The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-05
A SINGULAR GUEST.


Mr.. Henry Apps of Hoxton completed
the fixing of the wires ON the lawn Of
Hasleigh court. 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,
"sives nine.
He threw the rope ladder gently in
the air, and at the first effort it caught
the projecting nail.
Once on hoard the lugger, quoted
MIR. 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 in the corner of the room
was an iron safe
"Well, I'm jiggeredr" exclaimed
Mr. Apps. He loosened the flaps of his
fur cap and mopped his brow with the
back Of his hand. well, I'm jiggered
if they aven't been and left the key in
for me. | might have sived myself "a
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, dance-a fancy dress dance-on
her return from the continent after her
term Of Wdowhood.
IN jest see. first of all, " he said,
"that the coast is absolutely clear, and
thcn-then for bagful =
Mr.. Henry Apps stepped out into the
broad passage lie slouched, with his
jimmy sticking out of his capacious side
pocket, few steps toward the stairs.
Suddenly girlish figure turned the
corner
"Bess my 'art" cried Mr.. Apps.
"Why, how do you dol" said the
young lady, stepping forward She gave
soft laugh that was very pleasant.
'This is really delightful Do you
know | recognized you at once i'll spite
Of the costume
She held the hand of Mr. Apps for
a moment causing that gentleman to
gasp for breath, and called one of the
maids.
Just bring me q pencil and card, 1"
she said. II must arrange for car
rjage to take Captain Norman back to
his hotel i'll the morning l WASH t sure
that he would come "
Il can walk, remarked Mr.. Apps
with rnstoro6 cole y,orcoccint,
81 won't hear of it. When shall we
say, now?'
Say in an hours time" said Mr..
Apps. Il can 90 up stairs again alone,
change my togs and do all want to. "
And can't you stay longer?"
She gave the card to the maitland
ordered it to be dispatched at once.
''I've got busy night before me, +"
urged Mr.. Apps excusingly. He thought
of his dog waiting on the lawn and fear
ed it might give an inopportune bark.
Besides. the safe was still open, and the
diamonds Were waiting for him. He
had noticed with satisfaction Lady Sta
plehnrst was wearing none.
"You were always an active man,
captain.
always doing something" agreed
Mr.. Apps. IF it isn't one thing, it's
another. He shook his head reflective
ly. Il often wonder | don write book
about it all. p"
Il don't believe you will know any
body here, Captain Norman" she said
as they walked down stairs, "but i
couldn't help sending you a card, see
ing how friendly we were on the Pc
shawur De you remember those even
ings on deck in the Red sea-"
She was really very fine young
woman, and III her costume she looked
extremely well.
do l not?' said Mr.. Apps with
much fervor shall ever forget emp
and then the journey from Brin-
German-you remember him."
'He was a knockout, that German
was. >"
"And the girl who played the banjo,
and the
at was great" agreed Mr.. Apps
great.
The large ballroom was very full. A
small covey Of brightly dressed young
people flew toward the young hostess to
complain of her temporary absence from
the room, and a broad shouldered gon-
dolier thook hands with her and took
up her card with something of an air Of
proprietorship.
Il thought | bad left the key in the
excuse me. " The young hostess took
back her card from the gondoier. II
am engaged to Captain Norman, You
don t know him? Allow me. -"
PLEASED to meet you" said Mr..
Henry Apps. lows the world using
you?"
That's an original costume of yours
Captain Norman, remarked the gon-
dolier. 81 don't know that I've ever
seen anything SO daringly real before. "
"Well wot of it," demanded Mr.
Apps with sudden aggressiveness.
"Wot's the odds to you wot l like to