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CHAPTER II.
The Beginning of My Adventure.
WIGGINS' strange conduct and
Jewett's dark bints so dis
turbed me that the very
next afternoon 1 again
nought the Asolando tea room, feeling
that in its atmosphere 1 might best
weigh the few facts I possessed touch
ing my friend's love affairs.
Those who care for details In these
matters may be interested to know
that the Asolando is tucked away
among print shops and exclusive haber
dashers, a stone's throw from Fifth
avenue. The Asolando tea room Is
sacred to wooers of the flute of Tan,
secession photographers and confldent
believers in an early revival of the
poetic drama. There is about the little
room a suggestion of tranquillity, of
charming cloistral peace, with its arts
end crafts chairs and tables, Its racks
of books, its portraits of Browning,
Rosscttl, Burne-Joncs and kindred spir
its. I chose a table, sat down and sug
gested (one does not order at the Aso
lendo) a few articles from the card an
attendant handed me.
"We're out of the Paracelsus ginger
cookies," she replied, "but I recom
mend a Ruskin sandwich with our
own special chocolate. The whipped
cream Is unusually fine today."
She eyed me with a severity to which
I was not accustomed, and I acquiesced
.without parley in her suggestion. Be
fore leaving me she placed on my ta
ble the latest minor poet in green and
fold.
It was nearly 3 o'clock, and I was
alone in the Asolunda. The atteudlng
deities in their snowy gowns bad van
ished behind the screen at the rear of
the room. The food and drink with
which I had been promptly served
proved excellent. Even the minor poet
in green and gold bad held my atten
tion, though imitations of Coventry
Tatmore's odes bore me as a rule.
Near tho street, half concealed behind
a inosquclike grill, sat the cashier,
reading. A bundle of joss sticks in a
reeu Jar beside this young woniau
(tent a thin sinoke Into the air. Iler
head was bent above her book in quiet
attention. The light from an electric
Inmp made a glow of her golden hair.
She was an lncldeut of the general
picture, a part of a scene that contain
ed no Jarring note. A man who could
devise, In tho heart of the great city,
a place so instinct with repose so lull
ing to nil the senses was not less than
a public benefactor.
It was at this moment that the ad
venturefor it shall have no meaner
tame actually began. My eyes were
"I beg your pardon, but this seeme to
bo the seventh table."
still enjoying the Rosscttllike vision In
the cashier's tiny booth when a figure
suddenly darkened the street door Just
beyond her. The girl lifted her bead.
On the Instant tho lump key clicked
S she extinguished her light, and the
aureoled bend ceased to bo. And com
ing toward me down the shop I beheld
a lady, a lady of years, who passed
tho cashier's desk with her eyes In
VY -',
i 1 . : ' '.': ': . ;v:-. ': " : v$
j"
1
The Siege
of the
Seven Suitors
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright, 1910. by Meredith Nicbolsos
tent upon the room's Inner recesses.
Iler gown, of a new fashionable gray,
was of the severest tailor cut Iler
hat was a modlQed fedora, gray like
the gown, and adorned with a slugle
gray feather. She was short, slight,
erect, and moved with a quick bird
like motion, pausing and glancing at
the vacant tables that lay between
me and the door. She appeared to be
engaged in a calculation of some sort,
and she raised a lorgnette to assist her
in counting tbe tables. The cashier
passed behind ber unseen and vanish
ed. I heard the newcomer reciting:
"One, two, three, four, five, six. sev
en." And at seven ber eyes rested
upon me with a look that mingled sur
prise and annoyance. She took a step
toward me. and I started to rise, but
she said quickly:
"I beg your pardon, but this seems
to be the seventh table."
"Now that you call my attention to
It," I remarked, gaining my feet, "I
am bound to concede the point If by
any chance I am Intruding"
"Not In tbe least On the other band,
I beg that you remain where you
are." And without further ado she
sank Into a chair opposite my owu.
I tinkled a tiny crystal bell that was
among tho table furnishings, and a
waitress appeared and handed tbe lady,
who bad thus Introduced hers&lf to
my acquaintance, a copy of the tiny
card on which the articles of refresh
ment offered by tbe Asolando were
indicated within a border of band
painted field daisies.
. "Never mind that," said the lady in
gray, ignoring the card. "You may
bring mo a caviar sandwich and a
locktnll, a pink one, provided-provided"
and she held the waitress
with her eye "yon have the Imported
caviar and your barkeeper knows the
proper frappe of the spirit lifter I have
named."
"Pardon me, madam," replied tbe
waitress Icily, "but you have mistaken
the place. The Asolando serves noth
Ing stronger than the pure water of
Its own fount of Castalia. Intoxicants
arc not permitted here."
"Intoxicants!" repented the old lady
with asperity. "Do I look like a per
son given to intoxication? I dure nay
your Castalia water Is nothing but Cro
ton whose flavor has been destroyed
by distillation. Vou may bring me
the sandwich I have mentioned and
with It a pot of tea. Yes. thank you;
lemon with tho tea."
As the girl vanished with the light
trend that marked the service of the
place 1 again made as to rise, but the
old lady lifted ber baud with a delay
ing gesture.
"Pray remain. It Is not unlikely
that we have friends and ideas In com
mon, and ns you were seated at the
seventh table It is possible that some
ordering of fate has brought us to
gether." She took from me in tbe hand which
she had now ungloved the copy of my
minor poet, glauced at it scornfully and
tossed it upon the floor with every
mark of disdain.
"What species of mental disorder
does this place represent?" she de
manded. "It Is sacred to the fine arts appar
eutly; an endowed tea room where per
sons of artistic Ideals muy come to re
fresh body and soul. Such at least
seems to bo the program. This Is only
my second visit, but I have long heard
It spoken of by artists, poets and oth
ers of my friends."
"1 am sixty-two years old, young
man, and I beg to Inform you that I
consider the Asolando the most pre
posterous thing I have ever heard of
In this most preposterous city. And
from a casual glimpse of you I feel
Justified In saying that a man in your
apparent physical health might be in
better business than frequenting in
mldaftcrnoon a shop that seems to be
a remarkably stupid expression of
tweutleth century anaemia."
"Attendance here is not compulsory,"
I remarked defensively.
"If you imply that I must have
sought the place voluntarily let me cor
rect your false impression immediately.
I dropped In here for the excellent rea
son that this shop is the seventh In nu
merical progression from Fifth nven
nue."
"You were not guided by any feeling
of interest then, but rather by super
stition?"
"That remark Is unworthy of a man
of your appnrent Intelligence. I was
born on the 7th of November, and all
the great events of my life have oc
curred on tho 7th of the month."
I was relieved to find that sho ac
cepted the tea and sandwiches tbe
waitress had brought without parley.
It Is with shamo I confess that In the
first moments of my encounter I be
lleved her capable of quarreling with
a. waitress, but. she thanked tho girl
tentive. absorbed. As she smoothed
ber gloves. Miss llollister continued to
ppeuk In a low musical voice that was
devoid of any of the quavers or ace.
"On the day 1 reached my sixtieth
year, Mr. Ames. I decided thai my
humdrum life must cease. The strict
est conventions had guided me from
earliest childhood. My experience of
life had been limited to iruc-e tilings
which women of education and means
enjoy or suffer, as you please to take
it. Two years ugo I chartered u yaebt
and cruised among the Lesser Antilles,
enjoying many adventures. Later I
crossed the Andes, and 1 have Just re
turned from Switzerland, where I ac
complished some of the most difficult
ascents. 1 have a clipping bureau en
gaged to Inform me of all rumors o!
hidden treasure and sunken ships, and
I hope that of this something may
come, as 1 retain a marlno engineer
and corps of divers and can leave at an
hour's uotice for auy likely hunting
ground. This may strike you ns tbe
most whimsical self indulgence. Tell
me candidly whether my remarks so
affect you."
"If it were not that your benefac
tions of all kinds have given you noble
emlneuco among American philanthro
pists I might be less biased in favor or
the sort of thing you describe, but your
gifts to orphanages, colleges, hospl-tals"-
"Ahl" she interrupted, "enough of
that Philanthropy In these times is
only selfish exploltntlon, the recreation
of the conscience stricken. Hut you
see no reason why," she pursud eager
ly. "If 1 wished to dig up tho Caribbean
sea in search of Spanish doubloons. 1
should not do so' Answer me frankly,
without the slightest fear."
"I assure you, Miss llollister, that
such projects appeal to me strongly. I
have often lamented that my own lot
fell in theso eventless times. As an
architect 1 proved something of a fail
ure; us a chimney doctor 1 lead a use
ful life, but the very usefulness of It
bores me, and besides many people
take me for a sweep."
"I dare say they do, for unfortuuately
many people are fools. But 1 am bent
upon adventure. My physician pro
nounces mo good for ten years more
of active life, and. 1 intend to keep
amused. If I were a young man like
you I should crawl through chimneys
no more, but take to tho opeu road. I
resent the harsh clang of these mean
ingless years. As I walked among the
hills that lie behind tbe manor this
morning 1 heard tbe bugles calling, i
should like to ask you further ns to
your unusual profession, but errands
summon mo elsewhere. However,
something tells me we shall meet
again."
She roso in her swift, birdlike fashion
and passed lightly down tho room and
through tbe door. She bad left a dol
lar beside ber plato to pay her check,
which I uoted called for only iO cents
I glanced nt the cashier's desk. The
aureoled bead hud not reappeared, but
Immediately I heard n voice murmur
ing beside me . I bad believed myself
alone, and in m.v surprise 1 thought
some wizardry had made audible one
of the verses on the wall
, What of liaf.iol'g sonnets, Dante's pic
tu re
It was she whose aureoled bead 1 had
marked earlier in the receipt or eux
torn, the girl who had vanished ns Miss
llollister appeared. She was not tall,
and her eyes, lusiw. were brown. She
had clearly lint limbed lar (he s'nir
way of her years, but her seivuit.v whs
the least tilt disconcerting.
"Pardon me." I began, "bur I am an
Ignorant Philistine, and cannot cap the
verse you have quoted."
"There is no reason why you should
do so. It Is the rule of the Asolando
that we shall attract the attention ut
The Asolando la denied to outsiders."
customers when necessary by speaking,
of a line of verse. We are not allowod
to opeq a conversation, no matter how
imperative, with 'Listen.' or tht even
more vulgar 'Say.' "
"A capital Idea, of which I heartily
approve, but now that I am n waiting
auditor, eager"
"It's merely tho check, If you please,"
she Interrupted coldly. "My desk is
closed, and the room will refuse fur
ther patrons for the next hour, as the
executive committee of the Shelley so
ciety meets here at 4 o'clock, and tbe
Asolando Is denied to outsiders."
"This. then. Is my dismissal? The
lady who Joined ma here for a time '.eft
dollar, which yon will see, Is som
pleasantly, lifting her head with a
smile th.it Illumined her face attrac
tively. Her demand for a cocktail had
not boon wholly convincing as to ber
sincerity, nnd I wondered whether she
were not playing n part of some kind.
She suggested pleasant and wholesome
tbiugs.
In any event the impression win
wholly agreeable. I bad to do with
a lady and a lady of no mean degree
The marks of breeding were upon ber,
aud sho spoke with that quiet author
ity that is the despair of the vain nnd
vulgar. Iler features were small and
delicate, her rlngless hands were per
fectly formed nud both face and bands
belled the nge to which she bad so
frankly confessed. She was more than
twice my age. and there was not the
slightest reason why sho should not
address me if it pleased her to do so,
and her obsession as to the potency of
the numeral seven was not in Itself
proof of an 111 balanced mind. Musing
thus, I reached tho conclusion that
this encounter was very likely the sort
of thing that happened to patrons of
the Asolando. My time has. however,
a certain value, nnd I began to won
der Just how I should escape. I was
about to excuse myself when my com
panion suddenly put down her cup
and addressed me with a directness
that 6eeraed habitual In her.
"I have formed an excellent opinion
of your bringing up from tho manner
in which you have suffered my ad
vances. If I may so call them. You
act and speak like a gentleman of edu
cation. Will you kindly tell me the
nature of your occupation?"
I produced one of my professional
cards.
ARNOLD AMES,
Consultant In Chimneys,
6ult 92, Landon Building.
She read it aloud without glasses
and mused n moment
"This Is very curious," sho remark
ed, placing my caVd In a silver case
sho drew from her pocket "This is
very curious indeed. It was only yes
terday that my friend General G leu
denning was speaking of you. He told
me that you had rendered hlra tho
greatest service in adjusting several
flues In his country houso at Shin
necock. My own fireplaces doubtless
require attention, and you may consid
er yourself retained. I shall make an
early appointment with you. Tou will
find my name and residence snfllclont
ly described on this card."
MISS HOI.LISTER
Ilopeflold Manor.
"Ohl" I exclaimed, bowing. "Any
further introduction Is unnecessary.
Miss Llollister."
"Tbe name Is familiar? 1 recall that
General Glendennlng mentioned that
you were related to the Ames family
of Hartford, and your mother was a
Farquhnr of Charlottesville. V'a. If
you bear your father's name. I dare say
It was he whom I met ten years ago
In Paris There Is no reason therefore
why we should not be the best of
friends."
It was ti kind fate Indeed that
had led me back In I lie Asolando. and
Introduced me to (lie mint of Wiggins'
inamoiata It may well be believed
that I wus inuiied lately Interested, at
what in excess of her check. My owu
charge of M) cents is so moderate that
I cannot do less than leave $1 nlso."
"Thank you." she replied, unshaken
by my generosity. "The tips nt the
Asolando all go to the Sweetness nnd
Light club, wlih-li is Just now engaged
in circulating Matthew Arnold's poems
In leaflet form in the jobbing district."
I bowed and had turned away when
she arrested ine with the line
My good blade carves the casques of
men.
I turned toward her. "Permit me to
Inquire," she asked, "whether tho lady
who Joined you here expressed any
interest in the life beautiful ns It Is
exemplified In the Asolando?"
"I am constrained to say that she did
not. She spoke of the Asolando In the
most contumelious terms."
Tho golden head bowed slightly, and
a smie hovered about her lips. But
her amusement at my answer was
more eloquently slated In her eyes.
"1 must explain that my sole excuse
for addressing you Is that we are re
quired to learn, where possible, Just
why strangers seek tiie Asolando."
"In the case of the lady to whom
you refer It was a matter of this be
ing tho seventh shop from tho corner,
and my own appearance was due to
the idlest curiosity, Inspired by cnthu
elastic descriptions of the Asolando's
atmosphere nnd rumors of the cheap
ness of its food."
"Tho reasons are quite ample," was
her only comment, nnd her manner did
not encourage further conversation.
"May I ask," I persisted, "whether
the Asolando's staff is permanent and
whether, If I return another day"
"I take It that you do not mean to
be impertinent, so I will answer that
my servlco here is limited to Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays. On tho oth
er days Tlppa is in tho cash booth.
My name at tho Asolando is Frances
ca. Kindly write your uamo in the
visitors' book at the door as you pass
out"
There was no ignoring this hint. 1
thought she smiled as I left her.
t'J'o Bo Continued.)
Theft! are a few boxes of sta
tionery on our bargain counter.
You will Imvo to hurry if you want
Mime- wliilo llm prieu is so low.
Paul Sladelman takes subscrip
tions for any magazine) or club
of magazines at special rates.
FRANCO-GERMAN
WAR PREDICTED
Teutons Fear Revenge ol
France.
PAPER GIVES GRIM WARNING
Astertt Two Natione Must Clash When
European Trouble Occure Kaiaer'e
Subjects Hoarding Millions French
Writer Points to Great Injury to Art
by War Scare.
Tho semloilicial Cologne (Germany)
Gazette published recently nn extraor
dinary leading article headed "The
Mlchlof Maker," in which It says:
"it will not be dilllcult for tho Ger
man government to Justify tho neces
sity for tho army lncrealso if it will
only speak out plainly and, without
mincing words, Indicate the point
from which danger is threatened as
all the world realizes, from France."
Tho paper says nobody underesti
mates the gravity of the new condi
tions in Uio Balkans, but when tho
country is nsked to make such heavy
sacrifices chapter and verse must be
given, and tho government's finger
must point to the precise spot from
which there is Immediate peril that
Is, France. It ndds:
"Never were our relations with our
western neighbor so strained ns to
day. Never has tho Idea of revenge
been so openly flaunted. Never has it
been so apparent that tho French
rnado their Russian alliance and their
English friendship for the sole object
of recapturing Alsace-Lorraine.
Franco-German War Certain.
"One thing Is absolutely sure. When
ever tho world catches fire the Ger
mans will have to cross swords with
tho French. When that will happen
nobody can tell."
Wholesale realizations of foreign se
curities, notably Canadian Pacific
railway shares, are taking place in
Germany iu or3ir to relievo the un
precedented famine of gold and mon
ey. The stock exchanges In Berlin
and elsewhere in Prussia were closed
on the centenary of the nation's rlso
against tho Napoleonic oppressor.
To procure money investors are sac
rificing their foreign holdings. This
condition has been brought ntiout pri
marily by tho hoarding craze which
has obsessed Genmans since the out
break of tho war In the Balkans. It
has not been lessened by tho nervous
ness of their own government, as mani
fested by tho gigantic army Increase.
Tho sum now hoarded by timid Ger
mans is estimated at between $112,
500,000 and $125,000,000.' Merchants
and manufacturers report that it Is be
coming increasingly dilllcult to obtain
tho payment of bills even from custom
ers who hnve never before been delin
quent. Deficit In Banks.
Another aggravating factor is the
deficit caused by tho withdrawal of
tho immense balance which foreign
banks formerly kept on loan in Ger
many. A money famine can only bo relieved
from abroad. Gold must be Imported.
England was drawn on one week to
tho extent of $1,500,000. and still heav
ler Importations are in process of ar
rangement with tho United States.
"It is the end of French culture," Is
cited ns (he opinion of Anntolo France
on the new French conscription bill In
an Interview sent to tho Loudon Dally
News by Harold Spender from Pnrls.
M. France Is further quoted ns follows:
"This addition to the yearly conscrip
tion comes on us Just when France Is
moving forward with new energy both
in science nnd industry. It will bo a
grave blow to all our higher life. Medi
cine espcclnlly will bo Injured, for the
medicine of the urmy Is not Ihe medi
cine of the civil state. French science
requires the time of Its young students,
and that will be gravely curtailed. Tho
demand for another barrack year from
all young Frenchmen Imposed without
exemptions will draw off the best from
every field of life.
Is Heavy Blow to Art.
"It conies at h moment of grent In
dustrial development. It will check
that development. It comes at a mo
ment of expansion In our arts, espe
cially In sculpture, und It will be a
heavy blow. Sculpture Is not practiced
on the battlefield."
Mr. Spender declnres that the mili
tarist spirit Is at present supremo In
France and that other voices are not
likely to bo heard, for tho present at
least. Tho ordinary attitude of the
Frenchman, he says. Is one of resigna
tion rather than aggression, but the
cry "n Berlin," which resounded
through the streets of Paris before
1870, has been raised again.
GIRLS TO WAR ON AIGRETS.
Philadelphia Students Pledge Them
elves to Protect Heron.
Agreeing not to wear nlgrets and
to do all In their power to persuade
others not to wear them, tho Nature
Study club of tho girls' high school of
Philadelphia recently prepared a peti
tion urging that tho salo of plumago
of tho snowy heron bo prohibited In
Pennsylvania.
Tho action was taken nfter tho read
ing of a paper on the sufferings of tho
heron at a meeting of the club. The
paper was prepared by Miss Ireno El
drldge. teacher of English, and read
by Ruth Gerhard, an officer of the club.
DUTCH WOMEN TO HAVt
CELEBRATION IN MAY.
Their Progress From 1813 to 1913 to Be
Shown at Amsterdam.
When the statesmen nud the cap
talus of Industry In Holland were de
vising ways of -aflebrutlng this year
the one hundredth anniversary of Hol
land's casting off the French yoke and
tegnlnlng her Independence It occurred
to some of tho other sex that they
ought to have a show in both senses of
tho word.
So there was organized an exhibition
to be held at Amsterdam. It was la
beled "Womnn-1813-1013."
This exhibition, to bo open from May
to October, will present a comparison
of the Dutch women of a ceutury ago
with those of the present day ami por
tray the progress made. There will
be an old time middle class house, with
Its enormous kitchen and all the do
niestlc accessories. Elsewhere will be
n presentation of the accomplishments
of the women of thnt day in art, mu
sic, sports und literature, their spe
cial work among the poor and the sick
and us guardians of almshouses, or
phanages and similar institutions.
To give nn Idea of the women of the
working classes In the country as well
ns In the towns the home Industries
will be displayed, and It will be shown
how women were overworked as seam
stresses nnd as diamond workers nnd
how some trudged in a treadmill like
horses.
GAMECOCK THRASHES A MAN.
Rooster Thoroughly Disables Its Owner
In a Battle.
Benjamin Sherman, a farmer liv
lug near Gleu Gardner, N. J., came
out second best In a battle with a
game rooster recently.
Tho farmer early lu tho morning
gathered three dozen eggs In a basket.
As ho came out of tho coop Redney, a
gamecock with a reputntion as n fight
er, flew at his face and inflicted a deep
gash Just under tho right eye with a
spur. Before ho could recover Sher
man was spurred again on tho rlgkt
side of the faco near the mouth.
Ho attempted to catch the bird, bnl
It sank a spur in his right wrist In
making a swing with tho basket of
eggs ho lost his balance aud fell to the
ground. The bird then spurred him In
tho right leg several times.
A farm hand who heard Sherman'!
cries ran to the poultry yard and
knocked the bird over with a spade
Sherman took to his bed.
CHINESE HONOR FOR WILSON.
Pair of Celestial Twine Named After
Him and Marshall.
Friends of Low Fat Yuen, a promi
nent member of tbe Chineso Six com
panies, were summoned to Low's home,
Oakland, Cal., recently to celebrate the
arrival of two "honored ones." The
"honored ones" nre Wood row Wilson
Low and Thomas Riley Marshall Low.
Woodrow weighs six pounds and
Thomas five.
Tho twins were preceded by Alice
Roosevelt Low, aged five; Helen Taft
Low, nged three; Governor Pardee
Low, aged eight, and Mabel low.
aged ten.
"What nbout William Jennings Bry
an Low?" tho father was asked.
"Maybe some tlnio yet." ho replied,
smiling.
At tho christening tho guests all
shouted "Man suey! Wey lo sun gong
mar shew I" which means "Long live
Wilson and Marshall!"
HOUSTON HAD JOKE ON HIM.
Why His Old School Chum Fell
"Cheap."
"No man ever felt cheaper than I did
inauguration day," said Representa
tive J. W. Ragsdalo of South Caro
lina to a party of friends iu Washing
ton recently. "I was in school with
David Franklin Houston, the new sec
retary of agriculture, but had not seen
him In years until I rau upon him lit
tho senate chamber.
" 'Hello. Frank.' I said. 'What are
you doing in the senate chamber?'
" T was Invited here. said Houston.
"'That's strange,' I replied. "I'm a
congressman anil can't get a ticket for
this place before I'm sworn in.'
"I went over to mnko a row with
Senator Tillman nbout It.
" 'Why, that U ono of the new cabi
net members, said Senator Tillman."
QUEER WATER AFFECTS HAIR.
Florists Assert City Supply Has Tend
ency to Change Flowers' Color.
Florists of Evanston. III., assert that
tho city water, which Is purified with
hypochlorlde of lime, Is changing yel
low chrysanthemums to an ashen col
or, white roses to pink and carnations
to almost every shade but the one they
should be.
The commissioner of public works,
with whom the florists took up the
matter, said the water bad nothing to
do with changing the colors of the
flowers.
Tho florists will make an effort to
keep the city from placing lime In the
wator and assert they will havo the
aid of the women, who somo time ago
complained thnt tho water was bleach
ing their luilr.
Lew Passed to
Curb Hatpins.
Women In Massac
husetts who do not
their hatpins with
ill protect tho pub
and after April 7
cover the points of
somo device that w
lie from Injury on
will be liable to n
than $100. An act
Hgocd by Governor
fine of not more
to this effect was
Foss recently.
n 1
1
i
