The Auction Block

her with an endless story, the point of which had sent the

ou to-night. I don't

ces?" he inquired, tartly. Thus far the bank

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 aut

grunted, "S

"You see, we're both

e attacked her food with a healthy,

of this sort of thing?"

ind nearly every night. Is

sly sporty when they get away fro

town and it's a bit of a novelty to them. But there's a crowd of regular New-Yorkers--the

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 becau

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

. 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 c

hat room; but scarcely fr

the package

ng not to play with edged tools. I wond

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

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

hat she makes him pay now. It's according

ieve she--di

but at first she refused his g

ad scr

the time was up Bergman took a hand. He sent for her one evening, and when she went down there was Mr. Ha

taring at the object of their

im every kind of a monster, accused

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 hi

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

," remarked Merkle, at length. "It wou

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

he damage those boys did. They threatened to j

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

ty, 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

s 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

el!" Hannibal

id about him; it requires a gigantic intelligence to outwit you." To

Mr. Whart

dissipated lump of ar

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

lled 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! Got

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

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

the 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 founder

ndition now?" queried Lorelei, who had

suppose we blow this 'Who's Who in Pittsburg' and taxi-cab it out to a roadhouse where the

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

metimes 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

ght." Merkle eyed his compani

, 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 tryin

ou 'get

n agent, and I'll pay a good

myste

with 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 t

don't want me; you

e hire them by the year, and they have told

s made with her habi

l 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

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 m

very unusual," she said, at length. "I d

convince yourself who means best to Jarvis--Miss Lynn and Melcher and th

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

e 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

Bob Wharton is in the fountain. He s