Lincoln County leader., March 08, 1912, Image 7

Tfie THIRD
DEGREE
cA Narrative
cTWetropolitan
Life 1
By CHARLES KLEIN and
ARTHUR HORNBLOW
ILLUSTRATIONS BT RAT WALTERS
(Copyright, 1MM, bjr U. W. UUUuvlum CompaajJ
SYNOPSIS.
Howard Jeffrie, banker's son, under
the evil Influence of Robert Underwood,
a fellow-student at Tale, 'leads a life of
dissipation, marries the daughter of a
gambler who died In prison, and Is dis
owned by his father. He tries to get work
and fails. A former college chum makes
a business proposition to Howard which
requires 2,O0O cash, and Howard Is broke.
Robert Underwood, who had been re
pulsed by Howard's wife, Annie, In his
college days, and had once been engaged
to Alicia, Howard's stepmother, has
apartments at the Astruria, and Is ap
parently In prosperous circumstances.
Howard recalls a $250 loan to Underwood,
that remains unpaid, and decides to ask
him for the $2,000 he needs. Underwood,
taking advantage of his Intimacy with
Mrs. Jeffries, Sr., becomes a sort of social
highwayman. Discovering his true char
acter she denies him the house. Under
wood's absence from a function causes
comment among Mrs. Jeffries' guests.
CHAPTER IV. Continued.
"In a word," laughed the Judge,
'you mean that any one trained to
read my mind can tell Just what's
passing In my brain?"
"Precisely," replied the doctor with
a smile "the psychologist can tell with
almost mathematical . accuracy Just
how your mental mechanism Is work
ing. I admit It sounds uncanny, but
It can be proved. In fact. It has been
proved, time and time again."
Alicia came up and took the doc
tor's arm.
"Oh, Dr. Bernstein," she protested,
"I can't allow the Judge to monopolize
you in this way. Come with me. I
want to introduce you to a most
charming woman who is dying to
meet you. She is perfectly crazy on
psychology."
"Don't introduce me to her,"
laughed the judge. "I see enough
crazy people in the law courts."
Dr. Bernstein smiled and followed
his hostess. Judge Brewster turned
to chat with the banker. From the dis
tant music room came the sound of
a piano and a beautiful soprano voice.
The rooms were now crowded and
newcomers were arriving each min
ute. Servants passed in and out serv
ing iced delicacies and champagne.
Suddenly the butler entered the
salon and, quietly approaching Alicia,
handed her a letter. In a low tone
he said:
"This letter has Just come, m'm.
The messenger said it was very im
portant and I should deliver . it at
once."
Alicia turned pale. She instantly
recognized the handwriting. It was
from Robert Underwood. Was not her
last message enough? How dare he
address her again and at such a time?
Retiring to an inner room, she tore
open the envelope and read as follows:
Dear Mrs. Jeffries: This Is the last
time I shall ever bore you with my let
ters. Tou have forbidden me to see you
gain. Practically you have sentenced
ma to a living death, but as I prefer
death shall not be partial, but full and
complete oblivion, I take this nieans of
letting you know that unless you revoke
your cruel sentence of banishment, I
hall make an end of It all. I shall be
found dead, Monday morning, and you
wli! know who Is responsible.
Tours devotedly,
ROBERT UNDERWOOD.
An angry exclamation escaped
Alicia's Hps, and crushing the note up
In her hand, she bit her lips till the
blood came. It was Just as she feared.
The man was desperate. He was not
to be got rid of so easily. How dare
he how dare he? The coward to
think that she could be frightened by
such a threat What did she care if
he killed himself? It would be good
riddance. Yet suppose he was In
earnest, suppose he did carry out hla
threat? There would be a terrible
candal, an investigation, people
would talk, her name would be men
tloned. No no that must be pre
vented at all costs.
. Distracted, not knowing what course
to pursue, she paced the floor of the
room. Through the closed door she
could hear the musio and the chatter
of her guests. She must go to see
Underwood at once, that was certain,
and her visit must be a secret one.
There was already enough talk.
If her enemies could hear of her vis
iting him alone in his apartments that
would be the end.
"Yes I must see him at once. To
morrow is Sunday. He's sure to be
home in the evening. He mentions
Monday morning. There will still be
time. I'll go and see him to-morrow.
"Alicia! Alicia!"
The door opened and Mr. Jeffries
nut his bead in.
"What are you doing here, my
dear? he asked. "I was looking
everywhere for you. Judge Brewster
wishes to say good-night."
"I was fixing my hair, that's all,"
replied Alicia with perfect composure.
CHAPTER V.
Among the many huge caravansaries
that of recent years have sprung up
in New York to provide luxurious
quarters regardless of cost for those
who can afford to pay for the best,
none could rival the Astruria In size
and magnificence. Occupying an en
tire block in the very heart of the
residential district, it took precedence
over all the other apartment hotels of
the metropolis as the biggest and
most splendidly appointed hostelry of
its kind in the world. It was, indeed,
a small city in itself. It was not nec
essary for its fortunate tenants to
leave it unless they were so minded.
Everything for their comfort and
pleasure was to be had without taking
the trouble to go out of doors. On
the ground floor were shops of all
kinds, which catered only to . the
Astruria's patrons. Th,ere were also
on the premises a bank, a broker's
office, a hairdresser, and a postal tele
graph office. A special feature was
the garden court, containing over 30,
000 square feet of open apace, and
tastefully laid out with palms and
flowers. Here fountains splashed and
an orchestra played while the patrons
lounged on comfortable rattan chairs
or gossiped with their friends. Up on
the sixteenth floor was the cool roof
garden, an exquisite bower of palms
and roses artificially painted by a
famous French artist, with Its rech
erche restaurant, its picturesque
tziganes, and its superb view of all
Manhattan Island.
The Astruria was the last word in
expensive apartment hotel building.
Architects declared that It was as far
as modern lavlshness and extrava-
gance could go. Its interior arrange
ments were in keeping with its ex
ternal splendor. Its apartments were
of noble dimensions, richly decorated,
and equipped with every device, new
and old, that modern science and
builders' Ingenuity could suggest That
the rents were on a scale with the
grandeur of the establishment goes
without saying. Only long purses
could stand the strain. It was a fa
vorite headquarters for Westerners
who had "struck it rich," wealthy
bachelors, and successful actors and
opera singers who loved the limelight
on and off the stage.
Sunday evening was usually exceed
ingly quiet at the Astruria. Most of
the tenants were out of town over the
week-end, and as the restaurant and
roof garden were only slimly patron
ized, the elevators ran less frequently,
making less chatter and bustle in cor
ridors and stairways. Stillness reigned
everywhere as If the sobering influ
ence of the Sabbath had invaded even
this exclusive domain of the unholy
rich. The uniformed attendants, hav
ing nothing to do, yawned lazily in
the deserted halls. Some even in
dulged in surreptitious naps in cor
ners, confident that they would not
be disturbed. Callers were so rare
that when some one did enter from
the street, he was looked upon with
suspicion.
It was shortly after seven o'clock
the day following Mrs; Jeffries' re
ception when a man came in by the
main entrance from Broadway, and
approaching one of the ball boys, in
quired for Mr. Robert Underwood.
' The boy gave his interlocutor an
Impudent stare. There was something
about the caller's dress and manner
which told him instinctively that he
was not dealing with a visitor whom
he must treat respectfully. No one
divines a man's or woman's social
status quicker or more unerringly
than a servant The attendant saw
at once that tbe man did not belong
to the class which paid social visits
to tenants in the Astruria. He was
rather seedy looking, his collar was
not immaculate, his boots were thick
and clumsy, his clothes cheap and 111
fltting. "Is Mr. Underwood In?" he de
manded. "Not home," replied the attendant
Insolently, after a pause. Like most
hall boys, he took a savage pleasure
in saying that the tenants were out
The caller looked annoyed.
"He must be in," he said with a
frown. "I have an appointment with
him."
This was not strictly true, but the
bluff had the desired effect
"Got an appointment! Why didn't
you say so at once?"
Reaching lazily over the telephone
switchboard, and without rising from
his seat, he asked surlily:
. "What's the name?"
"Mr. Bennington."
The boy took the transmitter and
spoke into it:
"A party called to see Mr. Under
wood." There was a brief pause, as if the
person upstairs was in doubt whether
to admit that he was home or not
Then came the answer. The boy
looked up.
"He says you should .go up. Apart
ment 165. Take the elevator."
Ia his luxurious appointed rooms on
the fourteenth floor, Robert . Undrr-1
wood sat before the fire puffing ner
vously at a strong cigar. AH around
him was a litter of objets d'art, such
as would have filled the heart of any
connoisseur with joy. Oil paintings
in heavy gilt frames, of every period
and school, Rembrandts, Cuyps, Ruys-
daels, Reynoldses,' Corots, Henners,
some on easels, some resting on the
floor; handsome French bronzes,
dainty china on Japanese teakwood
tables, antique furniture, gold em
broidered clerical vestments, hand
painted screens, costly oriental rugs,
rare ceramics all were confusedly
Jumbled together. On a grand piano
in a corner of the room stood two tall
cloisonne vases of almost inestimable
value. On a desk close by were piled
miniatures and ' rare ivories. The
walls were covered with tapestries,
armor, and trophies of arms. More
like a museum than a sitting room, it
was the home of a man who made a
business of art or made of art a busi
ness. Underwood stared moodily at the
glowing logs In the open chimney
place. His face was pale and de
termined. After coming in from the
restaurant he had changed his tux
edo for tbe more comfortable bouse
coat Nothing called him away that
particular Sunday evening, and no
one was likely to disturb him. Ferris,
his man servant, had taken his usual
Sunday off and would not return until
midnight The apartment was still as
the grave. It was so high above the
street that not a Bound reached up
from the noisy Broadway below. Un
derwood liked the quiet so that he
could think, and he was thinking hard.
On the flat desk at his elbow stood a
dainty demi-tasse of black coffee un
tasted. There were glasses and de
canters of whisky and cordial, but
the stimulants did not , tempt him.
He wondered If Alicia would Ignore
his letter or If she would come to
him. Surely she could not he so heart
less as to throw him over at such a
moment Crushed in ' his left hand
was a copy of the New York Herald
containing an elaborate account of the
brilliant reception and musicals given
the previous evening at her home,
With an exclamation of Impatience he
rose from his seat, threw the paper
from him, and began to pace the floor.
Was this the end of everything?
Had he reached the end of his rope?
He must pay the reckoning, if not to
day, to-morrow. As his eyes wan
dered around the room and he took
mental Inventory of each costly ob
ject, he experienced a sudden shock
as he recalled the things that were
missing. How could he explain their
absence? The art dealers were al
ready suspicious. They were not to
be put off any longer with excuses.
Any moment they might Insist either
on the Immediate return of their prop
erty or on payment in full. He was
in the position to do neither. The
articles had been sold and the money
lost gambling. Curse the luck! Every
thing had gone against him of late.
The dealers would begin criminal pro
ceedings, disgrace and prison stripes
would follow. There was no way out
of it. He had no one to whom he
could turn in this crisis.
And now even Alicia had deserted
him. This was the last straw. While
he was still able to boast of the
friendship and patronage of the aris
tocratic Mrs. Howard Jeffries he
"Yes, I Must 8e Him at Once."
could still hold his bead high In the
world. No one would dare question
his Integrity, but now she had aban
doned him to his fate, people would be
gin to talk. There was no use keep
ing up a hopeless fight suicide was
the only way out!
He stopped in front of a mirror,
startled at what be saw there. , It
was the face of a man not yet SO, but
apparently much older. The features
were drawn and haggard, and his dark
hair was plentifully streaked with
gray. He looked like a man who had
lived two lives in one. To-night his
face frightened him. His eyes had a
fixed stare like those of a man he
had once seen In a madhouse. He
wondered If men looked like that when
they were about to be executed. Was
not his own hour close at hand? He
wondered why the clock was so noisy;
it seemed to him that the ticks were
louder than usual. He started sud
denly and looked around fearfully. He
DO .
thought he had heard a sound outside. I
He shuddered as he glared toward the
little drawer on the right-hand side of
his desk, in which he knew there was
a loaded revolver.
If Alicia would only relent escape
might yet be possible. If he did not
hear from her it must be for to-night
One slight little pressure on the trig
ger and all would be over.
Suddenly the bell of the telephone
connecting the apartment with the
main hall downstairs rang violently.
Interrupted thus abruptly in the
midst of his , reflections, Underwood
jumped forward, startled. His nerves
were so unstrung that he was ever
apprehensive of danger. With a trem
ulous hand, he took hold of the re
ceiver and placed it to his ear. As he
listened, his already pallid face turned
whiter and the lines about his mouth
tightened. He hesitated a moment be
fore replying. Then, with an effort
he said: '
"Send hira up."
Dropping the receiver, he began to
walk nervously up and down the
room. The crisis had come sooner than
he expected exposure was at hand.
This man Bennington was the man
ager of the Arm of dealers whose
goods he disposed of. He could not
make restitution. Prosecution was in
evltable. Disgrace and prison would
follow. He could not stand it; he
would rather kill himself. Trouble was
very close at hand, that was certain.
How could he get out of it? Pacing
the floor, he bit his Hps till the blood
came.
There was a sharp ring at the front
door. Underwood opened it As he
recognized his visitor on the thresh
old, he exclaimed:
"Why, Bennington, this is a sur
prise!" . .
The manager entered awkwardly.
He had the constrained air of a man
who has come on an unpleasant er
rand, but wants to be as amiable as
the circumstances will permit.
"You didn't expect me, did you?" he
began.
Shutting the front door, Underwood
led the way back into the sitting room,
and making an effort to control his
nerves, said:
"Sit down, won't you?"
But Mr. Bennington merely bowed
stiffly. It was evident that he did not
wish his call to be mistaken for a so
cial visit.
"I haven't time, thank you. To be
frank, my mission is rather a delicate
one, Mr. Underwood."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The Price of Fame.
It was in the office of one of the big
theaters. A lot of actors were hang
ing around, a couple of journalists
and a secretary or two. A young
woman dropped in for a hasty greet
ing, and then, paused a moment to
speak to a very well-known - actor
whom she evidently met for the first
time. The press agent's desk was
open, and in a corner fas a package
of pictures of the celebrated actor.
The latter looked them over, and as
the young woman exclaimed that he
should give ber one be said, with an
insinuating 6mlle to the press agent:
"Alas, they are not mine. They be
long to Mr. Dash!"
"1 can't give any away," said the
latter. "Each one costs me 20 cents."
"Surely that is cheap!" the young
lady suggested.
The press agent Ignored' her and
turned to the actor.
"Cheap? Do you think anybody
would pay that much for you?"
And the young lady laughed and
went without her picture.
Martha Washington, Housekeeper,
In the oldest wealthy families of Vir
ginia all the women knew all about
cooking and housekeeping, and had to
in order to run an establishment of
many slaves, and an ignorant mistress
would not have commanded the re
spect of her cunning negroes, but
would have been a laughing . stock.
Martha Washington owned 15,000
acres of land and hundreds of negroes,
yet she knew all about cooking and
housekeeping and made the rounds of
her household every day, just as did
the general his plantation. Martha
was neither a sloven nor churl, but
true aristocrat of the right sort Girls
should be taught housekeeping by
ladles who have sprlghtliness, vi
vacity, eloquence and fine manners, so
as to correct the miserable false no
tions besetting' the modern Anglo
Saxon word about "menlailsm." New
York Press.
Pistols and Politeness.
Much of the politeness of the old
time southern gentlemen came, and
still comes, from the same handlness
with the pocket pistol. . The same
type of politeness existed in England
before the Puritan reformation. Now,
that reformation regarded superb man
ners as an invention of tbe devil, and
this belief strongly affected New Eng
land, but had little effect on the south,
which was less affected in manners
and customs by the reformation than
was France, far less than England. It
would have been a good thing for the
south and France If each had got more
of It None can deny that Washing
ton and Stonewall seemed more Puri
tanical than Cavalier or Qaulols la
severe and sober discipline of life.
New York Press
MAKING HOME HAPPY
QUESTION OF RIGHT LIVING VER
SUS WRONG LIVING.
Every Individual In the Family Has
Some Rights That Every Other
Member of the Household
Should Respect
It should be remembered In the
home, that every individual In the
family has some rights that every
other member of the household is
bound to respect
The husband and father should be
made comfortable and to feel that his
wishes are to be considered and home
a place in which to rest from the
dally grind whether it be the wresting
a living from the soil or labor in any
other walk of life.
These thoughts were suggested by
a neighborly call not long since which
showed the thoughtlessness of a wife.
The husband, by the way, the pro
vider, be it remembered, came in from
the field in working clothes and com
fortably seated himself on the couch
made attractive with cushions of var
ious sizes and descriptions supposed
to be for use.
The tired man had no sooner sunk
Into the downy depths of the support
ing pillows than the wife, exclaimed.
"John you ought not to lean against
those pillows in your working clothes,
you will soil them."
The man was not to blame when he
quickly pulled them away from his
doubtless wearied body and threw
them across the room. One naturally
blushed for the thoughtless wife.
There should be nothing In a home
too good for use, especially in the liv
ing room, or by the man of the house,
whose bodily strength is given freely
that his loved ones may be made
happy and comfortable.
It Is not well thus to confound
values. Surely the man who labors
constantly for others and must have
the welfare of his family at heart
should be valued above any sofa pil
low no matter how dainty or expen
sive. Then there are the rights of the
wife and mother to be always re
spected. Her especial domain should
be arranged with care and a regard
for her convenience. Work in the
ordinary 111-conBtructed kitchen re
quires more expenditure of strength
and nerve power than 1b needed for
the successful carrying out of a large
business that is thoroughly sys
tematized. ine ceaseless traveling from one
end of the room to the other for arti
cles that should be confined within a
small compass, wear out more women
than the work. Mrs. T. L. Andrews.
Norwegian Cabbage Salad.
As an appetizer for other dishes of
the Dutch supper sort this is without
compare that is, where the cabbage
taste Is liked. It goes with a beer
drink:
Select a hard red cabbage, take off
all loose and defaced leaves and shred
It with a machine or sharp knife as fine
ly as is possible. Then drop the slaw
Into cold water for two ho-irs. Drain .
dry and cover it with boiling water
not too much and simmer until al
most cooked. Drain off tbe water,
add salt if needed, cayenne, sugar and
caraway seeds, putting the last two
between layers of the cabbage. Two
tablespoonfuls of sugar and two of the
seeds will be needed. Then cover the
cabbage with boiling cider vinegar
and finish tbe cooking. This can be
eaten hot or cold.
Grape Catsup.
Five pounds of grapes; boll and
press through collander; two and a
half pounds sugar, one pint vinegar,!
one tablespoon each of . cinnamon,:
cloves, allspice and cayenne pepper!
and half a tablespoon salt Boll until;
the catsup Is rather thick. This Is a
delicious sauce.
Crumbs for Frying.
Care should be taken In drying;
bread to be used for crumbs. Do not
let it remain In the oven long enough
to brown, for cutlets or croquettes!
rolled In over-browned crumbs will
not brownwhen frying."
Fruit Cookies.
Two cups sugar, one cup lard, two
cups raisins, two eggs well beaten,;
one cup of milk, two teaspoons baking;
powder and a pinch of salt one tabled
spoon mixed spices and enough flour
to roll nicely Cut and bake.
Ginger Cookies.
.One egg, one cup molasses, one cup
sugar, one cup butter and lard mixed,-one-half
cup of boiling water, one
level tablespoon soda dissolved In the
water, one tablespoon ginger, one
tablespoon of mixed spices; flour
enough to roll nicely.. Roll thin and
bake in a quick oven.
Up to Date.
Showman Walk in, ladles and gen
tlemen, and see the Azteo giants, de
scendants of a long extinct race.
Meesendorfer Blatter