The Auction Block
er with an endless story, the point of which had sent the
ou to-night. I don't
ition afford preference
had fully lived up t
to learn the real names of these lords of finance. After that you'd become interested in my future. That's always the worst period. Once I'd made you realize that you meant nothing in my life and that my future was provided for, you'd tell me stories about your family-how your wife is an invalid, how Tom is at Yale, how Susie is coming out in the autum
grunted, "S
"You see, we're both
e attacked her food with a healthy,
of this sort of thing?"
ind nearly every night. Is
ly sporty when they get away from
f town and it's a bit of a novelty to them. But there's a crowd of regular New-Yorkers-th
ly
quite
ved Merkle, "but this city
the young person in black and white with the red-nosed man-the one who looks as if he were smelling a rose? Well, she's in our company, and she's very popular at these parties becaus
rned again to the incoherent story-teller beside her, who had made it plain b
ntalizing rag-time airs that had set the city to singing. Silent-footed attendants deposited tissue-covere
le inquired, leani
y. Gold fittings-and a coin-purse and card-case
keep all
out for Mr. Hammon, and they're exquisite.
her with a sud
she dress
es
say you're cl
hat room; but scarcely f
the package
idently a warning not t
s Lynn bought o
d, quickly, "and why did you ask in that
ying in a voice that did
of her stamp gets a man with money in her power? You must know all there is to know from the outs
ll I've heard is t
n the surface. That woman is a menace to a gr
e did nothing of the sort; she avoided him as long as she could, but he forced his attentions upon her. He's a man who refuses defeat. He persisted
ou sometim
he hate
nse
st; I don't wonder tha
er code and the cod
lieve she-d
but at first she refused his g
ad scr
e the time was up Bergman took a hand. He sent for her one evening, and when she went down there was Mr.
taring at the object of their
him every kind of a monster, accuse
The bank
own, and she was unstrung. She seemed t
's got nobl
eemed to think she's to blame, wh
he circumstances of his home life, and, in fact, his whole mental make-up. Sometime I'll tell you his story; I think it would interest you. In a way I don't blame h
amsons, and most of th
acts from vaudeville and from the reigning successes, high-priced singers, dancers, monologists followed each other. Occasionally they were applauded, but more frequently their efforts to amuse were lost in the self-made merriment of the diners. Now and then an actor was bombarded with jests or openly guyed. Music and wine flowed as s
ce gave place to curiosity, for the music had begun
for Paris, so she came to New York." "Anything goes
animated, audacious, Gallic in accent and postures-she was vividly alive with a magnetism that meant much more than beauty; but she over-exerted her voice, and her song was nothing to excite applause. At last she was off, in a whirl of skirts, a generous display of hosiery, and
treme about that," rem
autiful if it w
a woman's intentness at this sister whose stre
she get aw
s looking for something devilish, and discovers whate
gardless of the dancer, began a conversation w
nd dollars to pay for t
l Bob, but of course I
go, and Bob hasn't changed a whit.
as lost in the clamorous demand
ilment from you, eh
ght. He's running with a fast cro
n't been sob
rty, but-I didn't care to have him for obvious reasons, so I told Hammon to refuse him even if he asked. He bet me a tho
d as the dancer reappea
first public appearance in this country, and we will endeavor to execute a variation of the Argentine tango. Senor Roberto is a poor boy; he begs you to applaud him in
a son. I taught Bob to drink when I drank, to smoke whe
was still laughing, but her partner wore a grave face, and his eyes were lowered; he followed the intricate movements of the dance with some difficulty. To L
l!" Hannibal
id about him; it requires a gigantic intelligence to outwit you." To
Mr. Whart
dissipated lump of a
upon the stage, merely danced the harder. When the exhibition ended he bowed, hand in hand with Miss Demorest,
ther, saying: "Well, dad, what d'you think of m
t it was plain that he was not enti
the best thing I ever saw you do, Bob. You c
who was watching him, decided that he must have at least twice the
illed Senor Thomas W. Tango, and I'll be shot at sunrise for stamping on Adoree's insteps. I looked before I leaped, but I couldn't decide where to put my feet. Whew! G
do you
by dancing with me. She's an expensive doll; she needs that thousand-mortgage on the old family opera-house, no shoes for little sister, and mother se
d his chair closer. Lorelei saw that he was very drunk,
nd 'Dentol Chewing-Gum,' Miss Knight. Your face i
ts in which she figured. "It never shrinks; it holds its shape; it mu
h dancer?" Hannibal Wharton
e." He chuckled at his father's exclamation. "She's a good fellow, though, and I don't blame the King of What's-its-name. Kings have
d give you a banquet if you so
ther information. "Where did you
hope that I may find a quarter that some suburbanite has dropped. It's dangerous to drive an automobile through a dark street these days; on
utomobile,"
" The elder men rose and sauntered away in the
morest has finally made her appearance as a guest. My d
t you came with her; fa
waiter who was passing wit
Wharton family. No man is safe in range of your liquid orbs, Miss Knight, unless he has his marriage license sewed into his clothes. Mother keeps hers framed. Wouldn't she enjoy reading the list of Hammon's guests at this party? 'Among those present were Mr. Hannibal C. Wh
also that you came late,
dew succeeds the sunset, as the track follows the wheelbarrow, as the cracker pursues the cheese. I am a derivative of alcohol, the one and infallible argu
if you were a
he Martini shimmers in the first rays of the electric light, then I humanize and harmonize, For me gin is a tonic, rum a restorative, vermuth a balm. Once I am stocked up with ales, wines, liquors, and cigars, I become attuned to the nobler sentiments of life. I aspire. I make friends with lonely derelicts whose digestions have founderendition now?" queried Lorelei, who had
uppose we blow this 'Who's Who in Pittsburg' and taxi-cab it out to a roadhouse where the b
k her head w
you d
everybo
id you brea
t care
ght prefer these 'pappy guys' to me, for nobody likes me then, but I'm agreeably pickled. I'm just like everybody you'll be likely to meet at this time of night. Merkle
k Miss Demorest?
r about that Jane. D'you know what made us
At that
nducted for actors. I sat in the taxi
h her, but she found it difficult to escape from the intoxicated young man at her side. At last, however, she succeeded, and joi
ing his friend's
etimes the theory works and a boy grows up with open eyes, but more often it turns out as it has in this case. Bob's an alcoholic, a common drunkard, and he'll end in an institution, sure. He'd be there now if
d if they overheard you? I fancied yo
all right." Merkle eyed
you d
, even if
ren
t most of the pret
ig
looks. Wouldn't I be a
me you're very much the right sort. I know you're try
ou 'get
n agent, and I'll pay a good
myste
th this business, and he is willing to pay the price; but the fact is he is putting other people in peril-me among the rest. I'm not arguing for his wife nor the two Misses Hammon. I don't go much on the ordinary kinds of morality, and nobody outside of a man's family has the
don't want me; you
e hire them by the year, and they have told
s made with her habi
al for business ends. Lilas Lynn is my friend-at least in a way-and Mr. Hammon is my host, just as he is yours. Oh, I know; this isn't a conventional party, a
ion arrested Lorelei'
friends I have in the world? There is such a thing as loyalty and friendship even in big business; in fact,
rdly beli
d there is a rigid code in money matters. If what I suspect is true, Hammon's infatuation promises to do harm to innocent people. I fear-in fact, I'm sure
for ins
er intentions-her relations
y Mel
You know hi
N
llow who represents-big people. By helping me you can serve ma
very unusual," she said, at length. "I d
convince yourself who means best to Jarvis-Miss Lynn and Melcher and the
price," she told him, i
ng to me, and thank you for being agreeable to an irascible old d
ready
ely toward the cloak-room she encounte
ou ran away," he d
had reached a more advanced stage. His cheeks
ght is young; we'l
, no. I'm
h extreme gravity he focused his gaze upon her, sayin
her hand. "
erstand. Spe
dnig
e was rough. "Where'd you learn that line? It's country s
ing her away. In and out among the chairs he piloted a dizzy course, while she yielded
of tone, he murmured in her ear: "D'you think I'd let you
rom his embrace, but he clutched her
et acquainted, is there? We're goi
away from himself easily, bending a hot glance upon her upturned face. She saw t
ression, he drew her close once more, then buried his face in
was cut short as she slapped him resoundingly, her
lips were white with fury, t
you mean by th
Remember you broke in here. I'd l
s, a musical laugh, and Ador
nce more with me. We'll finish this. What?" She swayed toward him in sympa
young man stammered, incoherently.
" She entwined her arms about him and forced him into motion. As she danced away
in the hall. A shout of laughter echoed
er. "Bob Wharton is in the foun