Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-04-01

The harder spirits rema ined to get the
news, regardless of costume; less eXpe-
rienced travellers retired to their rooms.
Miss Maria Mutton, who had never
slumbered in a hotel before, fled before
the approach of the lights and found
shelter under stairway. Mr.. Marrow
bone, who felt that a night robe and
cap did not compose a dignifed cos
tune, turned suddenly into little
cross-hall near which he happened to be
standing, and there awaited the retire
ment of the other guests to their rooms.
Afterwards he knew that when he
emerged from his retreat he must have
turned to the left instead of the right.
However, after much wandering about,
and as much chilliness of body as heat
of temper, he came upon the magic
number "5'' shining upon a silver plate
upon his door, entered and closed it
with bang.
Cali right" he said, as he struck
match. "There is my trunk; there is
not another like it in the city. And
there is M. NJ on the side" Then
he blew out the match and popped into
bed
Almost at the same moment Maria
Mutton, with palpitating heart, caught
sight of the magic number "5,' opened
her door, saw her peculiar trunk, noted
the initials of her name upon it by the
light of the lamp opposite her door,
said ''Thank Heaven - burst into tears
and drew the drapery of her couch
about her.
"What fearful adventure p was her
last thought before she sank into the
arms of slumber. All, had she but
known it, fearful adventures were only
just begun for her.
Mr. MarrowbOne awakened early
He had business which demanded
prompt attention. He sat up in bed,
took off his nightcap and looked about
him-he looked in vain. Those gar
ments which he desired to assume were
not visible. In their place hung, over
a chair-back, woman's dress; on the
bureau, where he had surely left his hat,
lay bonnet and gloves; in place of his
manly boots there stood at the foot Of
the bed pair of button CATERS, num-
Der three and half at the utmost.
"Have | gone out of my senses ~
cried Mr.. Marrowbone.
How did these garments come to be
in this room? Where were his own?
He gazed about him and flew to his
trunk
cts mine, certainly" he said.
"Here are nv initials, but | never
tied bit of blue ribbon to the handle"
He dashed back the lid. Within he
beheld silk lace, linen articles, con-
trived for ladies wear-nothing that
had ever belonged to any masculine
being. A horrible thought, engendered
by certain works of fiction that he had
recently perused, rushed into his mind.
Was this a case of transformation
double dentity-whateveri was called?
he asked himself
He rushed to the mirror expecting to
see a female face there, bat his own
f1Orld cOuntenance, garnished with red
sidewhiskers and crowned by bald
great sigh of relief and sat down to
recover from the shock. AS he stared
at the dress upon the chair a memory
came to him.
She-the lively lady who shared his
seat in the car the day beforehand worn
one like it. Yes, her travelling costume
was made of that material
please, ma am, said a voice at the
door, "the electric gentleman wants to
come in to fix the wires before any more
boarders Kill themselves"
Good Heaven?" cried Mr. Marrow
bone; 81 say, will you send waiter to
me-a mana bOy"'
"There amt only lady-waiters in this
out.
tWhy does she call me miss, ," asked
Mr. MarrOwbone Of himself
Then, if the landlord wouldn't mind,
or the clerk-any man; send a man to
me-" said Mr. Marrowbone.
81 can't miss; misses is widder and
don't hire only lady clerks. There
amt no men EN- ployed," responded the
girl, with suspicion in her voice.
please, the electric gentleman is in a
hurry"
y can't see any woman In this dress,
said Mr.. MarroWbOne. 81 must put on
some gowns and strings in order to ex-
plain my position to the landlady." Ac-
cordingfy he proceeded to attire himself
in a gray dress which deserted him
above the ankles, knitted worsted
basque, which had deficiencies as to the
meeting of hooks and eyes, and, having
thus assumed the aspect of a bearded
lady who had OutgrOWn her wardrobe,
put the bonnet on backward tied gray
veil over it and opened the door
eff | am not arrested before [ find
the landlady, [ may get matters ar
ranged as they should be-" he said with
a gasp, remembering his pocket-book
and watch and with feeting vision of
diamond pin in the missing cravat.
Meanwhile, Miss Mutton, aroused by
tap upon the door, had received the
same information concerning the "elec-
trio gentleman" and sprang to the floor
in terror. She looked around for her
basque and beheld coat; she sought
her skirt in vain; in its place lay a pair
of inexpressibles; where the bonnet
had been was mans hat. She lifted
the trunk lid, and saw only masculine
garments.
81 must have been in wrong room all
night" she cried, jumping at the
truth more quickly than Mr.. Marrow
bone had done. A way of deliverance
occurred to her more speedily. And as
she was in more terror Of the vague
dangers of electric wires, her wish to
escape was greater. Gazing into the
depths of the trunk a linen buster
caught her eye. She donned it. Its
ends trailed on the ground. She pulled
the derby over her ears and opened the
doo' A queer-looking female with a
dress too short for her, and with nothing
but striped stockings on her feet, was
passing.
care you the landlady?" she began: