propaganda on the part of our fishery
interests, rapidly and steadily in.
creasing.—Tagliche Rundschau.
the morning and resume deliberation.
If jurymen are in danger of being
tampered with after a case is given
to them, then they are in equivalent
danger of being tampered with dur
ing the progress of the case.
‘The incarceration of the jury is, I
hold, against the rights and libertier
of citizens. *
I am willing to give a portion ot
my time, without pay, to public busi
ness; but I resent the turning of the
sheriff’s key behind my back. [ re
sent having to walk down to the street
to supper (or breakfast!) in military
or criminal column-by-twos. The judge
very often has to spend several days
in deciding a question of law. Why
not lock him up until his mind worke
to a conclusion?—Case and Comment.
The Weak Bralned French.
Fifth Avenue—They say the French
are deteriorating.
Riverside Drive—l know {it. The
last time I was over in France |
couldn’t make them understand thelr
MRS SsCOTT 0
Regording the Case.
Wesrly, Tomio Wos Geaie Soo,
o T 0y aere P pess | e
il Ere o doee WER welsaalp
it Sopetige | eeuid Saee
sl of Sweid sud sl hering
suwibis. § Wl sevewadl Gutary el
Shar iy gese e Solepersry Peliel
A 4 G §el Cardad, eOB
i, bl Townt B W be the melfiiee
kg By seee | wes euily e
Bred Br W ané wew b e B
Gaes W feere 1 oam very well sl
waies gl bee b
1 raiss Cerge Juw Thane gead e
ety | seoomeetd e Selise 9
sy Wenbs wusues ! bsow B B
ol eads end eladie Bt heiped
e womdet Tty and | oss trethtully
ser Thed (el is Dhe bond medicise §
Tare evee lalen
Be sow ket Cerdel The woman's
tenae, Wil Wrisg yos Belp, ¥ you will
e O reguiesty sad tor o renscmable
waghy of tlame .
Yok Baow you cas degend on Can
Bah. Bewnnee you Yave read of
ey whs sare esilasiastic i s
rates Carde® bas siood the test of
thane The eupresse tes?! of wperfl
Carded e suoowsefsd 1t hes been
fouad e telleve womssly pals and
Pl wp womanly strengih Try Cape
£ N el iy you
B BeeWeter e Ladien’ Adviesry
Thept . C Battanmage Medicine €o, Chate
senenge. Tesa. 08¢ Spevial Tastraes
thens, and BB.page ook, “Hlewe Tresmts
mand Per Wossen.” sesil in plein wrape
. W Fegweed.
A Feed of May
“Dpce upos & tme” C M. Thur
waper setved upos & wundor jury. For
bowgrs apd bours the body deliberat
of -wleren sgreed upos a verdict, but
e iweifih obdumiely refused O
change kis position Fisaliy a court
afeer tspped 31 the door and inquired
a 8 'o ke prospects of agreement.
Noge in sight” responded the
Iboroughly disgusted C M
Petdaps | had better bring In
twelve suppers, then,” suggested the
cfcer
No” satd Thurnauer, glaring vi
ricusly &t the unpersusdable member,
bring 'n eleven suppers and one feed
of hay ™
“Those Youthful Prodigies.”
“Will wonders never cease?” said
Jones to bis wife. “Here {s an account
of a sixyear<ld boy who can work
the most diftcult problem in al
gebra ™
| “Remarkable!” admitted Mrs. Jones,
“but 1 know a four-year-old girl that
knows Greek. Where does your lit
' tle wonder live?®
| “In Boston. Where.does your lin
guistié marvel live?”
| Mrs. Jones gazed out of the window
| with a faraway ok in her eye as she
| answered: “In Greece."—National
Food Magazine.
Let this be said of our enemies.
They'll not, give us Christmas pres
i ents for which .we never did and never
will have any earthly use.
Post
“Toasties
So Sweet;
Add Cream
Then Eat.
Post
«The Memory Lingers”