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on Madison Avenue a green kid glove was laid by the plate of each guest
to be put on and used while eating olives。〃
〃I see；〃 admitted the young man； humbly。
〃These special diversions of the inner circle do not become familiar to
the common public。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 continued the girl； acknowledging his confession of
error by a slight bow； 〃I have thought that if I ever should love a man it
would be one of lowly station。 One who is a worker and not a drone。 But；
doubtless； the claims of caste and wealth will prove stronger than my
inclination。 Just now I am besieged by two。 One is a Grand Duke of a
German principality。 I think he has； or has bad； a wife； somewhere； driven
mad by his intemperance and cruelty。 The other is an English Marquis； so
cold and mercenary that I even prefer the diabolism of the Duke。 What is
it that impels me to tell you these things； Mr。 Packenstacker？
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〃Parkenstacker；〃 breathed the young man。 〃In… deed； you cannot know
how much I appreciate your confidences。〃
The girl contemplated him with the calm； imper… sonal regard that
befitted the difference in their sta… tions。
〃What is your line of business； Mr。 Parken… stacker？〃 she asked。
〃A very humble one。 But I hope to rise in the world。 Were you really in
earnest when you said that you could love a man of lowly position？〃
〃Indeed I was。 But I said 'might。' There is the Grand Duke and the
Marquis； you know。 Yes； no calling could be too humble were the man
what I would wish him to be。〃
〃I work；〃 declared Mr。 Parkenstacker； 〃in a res… taurant。〃
The girl shrank slightly。
〃Not as a waiter？〃 she said； a little imploringly。 〃Labor is noble； but
personal attendance； you know valets and 〃
〃I am not a waiter。 I am cashier in〃 on the street they faced that
bounded the opposite side of the park was the brilliant electric sign
〃RESTAU… RANT〃 〃I am cashier in that restaurant you am there。〃
The girl consulted a tiny watch set in a bracelet of rich design upon her
left wrist； and rose； hurriedly。 She thrust her book into a glittering reticule
sus… pended from her waist； for which； however； the book was too large。
〃Why are you not at work？〃 she asked。
〃I am on the night turn；〃 said the young man； it is yet an hour before
my period begins。 May I not hope to see you again？〃
〃I do not know。 Perhaps … but the whim may not seize me again。 I must
go quickly now。 There is a dinner； and a box at the play and； oh！ the
same old round。 Perhaps you noticed an automobile at the upper corner of
the park as you came。 One with a white body
〃And red running gear？〃 asked the young man； knitting his brows
reflectively。
〃Yes。 I always come in that。 Pierre waits for me there。 He supposes me
to be shopping in the de… partment store across the square。 Conceive of the
bondage of the life wherein we must deceive even our chauffeurs。 Good…
night。〃
〃But it is dark now；〃 said Mr。 Parkenstacker； 〃and the park is full of
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The Voice of the City
rude men。 May I not walk 〃
〃If you have the slightest regard for my wishes；〃 said the girl； firmly；
〃you will remain at this bench for ten minutes after I have left。 I do not
mean to accuse you； but you are probably aware that autos generally bear
the monogram of their owner。 Again； good…night〃
Swift and stately she moved away through the dusk。 The young man
watched her graceful form as she reached the pavement at the park's edge；
and turned up along it toward the corner where stood the automobile。 Then
he treacherously and unhesitat… ingly began to dodge and skim among the
park trees and shrubbery in a course parallel to her route； keep… ing her
well in sight
When she reached the corner she turned her head to glance at the
motor car； and then passed it； con tinuing on across the street。 Sheltered
behind a con… venient standing cab； the young man followed her
movements closely with his eyes。 Passing down the sidewalk of the street
opposite the park； she entered the restaurant with the blazing sign。 The
place was one of those frankly glaring establishments； all white； paint and
glass； where one may dine cheaply and conspicuously。 The girl penetrated
the restaurant to some retreat at its rear； whence she quickly emerged
without her bat and veil。
The cashier's desk was well to the front。 A red… head girl an the stool
climbed down； glancing pointedly at the clock as she did so。 The girl in
gray mounted in her place。
The young man thrust his hands into his pockets and walked slowly
back along the sidewalk。 At the corner his foot struck a small； paper…
covered volume lying there； sending it sliding to the edge of the turf。 By
its picturesque cover he recognized it as the book the girl had been reading。
He picked it up carelessly； and saw that its title was 〃New Arabian
Nights；〃 the author being of the name of Stevenson。 He dropped it again
upon the grass； and lounged； irresolute； for a minute。 Then he stepped into
the automobile； reclined upon the cushions； and said two words to the
chauffeur：
〃Club； Henri。〃
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The Voice of the City
A COMEDY IN RUBBER
One may hope； in spite of the metaphorists； to avoid the breath of the
deadly upas tree； one may； by great good fortune； succeed in blacking the
eye of the basilisk； one might even dodge the attentions of Cer… berus and
Argus； but no man； alive or dead； can es… cape the gaze of the Rubberer。
New York is the Caoutchouc City。 There are many； of course； who go
their ways； making money； without turning to the right or the left； but
there is a tribe abroad wonderfully composed； like the Martians； solely of
eyes and means of locomotion。
These devotees of curiosity swarm； like flies； in a moment in a
struggling； breathless circle about the scene of an unusual occurrence。 If a
workman opens a manhole； if a street car runs over a man from North
Tarrytown； if a little boy drops an egg on his way home from the grocery；
if a casual house or two drops into the subway； if a lady loses a nickel
through a hole in the lisle thread； if the police drag a telephone and a
racing chart forth from an Ibsen Society reading…room； if Senator Depew
or Mr。 Chuck Connors walks out to take the air … if any of these incidents
or accidents takes place； you will see the mad； irresistible rush of the
〃rubber〃 tribe to the spot。
The importance of the event does not count。 They gaze with equal
interest and absorption at a cho… rus girl or at a man painting a liver pill
sign。 They will form as deep a cordon around a man with a club… foot as
they will around a balked automobile。 They have the furor rubberendi。
They are optical glut… tons； feasting and fattening on the misfortunes of
their fellow beings。 They gloat and pore and glare and squint and stare
with their