nce at his wife's face--"we ought to get a good
rent for it if we decide not to sell; hey, Serena?"

Serena did not answer. When they reached the hotel she left her husband
to settle with the driver and took the elevator to their room. A few
minutes later the captain joined her. He looked as if suffering from
shock.

"My heavens and earth, Serena!" he exclaimed, "what do you suppose that
tax hack feller had the cheek to--"

"Sshh! shh!" interrupted the lady, who was reclining upon the couch.
"Don't bother me now, Daniel. I don't want to be bothered with common
every-day things now; I want to think."

"Common! Everyday! My soul and body! if what that pirate charged me was
everyday, I'd be in the poorhouse in a fortni't. Why--"

"Oh, don't! Please don't! Can't you see I am trying to realize that it's
true and not a dream. That it has really happened--to ME. Please don't
talk. Do go away, can't you? Just go out and take a walk, or something;
just for a little while. I want to be alone."

Captain Dan slowly descended the stairs. The elevator, of course, would
have been quicker, but he was in no hurry. If he must walk, and it
seemed that he must, he might as well begin at once. He descended the
stairs to the ground floor of the hotel and wandered aimlessly about
through the lobby into the billiard room, and finally to a plate glass
door upon which was lettered the word "Rathskeller."

What a Rathskeller might be he did not know, but, as there was another
set of letters on the door and those spelled "Push," he pushed.

The Rathskeller was a large room, with a bar at one end and many little
tables scattered about. At these tables men were eating, drinking and
smoking. A violin, harp and piano, played by a trio of Italians, were
doing their worst with a popular melody.

The captain looked about him, selected one of three chairs at an
unoccupied table, and sat down. A waiter drifted alongside.

"What'll you have, sir?" inquired the waiter.

"Hey? Oh, I don't know. Give me a cup of coffee."

"Coffee? Yes, sir. Anything to eat?"

"No, I guess not. I've had my dinner."

"Smoke?"

"Well, you might bring me a ten-cent cigar."

The coffee and cigar were brought. Daniel lit the latter, took a sip
of the former and listened to the music. This was not taking a walk
exactly, but, so far as leaving his wife alone was concerned, it
answered the purpose.

The room, already well tenanted, gradually filled. Groups of men