The evening world. Newspaper, May 29, 1916, Page 11

“4 The Evening World Daily Magazine, Monda THE Wrrnnrn WNL NAIR RANE ‘THE STORY OF THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE: CREAM D against an evening ramble. ‘The Master of the Horse was & young officer of a brave and even temerarious disposition. He greeted the news with delight, and hastened to make ready. Long practice and @ varied acquaintance of life had given bh him a eingular facility in disguise; 26 could adapt not only his face and Dearing, but his voice and almost his thoughts, to those of any rank, char- acter, or nation; and in this way he diverted attention from the prince, and sometimes gained admission for the pair into strange eocieties, The civil authorities were never taken into the secret of those adventures; the Imperturbabie courage of the one and the ready invention and ohival- fous devotion of the other had brought them through a score of dangerous passes; and they grew In confidence as time went on, One evening in March they were driven by a sharp fall of sleet Into an oyster bar in the immediate neigh- of Leicester Square. Colonel Geraldine was dressed and painted to represen. @ person connected with the press in reduced circumstances, while the prince had, as usual, travestied ‘Rte appearance by the addition of fatsé whiskers and a pair of large ad- hhesive eyebrows. ‘These lent him a shaggy and weather-beaten alr, which, for one of his urbanity, formed the most impenetrable dis- ‘Thus equipped, the commander and his satellite sipped their brandy and soda in security. The bar was full of guests, male and female; but though more than one of these offered to fall into talk with our adventurers, none of them promised 10 grow interesting upon a nearer quaintance. There was nothing pres- ent but the lees of London and th commonplace of désrespectability; and the prince had already fallen to yawn- ing and was beginning to grow weary of the whole excursion, when the Swing doors wore pushed violently open and a young man, followed by @ couple of commissionatres, entered Each of. the commissionaires carried @ large dish of cream tarts under & cover, which they at once removed; and the young man made the round of the company and pressed these confections upon every one’s accept- ance with an exaggerated courtesy. mes his offer was laughingly accept it was firmly, even harshly, rejected. In these lat- ter cases the new-comer always ate, the tart himself, with some moro or umorous commentary. eR inst he accosted Prince Florizel. “gir,” said he, with a profound ‘. Obeisance, proffering the tart at the game timo between his thumb and forefinger, “will you so far honor an ‘stranger? 1 can answer for quality of the pastry, having two dozen and three of them ygelt since 5 o'clock. mT am in i habit,” served. the rin “ot looking not so muc’ the nature of a. gift ag to the epirit to which it is offered,” “The spirit, sir,’ returned the of mockery.” °MfMockery?” repeated Florizc! whom do you propose to mock “I am not here to expound my phil- esophy,” replied tho other, “but to distribute theso cream tarts. If I miention that I heartily include myself tm the ridicule of the transaction, I ‘hope you will consider honor satisfied and condescend. If not, you will con- strain me to eat my twenty-eighth and I own to being weary of the exer- ‘And “You touch me,” said the Prince, “and I have all the will in the world to rescue you from this dilemma, but mn one condition. If c.f y qriend ane ir cakes--for which we havi delther of us any natural inclination —we shall expect you to join us at per by way of recompense. “The young man seemed to reflect. “T have still several dozen upon 4," he said at last nd that will make it necessary for me to visit sev- era] more bars before C4 great affair 4a. concluded, ‘This will take some time; and if you are hungry"—— ‘The Prince interrupted him with @ esture. 1s Serena and I will accompany you,” he said; “for we have already a deep interest’ in your very agreeable mode of passing an evening, And Mow that the preliminaries of peace are sottied, allow me to sign the both.” WOT ihe owed the tart aginable. It is delicious . I perceive you are a connoisseur, replied the young man Col, Geraldine likewise did honor to the pastr: nd every one tn that bar having now either accepted or refused his delicacies, the young man with the cream tarts led the way to enother and similar establishment. The two commission. v ned y owed immedi- -rince and tho Colonel brought up the rear, arm in arm, and smiling to each other as they went. In this order the coms ately after; ny visited two other taverns, whe ecenes were enacted of a like nature to that already described some re- fusing, some aces favors of this vagabond hospitality, and tho ung man himself eating each re- ted tart. On leaving the third saloon the ung man counted his store, There y and six in the other "Gentlemen, suid he, addressing Bimself to his two new followers, "TL ‘unwilling to delay your supper. am positively sure you must be » pfeel that I owe you a spe- Lia ERIE NYU TUNE NEE SUICIDE CLUB “NEW ARABIAN NIGHTS TALE OF MYSTERY AND ADVENTURE By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON URING this residence in London, the accomplished Prince Florizel of Bohemia gained the affection of all classes by the seduction of his manner and by @ well considered generosity. remarkable man ever by what was known of him; and that was but a small part of what he actually did. Although of a placid temper in ordinary circumstances, ‘and accustomed to take the world with ‘ag much philosophy as any plowman, the Prince of Bohemia was not without a taste for ways of life more adventurous and eccentric than that to which he was destined by birth. Now and then, when he fell into Jow humor, when there was no laughable play to witness in any of the don theatres, and when the season of the year was unsuitable to those field sports in which he excelled all competitors, he would summon his confidant and Master of Horse, Col, Geraldine, and bid him prepare himself young man, with another bow, “if Tray 4 tid ¢ TARTS. He wasa cial consideration. And on this great day for me, when I am closing a career of folly by my most conspicu- ously silly action, I wish to behave handsomely to all who give me coun- tenance. Gentlemen, you shall wait no longer. Although my constitution ts shattered by previous excesses, at the risk of my life I liquidate the suspensory conditio! With these words he crushed the nine remaining tarta into his mouth and swallowed them at a single move- ment each. Then, turning to the com- missionaires, he gave them @ couple of sovereigns, “I have to thank you,” said he, “for your extraordinary patience. And he dismissed them with a bow piece. For aome seconds he stood looking at the purse from which he had just paid his assistants, then, with a laugh, he tossed it into the middle of the street, and signified his readiness for suppe: The Young Man’s Story. N a small Frepch restaurant in Boho, which had enjoyed @n exaggerated reputation for some little while, but had already begun to be for- gotten, and in a private room up two pairs of stairs, the three companions made a very elegant supper, and drank three or four hottles of cham- pagne, talking the while upon indif- ferent subjects, The young man was fluent and gay, but he laughed loud- er than was natural in @ person of polite breeding; his hands trembled violently, and his voice took sudden and surprising inflections, which seemed to be independent of his will. The dessert had been cleared away, and all three had lighted their cigars, when the prince addressed bim in these words: “You will, I am eure, pardon my curiosity. What I have seen of you has greauy pleasea but even more puzzied me. And though I should b3 loath to seert {ndiscreet, I must tell you that my friend and I are persons very well worthy to be intrusted in @ secret. We have many of our own, which We are continually revealing to improper ears, And if, as I sup- pose, your story 1s a silly one, you need have no delicacy with us, who are two of the silliest men dn Eng- jJand. My name is Godall, Theo- pnilus Godall; my friend is Major Alfred Hammersmith — or at. least, such is the name by which he chooses to be known, We pass our lives en- tircly in search of extravagant ad- ventures, and there is no extrava- gance with which we are not capable of sympathy.” “L like you, Mr, Godali,” returned the young man; “you inspire me with @ natural confidence and [ have not the slightest objection to your friend, the Major, whom I take to be a no- bleman in masquerade. At least, 1 am sure he is no soldier.” The Colonel smiled at this compli- ment to the perfection of his art, and the young man went on in @ more animated manner, There 1s every reason why I should not tell you my story. Perhaps that is just the reason why I am going to do so. At least, you seem so well pre- pared to hear @ tale of silliness that I cannot find it in my ‘heart to dis- appoint you. My name, in spite of your example, I shall keep to myself. My age Is not essential to the narra- tive. I am descended from my an- cestors by ordinary generation, and from them I inherited the very eligi- ble human tenement which I still oc- cupy and a fortune of three hundred pounds @ year. I suppose they also handed on to me a harebrain humor, which it has been my chief delight to indulge. I received a good educa- tion, I can play the violin nearly well enough to earn money in the orches- tra of a penny gaff, but not quite, ‘The samo remark applies to the flute and the French horn. I learned enough of whist to lose about a hun- dred a year at that scientific game. “My acquaintance with French was sufticlent to enable me to squander money In Paris with almost the same facility as in London. In short, I am @ person full of manly accomplish- ments, I have had every sort of ad- venture, including a duel about noth- ing. Only two months ago I met a young lady exactly suited to my taste in mind and body; I found my heart melt; 1 saw that I had come upon my fate at last and was in the way to fall in love. But when I came to reckon up What remained to me of my capital 1 found it amounted to some- thing less than four hundred pounds! 1 ask you fairly--can a man who re- spects himself fall in love on four hundred pounds? I concluded, cer- tainly not; left the presence of my chariner and slightly accelerating my usual rate of expenditure, came tbia morning to my last eighty pounds, “This I divided into two equal parts; forty 1 reserved for a particu. lar purpose; the remaining forty I was to dissipate before ni I have passed a very entertaining day and played many farces besides that of the®cream tarts which procured me the advantage of your acquaintance, for 1 was determined, as I told you, to bring a@ foolish career to a still more foolish conclusion, and when you saw me throw my purse Into the street the forty pounds were at an end. Now you know me as well as I know myself—a fool, but consistent in his folly and, as I will ask you to believe, neither a whimperer nor @ coward,” From the whole tone of the young man’s statement it was plain that he harbored yery bitter and contemptu- ous thoughts about himself, His au- ditora were led to fmagine that his The Day of Rest eet eleiac., ee ve Yes, MY me Cota ‘ou WITH THE WHOLE DARN FAMILY | If you thought you'd k you hadn't. If you YOU'D BB LIKE helped him to esta and coats of a considerable party hung round the wall on pegs. | What sort of den is this?” sald Geraldine. 7 “That is what I have come to ase, replied the Prince. “If they keep liv devils on the premises the thing may grow amusing.” Meeting the President. UST then the folding door was opened no more than ! ‘was necessary for the pas- age of a human body, and there entered at the samo moment a louder buss of talk, and the redoubtable President of the Sul- cide Club. The President was a man of fifty or upward; large and ram~- bling in his galt, with shaggy side whiskers, a bald top to his head, and @ veiled gray eye, which now and then emitted a twinkle. His mouth embraced a la cigar, which he kept continually screwing round and round, and from side to aide, he looked sagaciously and coldly at the strangers, He was dressed in light tweeds with his neck very open in @ striped shirt collar and carried a minute book under. one arm, “Good evening,” sald he, after he had closed the door behind him. am told you wish to speak with me. “We have a desire, sir, to join the Suicide Club plied the colonel. ‘The president rolled his cigar about in his mouth “What is that?” he said abruptly. “Pardon me," returned the colonol, “put I belleve you are the person best qualified to give us information on that point.’ “L?" cried the president. Sut. cide Club? Come, come! this is a frolic for All Fools’ Day. I can make allowances for gentlemen who get merry In their liquor; but let there be an end to this.” “Call your club what you will,” sald the colonel, “you have some company behind these doo! and we insist on joining It.” . ‘ “Bir,” returned the president, curt- ly, “you have made a mistake. This ie a private house, and you must lea it instantly.” The prince had remained in hig seat throughout thia little col- loquy, but now, when the colonel ked over to him, as much as to “Take your answer and come ;@way, for God's sake!" he drew his cheroot from his mouth and spoke: “I have come here,” sald he, “upon uletly love affair was nearer to bis hi than he admitted and that he ha design on his own life. farce of the cream tarts began to have very much the air of @ tragedy in dis- y, 1s this not odd,” broke in Geraldine, giving a look to Prince Florizel, “that we three fellows should have met by the merest accident in so large a wilderness as London and should be so nearly in the same con- dition?” “How?” cried the young man. “Are you, too, ruined? Is this supper a folly like my cream tarts? Has th devil brought three of his own to- gether for a last carouse?” “The devil, depend upon it, can sometimes do a very gentlemanly thing,” returned Prince Florisei, “and I am so much touched by this coincidence that, although we are not entirely in the same state, I am going to put an end to the disparity. Let your heroic treatment of cream tarts be my example.” So saying, the Prince drew out his purse and took from it a small bun- dio of banknotes, ‘ou gee, I was a week or #0 behind you, but I mean to catch you up and come neck and neck into the winning post,” he continued. “This,” laying one of the notes upon the table, suffice for the bill. As for the rest’ He tossed them into the fire, and they went up the chimney in @ single blaze. Tho young mam tried to catch his arm, but as the table was between them his interference came too late. “Unhappy mani" he cried. “You should not have burned all! You should have kept £401" “Forty unde!'’ repeated the ine y, in heaven's name, “Why not eighty?’ orfed the Colonel. “For to my knowl- certain edge there must have been a hundred in the bundle.” "It was only £40 he needed,” said the young man, gloomily. “But with- out them there is no admission. The rule ts strict. Forty pounds for each. Accursed life, where @ man can not even die without money!" ‘The Prince and the Colonel ex- changed glances. “Explain yourself,” said the latter. have still a ketbook tolerably well lined, and need not say how readily I should share my wealth with Goodall. But I must know to what end; you must certainly tell us what you mean.” The young man seemed to awaken he looked uneasily from one to t! other and his face flushed “You are not fooling me’ “You are indeed ruined men lil me?" “Indeed I am, for my part,” replied the Colonel. “And for mine,” sald the PNnce. “I have given you proof. Who but a ruined man would throw hia notes (aie. the fire? The action speaks for taelt.” “A rulned man—yes,” returned the juspiciously, ‘or else a miliion- Enough, sir," sald the Prince; “I have sald so and I am not accustomed to have my word remain in doubt.” “Ruined?” said the young man. “Are you ruined, like me? Are you, after a lifo of indulgence, come to such a pass that you can only indulge yourself In one thing more? you going to avoid the consequences of your folly by the one infallible and easy path? Are you going to give the slip to the Sheriff's officers of con- science by the one open door?” Suddenly he broke off and attempt- ed to laugh. ‘Here is your health!” he cried, emptying his gtass, “and good-night to you, my merry, ruined men.” Col. Geraldine caught him by the arm as he was about to rise. “You lack confidence in us,” he eaid, “and you are wrong. To all your questions I make answer in the affirmative. But I am not so timid and can speak the Queen's English plainly. We, too, like yourself, have had enough of life and are determined to die. Sooner or later, alone or to- gether, we meant to seek out Death and beard him where he lies ready. Since we have met you and your case is more pressing, let it be to-night— and at once—and, if you will, all three together. Such a penniless trio,” ho cried, “should go arm in into the halla of Pluto and give each other some countenance among the shades!" The Pact Is Made. ERALDINE had hit exactly on the manners and intona- tions that became the part he was playing. The Prince himself was disturbed and looked over at his confidant with a shade of doubt. As for the young man, the flush came back darkly into his cheek and his eyes threw out a spark of light. “You are the men for me!” he cried, with an almost terrible gayety. “Shake hands upon the bargain!” (Hig hand was cold and wet) “You Uttle know in what company you will begin the march! You little know in what a happy moment for yourselves you partook of my cream tarts, I am only @ unit, but I em @ unit in an army. I know Death's private door, 1 am ono of his familiars, and can show you into eternity without ceremony and yet without scandal,” They called upon him eagerly to explain his meaning, “Can you muster elghty pounds be- ¢ween you?" he demanded, Geraldine ostentatiously consulted his pocketbook and repited dn the af- firmative, “Fortunate beings!" ried the young man. “Forty pounds is the entry money of the Suicide Club,” “The Buicide Club,” said the prince, “why, what the devil 4s that?” “Listen,” satd the young man, “This is the age of conveniences, and I have to tell you of the last perfection of the sort. We have affairs in different places, and hence railways were in- vented, Hailweys separated us infal- libly from our friends, and so tele- graphs were made that we might com- municate speedily at great distances, Even in hotels we have lifts to spare ‘ws a climb of some hundred steps. Now, we know that life !s only @ stage to play the fool upon as long as t part amuses us. There was one more convenience lacking to modern com- fort; @ decent, easy way ¢o quit that stage; the back stairs to liberty; or, as 1 said this moment, Death's private door. This, my two fellow-rebels, is supplied by the Sulaide Club, Do not Suppose that you 1 are alone, or even exceptional, in Bighly reason- able desire that we gigfess. A large number of our fellow men, who have grown heartily sick of the perform- ance in which they are expected to join daily and all their lives long, are only kept from fight by one or two considerations, Some have families who would be whocked, or even blamed, if the matter became public; othera have @ weakness at heart and recoi! from the circumstances of death. That is, to some extent, my own experience. I cannot put a pis- tol to my head and draw the trigger; for something stronger than mysel| withholds the act, and alt é loathe life, I have not strength enough in my body to take hold of death and be done with it. For such as I, and for all who desire to be out of the coll without posthumous scan dal, the Suicide Club has been in- @ugurated. How this has been man- aged, what ia its history, or what may be its ramifications in other lands, I am myself uninformed, and what I know of its constitution 1 am not at Nberty to communicate to you. To thia extent, however, I am at your eervice. If you are truly tired of life I will introduce you to-night to @ meeting; end if not to-night, at least some time within the week, you will be easily relieved of your extatence, It 18 now (consulting hia watch) 1 by 11.80 at latest wo must leave th: lace, #o that you have half an hour fore you to consider my It is more serious than @ cream tart,” he added, with a smile, “and I eus- pect more palatable.” “More serious, certainly,” returned Colonel Geraldine; “and aa it is eo much more so, will you allow me five minutes’ speech in private with my friend, Mr. Godall?” “It is only fair,” answered the “It you will permit, I ots the Colonel. Aa soon as the two were alone: “What,” said Prince Floriz tt use of this confabulation, Geraldine? I see you are flurried, whereas my mind {s very tranquilly made up I will see the end of this.” “Your Highness," eaid the Colonel, turning pale, “let mo ask you to con- sider the importance of your life, not only to your friends, but to the pub- le interest. ‘If not to-night,’ said this madman; but supposing that to-night some irreparable r were to overtake Your Highnem's person, what, let me ask you, what would be my despa! nd what the concern and disaster of @ great nation?’ “I will eee the end of this," repeated the Prince in hig most deliberate “and have the kindness, tones; Colonel Geraldine, to remember and respect your word of honor as @ gon- tleman, Under no circumstances, recollect, nor without my special authonty, are you to betray the in- cognito under which I choose to ko abroad, These are my commands, which I now reiterate. And now,” he added, “ot me ask you to call for the bill.” Colonel Geraldine bowed tn submis- sion; but he had @ very white face as he summoned the young man of the cream turts and issued his directions to the waiter. The Prince preserved his undisturbed demeanor and doe- wcribed @ Palais Royal farce to the young suiolde with great humor and He avoided the Colonel's ap- 6 looks without ostentation, ed eelected another cheroct with more than usual care, Indeed, he was now the only man of the party who kept any command over his nerves, The dill was discharged, the Prince giving the whole change of the note to the astonished waiter, and the three drove off in a four-wheeler, ‘They were not long upon the way before the cab stopped at the en- trance to a rather dark court, Here all descended. After Geraldine had pald the fare the young man turned and addressed Prince Florizel as follows “It ia ati time, Mr. Godall, to make good your escape into thral- dom. And for you, too, Major Ham- meremith. Reflect well before you take another step, and if your hearts say no—here are the cross roads.’ “Lead me on, air,” eaid the Prin “Iam not the man to go back from @ thing onco sald.” Your coolness does me good,” re- plied their guide. “I have never seen any one eo unmoved at this conjunc- ture, and yet you are not the first whom I have escorted to this door, More than one of my friends has preceded mo where IL knew f must shortly follow. ut this is of no in terest to you. Wait me here for only @ few moments; I shall return aa soon as 1 have arranged the prelim- inarles of your introduction.” And with that the young man, waving his hand to his companions, turned into the court, entered @ doo! way and disappeared. wildest and most dangero' “I perfectly bellevo # the Prince. “We have atill,” pursued the colon “a moment to ourselves, Let me be- seech your highness to profit by the opportunity and retire, ‘The conse- ‘returned quen Of this step are so dark, and may #o grave, that I feel myself justified in pushing a lit further than usual the liberty which your highness is so condescending as to allow me in private.’ “Am I to understand that Colonel Goraldine ts afraid?” asked his high- ness, taking his cheroot from his lips and looking keenly into the other's face. “My fear ts certainly not personal,” replied the other, proudly; f that your highness may well rest assured.” “I had supposed as much,” returned the prince, with undisturbed good hu- mor, “but I was unwilling to remind you of the difference in our stations: No more—no more,” ho added, seeing Geraldine about to apologize, “you stand excused.” And he smoked placidly, leaning against a railing, unti] the young man returned, “Well,” he asked, “has our reception been arranged?” “Follow me," wae the reply. “The president will see you in the cabinet, And let mo warn you to be frank in your answers, I have @tood your guarantee, but the club requires @ searching inquiry before admission, for the indiscretion of a single mem- ber would lead to the dispersion of the whole society forever,” The prince and Geraldine put thelr heads together for a moment, “Bear me out in this,” sald the one; “bear me out in that,” sald the other, and by boldly taking up the charac- ters of tien with whom both were ac- quainted they had come to an agree- ment int@ tivinkling and were ready to follow their guide into the Presi- dent's cabinet. ‘There were no formidable obstacles to pass. Tho outer door atood open, the door of the cabinet was ajar, and there, in a small but very high apart- ment, the young man left them once more. “Ho will be hore tmmediately,” he said, with a nod as he disappoared. Voices were audible in the cabinet through the folding doors which formed one end, and now and then the nolse of a champagne cork, fol- lowed by a burst of laughter, Inter vened among the sounds of conversa- tion, A single tall window looked out upon the river and the embankment, and by the dispomtion of the lights they judged themselves not far from Charing Cross Station: was scanty and the coverings worn to 4 thread, and there wes nothing movable except a hand bell tn the centre of @ round table and the bate the invitation of a friend of yours, He has doubtless Informed you of my Intention in thus intruding on your party. Let me remind you that @ person in my circumstances bas ex- ceedingly little to bind him, and ts not at all likely to tolerate much rudeness. I am a very quiet man, WT! as a usual thing; but, my dear air, ou are either golng to oblige me in the little matter of which you are aware, or you shall very bitterly re- pent that you ever admitted me to your ante-chamber."* ‘The preaident laughed aloud. “Mat is the way to apeak,” aaid he. “You are a man who is 4 man. You know the way to my heart and can do what you like with me. Will you," he continued, addressing Geraldine, will you step aside for a few min- utes? I shall finish first with your companion, and some of ‘the ciub's formalities required to be falfilled in private.” With these words, he opened door of @ «mall clowet, into which shut the Colonel. ve in you,” he raid to Flort- as they were alone; “but are you sure of your friend?” “Not so aure as I am of mysel; though he has more cogent reason: answered Florizel, “but sure enough to bring him here without alarm. He has had enough to cure the most tenacious man of life. He was cashlered the other day for cheating at cards, “A good , I dare say,” replied the President; at least, we have an- other in the same oi and I feel sure of him. Have you ‘been also in the service, may I ask?" “T have,” was the rep! too lazy; I left it early.’ “What ta your reason for being tired of life?” pursued the President, “The same, as near as I can make it out,” answered the Prince, “unadul- terated laziness.” ‘The ‘President started. ‘D-—n it! aaid he “you must have something better than that.” “I have no more money,” added Florizel. “That 1s also a vexatton, without doubt. It brings my sense of idleness to an acute point.” ‘Tho president rolled his cigar round fn his mouth for some seconds ing his gaze straight into the this unusual neophyte; but the prince supported his serutiny with Unabashed od temper, “If I had not a deal of experience,” said the president at last, “L should turn you off. But I know’ the world; and this much, any way, that the most frivolous excuses for a suicide are often the toughest to stand by. And when I downright like as Ido you, sir, L would rath the regulation than deny him, ‘The prince and the ex the other, were sub, the he ; “but I was and = particular interrogatory, the prince alone, but Geraldine in the presence of the prince, so that the president might observe the coun- tenance of the one while the other was belng warngly ~ cross-examined, Tho result was satisfactory, and the president, after having booked a few details of each case, produced a form of oath to be accepted, Nothing could be concelved more passive than the obedience promised, or more stringent than the terms by which the ju bound himself. ‘Phe man who felted a pledge so awful could acarce- ly have @ rag of honor or any of the consolations of religion left to him. Florizel signed the document, bat not without @ shudder, the colonel fol- lowed his example with an air of great depression, Then the president received the entry money, and witb- out more ado introduced the two friends into the smoking room of the Suicide Cb robbery, but found yourself accused of it — “THE IRON RIDER” By FRANK L. PACKARD NEXT WEEK'S COMPLETE NOVEL IN THE EVENING WORLD You'll have to read this stirring story to learn how a beautiful Russian girl blish_ his innocence illed a man, but found hadn't committed a THE HERO OF The smoking-room of the Suleide Club was the same helght as the cabl- net intd which it opened, but much larger, and papered from top to bote tom with an imitation of oak wain- ‘ot. A large and cheerful fire and & number of gas jets {lluminated the company, The prince and his fol- lower made the number ip wo eighteen. Most of the party were smoking, and drinking champagne; a foverish hilarity relgned, with sade nm and rather ghastly par uses. 8 this @ full meeting?” asked the prince ig.” sald the president. “By he added, “if you have any money It is usual to offer some cham- pagne. It keeps up a good spirit, he {8 one of my own little perquis- “Hammersmith,” said Florigal, “I may leave the champagne to you." The Club Members IND with that ho turned away and began to go round among, the guests. Accus- toméd to play the host in the highest circles, he charmed, and dominated all whom he @pproached; there was something at once. winning and authoritative in his address, and his extraordinary coolness gave him yet another dis- tnction In this half-maniacal so- clety. As he went from one to an- other he kept both his eyes and ears open, and soon began to gain a gen- eral idea of the people among whom he found himself. As in all other Places of resort, one type predomi- nated: people in the prime of youth, with every show of intelligence and sensibility tn their appearance, but with Httle promine of atrength or the quality that makes success. Few were much above thirty, and not a few wore still in their teens, They stood, leaning on tables and shifting on thetr fect; edmetimes they smoked extraordinarly fast, and sometimes they let their cigars go out; some talked well, but the conver- @ation of others was plainly the re- sult of nervous tension, and was equally without wit or purport, As each new bottle of champagne was opened there was a manifest improve- ment in gayety. Only two were seated ono in a chair in the recess of the window, with his head hanging and his hands plunged deep into his crous- ers pockets, pale, visibly with per- apiration, saying never @ word, a very ek of soul and body; the other sat ‘on the divan close by the chimney and attracted notice by a trenchant dise simifarity from all the rest. He waa probably upward of forty, but he looked fully ten yoars older, a Florize! thought he had never seen a man more naturally hideous, nor one more ravaged by disease and ruinous excitements. He was no more than skin and bone, was partly par-. alyzed, and wore spectacies of euch unusual power that his eyes appeared through the glasses greatly magnified and distorted in shape. Except, the prince and president, he was the only person 4n the room who preserved the. composure of ordinary life, ‘There was little decency among ¢he of tho club. Some boasted isgraceful actions the con- sequences of which had reduced them to seek refuge in death, and the others Ustened without disapproval. was a tacit understanding against moral judgments, and whoever passed the club doors enjoyed already some of the immunities of the tomb, They drank to each other's memories, and to those of notable suicides in the past. They compared and developed their different views of death—some declaring that 1t was no more than blackness and cessation; ‘others full of a hope that that very night they should be scaling the stars and com- Mercing with the mighty dead. the eternal memory of Baron Trenck, the type of suicides!" erled one. “He went out of a small! cell into a smaller, that he might come forth again into freedom,” “Kor my part,” said a second, “T wish no more than a bandage for my eyes and cotton for my ears. Only they have no cotton thick enough in this world.” A third was for reading the mys terles of life in @ future state and @ fourth professed that he would never have Joined the club if he had not been induced to believe in Mr. Darwin, “I could not bear,” sald this remark- able suicide, “to be descended from an ape.” Altogether the Prince was disap- pointed by the bearing and convergas tion of the members. “It does not seem to me," he thought, “a matter for so much dia turbance, If a man has made up Bis mind to kill bimself, let him do tt, in God's name, like a gentleman, This flutter and big talk is out of place." In thé meanwhile, Col. Geraldine was a prey to the blackest appres hensions; the club and its rules wer sll a mystery, and be looked aroun the room for some one who should be able to set his mind at rest. In this survey his eye lighted on the para- lytic person with the strong specs tacles, and seeing him so exceedingly tranquil, he besought the President, who Was going in and out of the reom, Under « pressure of business, so pres sent him to the gentleman on the divan. The functionary explained the need lessness of all such formalities with." in the club, Dut nevertheless presented® Mr. Hammersmith to Mr, Malthus, Mr, Malthus looked at the cotonel eurtously, and th requested him te take @ seat upon his right, “You are a new comer,” he said, “and’ wish information? You have come to the proper source. It is twe years since I first visited this charmme ing-elub.” ~ (To Be Continued) cif