, 1896-12-02
A SINGULAR GUEST.

the fixing of the wires on the lawn of
Haslcigh couIt. He looked up at the
dim light in the dressing room and
chuckled softly as he bent the last yard
of wire.
"A trip in time" said Mr.. Apps,
"sivcs nine
He threw the rope ladder gently in
the air. and at the first effort it caught
the projecting nail.
"'Once OH beard the lugger.' quoted
Mr.. Apps facetiously as he mounted the
rope ladder, and the CURL is mine"
He opened the window very gently
and soon stood inside the dressing room.
Near the table i'll the corner of the room,
was an iron safe.
well, I'm jiggcred!' exclaimed
Mr.. Apps. He locsencd the flaps of his
fur cap and moppcd his brow with the
back of his hand. "Woll, I'm fingered
if they 'avcn't been and left the key i'll
for me. l might have siyed myself II
lot Of trouble if I'd knowed."
Mr.. Apps swung open the heavy door
of the safe and listened to the music
down stairs. Young Lady Staplehurst
was giving, as Mr.. Apps very well
knew, Il danCe-a fancy dress dancc-on
her return from the continent after her
term of w~idowhood.
"Ill jest see, first of ALL" he said.
''that the coast is absolutely clear, and
then-then for il bagful.'
MIR. Henry Apps stepped out into the
broad passage. He slouched, with his
jimmy sticking out of his capacious side
pocket, IA few steps toward the stairs.
Suddenly Il girlish figure turned the
corn
BLESS my 'nrt!" cried Mr.. Apps.
why, low DO you do:" said the
young lady, stepping forward. She gave
Il soft laugh that was very pleasant.
This is really delightful. Do you
know l recognized you at nee i'll spite
of the ~costuIEc?''
She held the hand of Mr.. Apps for
n moment, causing that gentleman to
gasp for breath, and called one of the
maids.
Just bring NE IL pencil and Il card"
she said. Il must arrange for n car
riago to take Captain Norman back to
his hotel i'll the morning. l wasn't sure
that he would come"
II can walk remarked Mr.. Apps
with restored self possession.
Il won't hear of it. When shall We
say, now?'
"Say in an hours time said Mr..
Apps. Il can 60 up stairs again alone,
change my toys and do all l van to-"
And cant you stay longer?"
She gave the card to the maid and
ordered it to be dispatched ut once.
1--WE got II busy night before me-"
urged Mr.. Apps cxcusingly. He thought
of his dog waiting on the lawn and fear.
ed it might give nj inopportune bark.
Besides, the safe was still open, and the
diamonds were waiting for him. He
had noticed with satisfaction Lady Sta
plehurst was wearing none.
"You were always an active man,
captain
always doing something agreed
Mr.. Apps. IF it isn't IL thing. it's
another" He shook his head ref ective-
ly. II often wonder l don't write u book
about it ALL
W Y p'lltt' SSu ~ AhoN t'ly
body here, Captain Norman she said
as they walked down stairs, "but l
couldn't help sending you n card. see
ing how friendly we were on the Pc
shawur. Do you remember those even
ings Oh deck in the Red sea-
She was really a very fine young
woman, and in her costume she looked
extremely well.
"Do l not?" said Mr.. Apps with
much fervor. ''Shall l ever forget emf"
"And then the journey from Brin-
dist, you know, and that funny little
German-you remember him?'
He was u knockout, that German
was."
"And the girl who played the banjo,
and the
ut was great" agreed Mr.. Apps
great"
The large ballroom was very full. A
small covcy Of brightly dressed young
people flew toward the young hostess to
complain Ct L,r temporary absence from
the room, and "a broad shouldercd gon-
lolier shock hands with her and took
up her card with something of al air Of
proprietorship
Il thought l had left the key in the
excuse me-" The Young hostess took
back her card from the gondolier. Il
am engaged to Captain Norman. You
don't know him? Allow me.
PLEASED to meet you.' said MI.
Henry Apps. COWS the world using
your"
THAT'S an original costume Of yours,
Captain Norman" remarked the gon-
dolier. II don't know that I've ever
seen anything SO duringly real before.
well wot Of itr" demanded MI.
Apps with sudden aggressiveness.
"Wot's the odds to you wot l like to
wear? You needn't think you're"-
Captain Norman" interposed the
young hostess larghingly. "you mustn't
overdo the part. Look here, I've put
four name down for this waltz, but If
you like we'll sit it out-that is. if you
promise to keep up that diverting east
snd talk. l like it. Do you think you
,an manage to do so?"
Rather - said Mr.. Apps.
And it is q capital make up, Cap
lain Norman she went OH. do You