The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-26
"PLEAsE LOAN ME YOUR NIGHT KEK"
DIsmRy or Ciubmnn at This Request From
Stranger In the Wee Sma' Hours.

DIsmay or C'ubman This Request From
n Stranger In the Wee sma' Hours.
Tho other night" said a gentleman. II
was placed in an awkward position. / had
been at my club later than usual. and It was
long after midnight when | arrived at my
lodgings. As j walked slowly up the outer
steps / noticed that man was standing in the
shadow Of tho doorway OF the adjoining house.
Naturally. was surprised. but that emotion
was intensified to something like shock when
he moved out Of the shadows. and addressed
me us follows:
81 beg your pardon. sir.sbut will you kindly
allow me to try your key In my outer door2
mislaid mine
Il was dumfounded. In the uncertain light
/ could make out that he was tall. we'll dressed.
and had the appearance and manners OF Q
gentleman. His voice. too. was that OF cult.
waited person, Yet that request OF his was an
exceedingly strange one to make at that hour
OF perfect stranger. did not want to refuse
him il he really belonged In the house. OF
course, but what guarantee had OF that1
had never seen him before. While was try
Ing to frame some reply that should be
courteous and yet non-committaL. he said:
SO believe your outer door key fits my door.
/ think the locks OF the outer doors Of all the
houses in this row arc alike. ] know that
OF the house cast OF yours is like mine. for
Cheerful Information. / thought, Why. the
burglar VINO could open ono could open all
But the necessity OF making some answer was
pressing. In order to gain time. asked him;
What sort OF a keY is yours
Its long brass key no replied.
True, so was mine. Should oblige himf
How could tell that he had not some criminal
house. when. Tor sught | knew he might
pIup9er ltt snppose ! should doit, and then
house Ind been mYsteriously murderedf
Would not Zee. that was m accessory 10 the
themselves TO me. N" form o; the man stand
ing there assumed an entirely different APP
pearaEco to ny eyes. could almost see the
and his face wore a dsyllIsh expression.
such as have seen in old prints depicting the
tha ,.' iast glass o. scotch whl~Eey and sods
controlled my imagination. Tut the morbid
dread OF remaining any longer IN the presence
of the one who had Inspired IT, Not Tor worlds
would | AZ that moment have Acceiod to his
Tpurast still. a sense Of shame forced me to
. Then lid fgmethinE that Afterward felt
ashamed oL / deliberately lied 10 tile man. I
said 10 him: i AEI very sorry, hut have not q
iGle to9f EGy On sram md Ees IGS dsssn
ior having i0;horad yo9i mumhied some"
thing about regTsttiuE ny lnab ~ 70 aid him.
opened my own door. Hni passed. in.
After roa,h!nE ny apartment | gently
There he stood. RAFT iug the door That didn't
look hurg ,ariou-, but stil! 1t seemed 70 me that
no might have aroused the inmates II he had
been more vigorous | closed the window
and wont t. bed. tut all night long MAS
worried ahopt him At ono moment I
was hl,ed with regret at my suspicious,
my tiscouTte-l the next l was aled with
horrible fears. suppose he was what / had
!maG'aed, and hal managed to enter my
house. would he not take revenge 90 msf
was in that condition Of mental toFpor when
part II the mind Is active and the rest Is luiisd
In ~leep. ! had not the energy TO get up nor
he powsr Of viii to dismiss the subject ana 20
.p sl"cp ! hope | won't Uass many such
nights haven't seen that man since but n
.r or anybody else asks the loan % my key IL
, o'clock In the morning again, either or that
somebody Wall get Licked"