Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-09-28

Portable little room in the next street
TO us, He inquired at what hour we
hreakfasted and promised us not to be
late. He was so very lively and talk
alive, for Lambsworthy, that | felt the
fair Norah had been agreeable in their
interview, and I fancy Harry Seymour
had the same idea, for he scowled
darkly and failed to chat the other as
f., brilliantly as was his wont.
| | do not think that Seymour and |
had turned in more than quarter OF
an hour, when there came violent
beating at the street door, and peer
ing out from my window, ! saw
Lambsworthy standing on the step,
with his portmanteau in hand and his
hat at the back of his head.
Wondering what he had come back
for, Islipped on some things and ran
down and let him in.
"What is it?" called Seymour, as
passed his room.
ats Lambsworthy," I answered !;
perhaps his landlady is out, and he
can't get in"
Ittranspired that the house in which
he had been going to sleep had been
broken into. Lambsworthy was
greatly upset. The landlady, who had
been spending the evening out, and
had only returned few minutes be-
fore himself, had met him in the pas
sage in state of terrible consterna.
ton. Her bedroom door, which she
had locked before she left, had been
forced open. The hasp had been
wrenched off, and the wardrobe and
chest of drawers had been ,riaed OF all
their contents.
"lhe room is in most dreadful
condition." said Stephen; "and the
woman, poor creature is almost off
her head. She said that she had never
had such an experience before. |
waited till neighbor came in to keep
her company-she was too frightened
to be left alone in the house. or |
should have been back sooner. You
must make me up bed on the sofa
for tonight, you fellows"
"Why didn't you stay there as you
intended?" said Seymour, who had
joined us. "They haven't stolen the
beds, have they?"
"Well," said Lambsworthy, slowly,
edo you know, 1t is strange, but it
didn't occur to me. 1t gave me such a
shock, the whole thing; it was so un-
expected, that my own idea was to get
away as soon as l could. And they
have sent to the station, and the po'
lice will be here very soon. There is
no sign of how the burglars effected
an entrance. 1t would really have
been very unpleasant to sleep there. "
"Funksl' said Seymour, under his
breath; and, though I knew that
Lambsworthy was not coward, |
could see myself that his nerves were
little out of order, too.
If confirmation had been needed, |
should have got it, as banging came
at the street door again, and shrill
voice was heard asking if "Mr. Lambs.
worthy" lived there.
Stephen jumped up and went out,
coming back to say that it was the
servant, who had been sent to inquire
il he would step around at II o'clock
tomorrow, or if he would be here at
the cottage, in case his evidence was
wanted.
81 said l would go with pleasure"
he explained. "But do not see what
evidence l can give"
"Nor can anybody else see 1t,
eitherl" returned Seymour. "My
dear fellow, is it possible you don't
understand what the girl came for,
really? She was sent to see il you had
given false address or not. The po-
lice are suspecting you"
thought Lambsworthy would have
fallen.
"Suspeoting me?" he calculated.
Certainly; very naturally, too.
You go to house, perfect stranger.
You engage room; are furnished
with latch-key; and the same even
ing, while the landlady is out, bur-
glary takes place-a burglary never
having occurred there before. If they
had found no Mr. Lambsworthy' liv
ing here, there would have been
warrant issued for your arrest"
"Do you think that is SO, old fell
low?" asked Stephen, appealing to me
with big eyes.
admitted that it sounded proba-
BILE. |, however, added that his re-
spectability was very easy matter to
prove, even if it should still be doubt
ed, and, after he had regained his COM
posure, we improvised a shakedown
for him on the couch, and we all re-
tired.
How can I describe the develop
ment? Lambsworthy went round to
the scene of the Lutte commotion at II
O'Clock next morning, as he had prom
ised; and, when he came back, he was
in the nearest approach of rage that
| had ever seen him i'll.
sold chap, the wretch does suspect
mel" he exclaimed; Seymour was
right! She gave me my deposit back,
and said, if it was all the same to me,
she would rather not let the room. OF
course, l said did not mind and, as
she was rather inclined to be high
handed, added that, on the whole, I
did not know that I should fancy
bringing my luggage there. l said it
was rather dangerous proceeding
for lady to go out and leave house
to take care of itself. And what do
you think she answered?'
81 cannot guess, Lambsworthy."
"She said: It's good deal more
dangerous to take a lodger without a
reference | told her if she dared to
hint at her internal suspicious to her
neighbors I'd have her up for SANDER,
and so l will never heard of such
u thingl"
He was in a state of great excite.
ment all day, recounting the affair
over and over again to Seymour aud
Miss Cardonnel and myself. am
bound to say that l got little tired
of it, but Seymour roarcd with laugh
ter every time, and caught look in
Nora CardOnneps ewes that nroured