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 THE METROPOLIS

CHAPTER I

"RETURN at ton-thirty," the General said to his chauf- four, and then they ontored the corridor of the hotel. Montaguo gazad about him, and found himself trombling just a little with anticipation. It was not the magnificenoo of the place. The quiet uptown hotel would have scomod magnificent to him, frosh as he was from the country; but he did not soa tho marblo columna and the gilded carvings--ho was thinking of the mon he was to mont. It anomed too much to orowd into one day-first the vision of the whirling, soothing oity, the contre of all his hopes of the futura; and thon, at night, this meeting, overwhelming him with the orowded momories of overything that he hold procious in the past.

There were groups of mon in faded uniforms stand- ing about in the corridora. Gonoral Prentice bowed hore and there as they rotired and took the elevator to the reception-rooms. In the doorway they passod a stout littlo man with stubby white moustaches, and the General atopped, exclaiming, "Hello, Major !" Then he addod: "Let me introduco Mr. Allan Mon- taguo. Montaguo, this is Major Thorne."

A look of suddon interest flashed across the Major's