Show V r rt I f H Th e Day I c Days a s By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE Copyright 1912 by the Frank A. A Munsey Co J 1 SYNOPSIS t j. j Perceval Sybarite bookkeeper receives f for tor the th play Kismet and asks aske Miss Silas Violet V Prim and George r Bross sH fellow tellow hoarders boarders to make up his bis party r George Georgo o thinks Madge Leasing Lessing Is It really I Marian Mahan heiress trying to toes es escape cape from marrying Bayard son eon of ot Brian her guardian After Arter the pia play Molly Leasing Is la accosted r at lit the th door of ot the boarding house houle by a art awry wr wry rt mouthed young oung man In evening r clothes cloth The two t talk out of or P P. Sybarite Syba Syba- rite earshot t t. t 1 oJ At Molly's request Sybarite detains the thet t I young mun man while nhe ehe flees nees In a taxicab i The Th mat man runs rune after atter her leaving his hat r 01 containing an address Following him Sybarite finds himself In hi a gambling I I r t house houlf Tho twisted mouth man Is not noE there P Sybarite risks his hi only 5 and wins breaking the bank the gambling house houle keeper tries to rob Sybarite A raid by the district district dis dis- attorney gives him a chance chanco to escape escape es es- cape cap dressed in policeman's uniform r with his winnings He lie finds ands himself an unintentional In In- tl tI uder In a ladys lady's boudoir In a neighborIng neighbor- neighbor Ing Ilg house just In time to prevent her murder murder murder mur mur- der by her husband a masked man with witha a twisted m mouth uth The latter escapes The woman is le the notorious Mrs Mra Inch secretly married to Bayard I He lie e wants wanta to get rid of or her so 80 that he can marry Marian Morlan Blessington Mrs Mra sends fends Sybarite for tor Red November a a. tang gang ster H r. r and he hf meets Brian Shanon y Sj Sybarite barite saves a young man whom November November No No- vember ember Is trying to drug The young man manla v la s wounded and Sybarite takes him home homec c to Ma his apartments T t- t i r f i t Know Know- said sala 1 P. P Sybarite with a II quirt quiet c chuckle buckle the Owen Hadley-Owen ma mas mas- masI fJ How did you know Y r. r Kismet It had hud to be But ut were we're 4 t. t here Ii The taxicab was drawing up before an apartment house entrance J Hastily reco recovering ering his hoard of ot gold pieces he P. P Sybarite jumped out and pr presented pre Ind one to th the driver Cant u cha-u change e that said laid the latter laUer staring Besides this ibis was a charge e call t I 1 know said P. P Sybarite but this r j Is Is for you OU for far being a good little ti tight ht Y x mouth Forever I and ever amen protested IV t 1 the latter te fervently r And thank you Thank you you If youie youre satisfied I were we're If quits returned returned re- re turned P. P Sybarite offerings offering a n hand to t. t the boy r I 1 can cnn manage manage protested this last t. r de descending without assistance I don dont don't t want the here herl to sus sus- it sect ct and acid I can cnn hold bold up never neer fear A 1 liveried hautboy opened the door J s while a n second waited in the elevator ele w r Promptly ast ascending t ending without delay they y t P-t here el set Net down at one of the upper floors i to Throughout hout this tran transit t the tbt boy ear car at II ried d himself with never a quiver To ToI l he elevator ole bO boy he be said c By the way Jimmy Sir Sir 1 Call Ca II up lip Dr Biggins III for me Tell him Ive I've an no attack of indigestion andt and t be glad Iud if hell he'll turn out and see et he hl can fix Ax me mo up tip for the night Very Vera good Mr 1 Kenny 1 i The gate at clanged Cd and the ca cage e dropped drop drop- ped from sight liS as Mi It enny opened t l rooms room und and switched up the lights lIht In ht a It comfortably furnished sitting t room loom loomA S A 1 ver very little snipping and slashing r r sufficed to d do awa away with the toe shoulder sleeve of the boys boy's coat cont and to lay open Ipen his waistcoat as well exposing a i ff shirt I And then at the Instant when P. P Sybarite was noting with 1 relief that t the stain showed both bothIn l In hack back and nud in front the telephone I 4 shrilled If you ou dout mind answering that grunted Mr Kenny Benny p P. P Sybarite was already at the In Inc Instrument j. j strument i J Yes he answered Is this DrI Dr I ln Sorry sir replied a n strange e voice f Dr I liI 1 Isn't in yet Any message mes- mes j sage 1 Tell him Mr Ir Kenny needs him lit at fl the Monastery and aid the matters matter's urgent v Doctor not In In he Iw reported i A o returning to cut awn away collar tie I and undershirt Never mind I 1 I h be hc surprised If It we Wl cou could cond dot do t without him after titter all nil Im I'm he beginning to hope hp youve you've III n had a ii inn narrow narrow nar nar- row esc I Fells Feels like It It said Ienn Ironic I 4 A 1 P. P Sybarite Syl withheld d I. I pon o while I i v he made made rinse close examination At t the tile i lM of Mr Mi- MiI 1 I I IWI S neck u well welt 11 shove hoe shoulder houlder blade was WU-I tube slowly from an nit ugly j ud i. nd In lu there ther was a II lorI correspond correspond- Ing IlIg I pun tine hurt hut but smaller And AmI I pies pies- his hl- deft I gentle o fingers Augers 1 ef 1 e is f tilt the folds of the ho boys boy's s under- under 1 hilt do wl 1 the till bullet Itself v I l I dolt t 1111 h he id ed dl disc III him hI thin Cut I Sill 11 It II rk ton on 1111 managed li to c-at c cihI 1111 h th i ht for fill It M ill slip 1 a I lIh lI I or severt sever sever- o r t o. o f 1 jv S 5 S I f 1 I 1 told 1011 p yui I 1 wasn't wil t xu xo badly burt hurt Gods s g. lid to tu the Irish Where Where's s your our bathroom y With a It gesture Kenny enny Indicated It Its location And Handkerchiefs Upper bureau u drawer In the bed bed- room In a twinkling I P p. Sybarite was waa 0 off and bt back k again with materials for tor nn an antiseptic wash and a rude bandage Hond d d you ou know know I 1 way was Irish By ny name I P. P Sybarite Syb arite urile In fn a n brogue rue an nR natural as aR grass C. while avidly h he worked n away wn busily banally black Irish and well I know ItT It T me maiden name name- Kenny She had n at brother brother lifeline Mc uiel be he beM het t M and be b way av as' I Lein eln a rich rh con can tor In this very cry town us as ever er was wa lIc ere be God died his tIe lie left two taro children children-a a young leddy teddy who misspells her name e M-a-e e A y s I ys- ys keep still and still and Peter me cousin If its it's not mistaken I am I The Th Lord save have us said the boy hoy Youre never Percy Sybarite P. P Sybarite b rite winced wined Not N f so loud he pleaded In Iu a stage whisper Some Someone one might hear henr you I 1 say what have you been doing with yourself 1 since since since he be stam- stam Since the fall of the house bouse of at S Syb yb ante arite Yes I J didn't know you were In New hew York es e en en Your mother and Mae Alys knew it It h lint but tt Kept jept It quiet th the same as aM me t n 9 v vI I I I jJ 1 1 t I t aR Ji J I i gone and promised to marry Bayard said the little tittle man But yourself How tIow long are you out of at college A year year not not quite What were you doing in Dutch House tonight ht Well Wen Peter Kenny confessed sheepishly sheep sheep- Im In lovei love i I And you proposed to her tonight at atthe atthe the ball II i I Yes andI and and- I j I She refused you you Kj K- K j I j I Yes buti but j i I So you decided to todo the manly i think thing thing thing-go go out and get drunk j I tt wasn't t ns' ns as if It shed she'd left me any excuse to hope bope but she told me flatly j l 1 she Fhe didn't care for me j 1 1 I I bad Peter I Forgive my ill ill- timed levity I I didn't mean It meanly I hays boy P. P P Sybarite te protested sincerely Its worse than you jou think Peter Peteri i I can stand tand her not carIng carIng car car- Ing lag for or me e. e Why s should o ld she I Indeed Why I Its because she's gone one and promised prom prom- II I-ed I to marry Bayard Sybarite looked dazed She Bayard Who's the t Marian Blessington Why do you I I ask Do you know her There was a pause P. P Sybarite blinked furiously quiet quiet- quietly I Ive I heard that name he be said quietly quiet ly Iy at ut leu length she old Brians Brian's J ward ward the the who girl disappeared t te- te en I I She didn't disappear rea really II She's She been lIeen staying with friends told friends told me so 80 soi i herself herselt I That's That'll all the foundation the paper had for Its story t I Of course P. P Sybarite said suld met me me- And she told you she meant to marry Bayard She said Kuld shed she'd promised And that the bo boy broke brull out was what drove e droeme me crazy craz He's Hes well hes he's hes well you know w what hat he be Is IH Ills fathers father's son sou said P. P S Sybarite gloomily He lie wa was there tonight tonight the the old man mantoo mantoo too And utter titter what Marian had told me we I Just i c trust m myself to toI meet or speak to either of them So I 1 I bolted bark back l here took a u stiff drink changed from o to these theNe clothes I and went weal nut out to make a besotted ass assof assor i or of myself Naturally 1 J aimed lImed for fori i j I D Dutch uh House And there the first firstI i thing I 1 noticed when I went In was irus us old lId sitting at lit the same table p ou u to took task ll 1 I spoke to him lint hut heI he be wouldn't tO e me- me simply nie simply glUed glared I teal Red November No ember o came lame In and they ther went ul upstairs together So I 1 II I stuck around hoping to get hold bold of Red Hlll Iud and make him drunk enough to Curiously enough h. h when Shay Shay- non I left rt nl Red d mine carne dh to tu rn my table and sat down dawn hut But h by that time Id I'd had some champagne lIe on ou top of whis k ky and when I he tried to In Insist l t on nn my drinking nuns more I got o. o scared feeling what but I Id I'd had as t much h us me I did Theres souse some sort of shenanigan brewing or III In my toy Arst names mimes Peter the th same as its yours yours- w which I wish It was wag flOR RO so Be Re quiet quitt a J bit hit d ai-d leave 1 me ant think For Tor a It little while I P. P R Sybarite it at pondering pon pun dering with eyes e. t I What t dues does this flits 1111 le Y r Jl- Jl L party parts break hrak up allay Not till d That settles It rill Itil going 1 You say RaY yon jOlt m cd t n I CO costume of f some stir start here Ill I'll h I It It leaven Heaven youre you're welcome ume lint but But Rut what You have bate no Invitation Rising nisin p P. P Sybarite smiled I loftily Dont orr worry about that h- h Ire Ite ati pen sesame rot In my pocket packet to any door in New w York Vork S t t t 4 t Late enough In 1111 all conscience n was the last laNt guest attest lc t to arrive for the Hadley Hadley- Owen masquerade Already town cars carriages and private busses es were vere being railed for Cor departing with Hun sale lIal of ot the themore themore themore more seasoned and saber sided cl revel revel- ers More and more frequently the elevators elevators ele ele- ele- ele empty but for tor their thell attendants were flying up to the fu mions f-mions tous ballroom floor of at the Bizarre to tu descend hea heavy vy laden with languid g hil parties of ot gayly costumed ladle ladles KM 1 no less brilliantly attired gentlemen prince and pauper empress and shepherdess cavalier and monk milkmaid and mountebank all weary yet et reluctant In their going And at this hour a smallish gentleman gentle gentle- man in an old style Inverness opera coat that cloaked him to his ankles with an opera hat bat set Jauntily a wee bit askew on his bead head a mask of ot crimson silk coverings his face from brows to lips Ups slipped silently like some sly sinister shadow through h the Fifth avenue portals of ot the All the cars ars were still at the top according according ac ac- ac cording to the bronze arrows lr t telltale dials The late arrival held up patiently but after atter an Instants Instant's deliberation deliberation deliberation de de- de- de liberation doffed dotTed his hat crushed It flat fiat slipped out out t of at his voluminous cloak and beckoned a liveried attendant attend attend- ant ant In the costume thus disclosed he cut an nn Impish figure Satan on the hal half shell Peter Kenny had christened him A dress coat of black satin fitted P. P Sybarite more lIlore neatly than him bim for tor whom hom It had been made For boutonniere boutonniere boutonniere bouton- bouton he wore a smoldering ember ember so so true an imitation that t at first he him Ihn- self hesitated to touch It Literally to crown rown all his ruby hair was twisted upward from Cram each temple In a n fashion that was most t vividly picturesque Here he said surrendering hat and coat to the servitor before the theat latter latter lat lat- atter ter could remonstrate take and check these for tor me please I shant shan't be going for some some time yet Sorry sir but the cloak room down downer er s 's closed sir You'll have to che check k them on the ballroom floor No matter said the little man and gi groping groping in a pock pocket t. t he produced a dollar dollar dol dol- lar liar hill bill and tendered it to ready fingers fin fin- gers yOU you keep i p em tor for me d down wn here It'll save time when Im I'm ready to go Very ex good sir Th Thank you And P P. P Sybarite ascended d' d to to the b ballroom 1 II room Pausing Pausin In the anteroom he hp struck l an artificial pose on his bill hi high h red heels heels' and stroked thin satiric lips with slen slender der fin fingers reviewing the crush with eyes that glinted lI light ht hearted ma malice ce through the scarlet seeking a certain one and finding her not amon among th these se many about him their him their hay gay aY ex ex- exotic o otic IC trappings half haJt hidden beneath i wraps of at modern convention they had assumed J s med against impending departure CHAPTER X Such Stuff as Plots Are Made Of TinNING to one side P. P Sybarite Syba Syba- 1 t k rite rill began hegan to pick a slow way the pi press ess and so presently he hI found himself shoulder to shoulder with elderly and und pompous l Respectability In a furred who all rend ready for the street with shining topper poised at breast level had delayed his going for an nn Instants Instant's instants In stants stant's guarded confabulation with a b f j jl I r l I I Ii V I I 1 j I i i I Saw at Hi Hit His Elbow a Small Attentive Body youngish titan man IIII lOu plC in this that he ht was wal- walIn In simple Kimple evening dies dress t. Their backs wen wert toward rd P. P Sybarite Little enough h he profited b by his Ills open eavesdropping what he heard was scarcely Illuminating when applied to the puzzle that haunted him She wont won't that's wont that's flat fiat Respectability's itys ity's companion announced In n 1 ti sullen 0 voice Ice By the tone of this last Beelzebub knew that It lImed Issued from front from an ugly twisted twist ed mouth But Respectability In Insisted ted Ll h heavily i lly lIy jot youre re sure ture youve you've done don your best hest I to pe persuade unde her She wont won't ll listen to Treason eason cason I 1 I Well Well er Well everything's everything's arranged You have bave me to thank for that v vOh I Oh ObI Incer sneered d tho the O Il map man t.- t. f antIC j. youve done aunt ti alot lot ton And then III inciting to fit gIvet h a l Ii If is nt III other making toward to th the elevators Brian Shannon t dl d II at lilac his hl elbow that small e I hotly body ItIC In iii sinister Inh tir scarlet and black YeI met P. P i Sybarite harlte St ha rite saluted sainted him hima gayly a I Are Ale you ton II Indeed off sn sit early earit upon my lily business C Who the devil tire are your ton h u demanded so u stormily |