Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-01-13
A SINGULAR GUEST.

4 "A DlNO OAA IL ~ u LkJ L.
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 OIL board 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 in the corner Of the room
was an iron SAFE
well, I'm jiggered" 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. l might have sived myself a
lot of trouble if I'd knowed I"
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 we'll
knew, dance-a fancy dress dance-on
her return from the continent after her
term of widowhood.
"I'll jest see, first Of ALL" he said,
''that the coast is absolutely clear, and
then-then for bagful''
Mr.. Henry Apps stepped out into the
broad passage. He slouched, with his
jimmy sticking out of his capacious side
pocket, a few steps toward the stairs.
Suddenly girlish figure turned the
corner.
"Bless my 'art!" cried Mr.. Apps.
"Why, how do you do?" said the
young lady, stepping forward. She gave
u soft laugh that was very pleasant.
"This is really delightful. Do you
know recognized you at once in 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 pencil and a card, "
she said. IT must arrange for car
riage to take Captain Norman back to
his hotel in the morning. I wasn't sure
that he would come
II can walk" remarked Mr.. Apps
with restored self possession.
II won't hear of it. When shall we
say, now?"
"Say in an hours time" said Mr..
Apps. II can 60 up stairs again alone,
change my toys and do all want to. +"
"And can't you stay longer?'
She gave the card to the maid and
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
plehurst was wearing none.
"You were always all active man,
captain"
"Always doing something agreed
Mr.. Apps. eff it isn't one thing, it's
another. He shook his head redactive-
". II often wonder don t write book
about it all.
II don't believe you will know any
body here, Captain Norman, she said
as they walked down stairs, "but l
couldn't help sending you card, see
ing how friendly we were on the Pc
shawur. Dc you remember those even
ings on deck in the Red seat"
She was really very fine young
woman, and in her costume she looked
extremely we'll.
''Do I not?" said Mr.. Apps with
much fervor. "Shall ever forget emp
"And then the journey from Brin-
dist, you know, and that funny little
German-you remember him?'
HE was a Knockout, that German
was !"
"And the girl who played the banjo,
and the
sit 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 broad shouldered gon-
dolier shook hands with her and took
up her card with something Of an air OF
proprietorship.
II thought had left the key in the
excuse me. The young hostess took
back her card from the gondolier. 81
am engaged to Captain Norman. You
don't know him? Allow me.
PLEASED to meet you" said Mr..
Henry Apps. COWS the world using
your
That's an original costume of yours,
Captain Norman" remarked the gon.
dolier. ~ don't know that I've evel
seen anything SO dxringly real before. !
well, wot Of ita' demanded Mr.
Apps with sudden aggressiveness.