The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-20
Locked Out IN Distress.


He IS a sensitive man and lives IN
one OF the picturesque rows uptown on
the west side. In which 10 two houses
are alike. on Monday his wife ana
daughter went up TO Ncwburg on a
/ visit. and when evening came, the COOK
went out 20 call on another COOK, ana
the waitress took q spin on the tandem
on the boulevard. He was LETT alone
and. the night being quite warm, he smut
himself In his room and stripped down
10 his undorclothos and stockings, feel
ing sure that he would not be disturbed
during the evening.
4 Title before 10 o'clock he heard n
dog whine. and remembered that ms
daughters Skye WAS out doors. reel
ing certain that the dog was on the front
stoop. he hurried down stairs I'm undress
and opened the front door far enough
20 admit o. dog. There was no dog IN
the vcstibulo. and. as It was quite dark
there. DO stepped out 10 look on the
st0op beyond tho outer door. As he did
/ SD r. gust of wind from somewhere slam
med the door shut. and he realized that
he WAS locked out. He said, in tollins
the story to ID friend:
dd nn- know my utter helpless
ness until r reached for my waistcoat
pocket to got my latchkey. Then ! be-
gan to think hard. and tho more I thought
the loss ikod my prodiCamont. The
cook and hou-om7id would come home
in Time hut 7 couldn't 500 that their
arrival hold ont any promise. didn't
want 10 sec them a lttle bit. and knew
f..f +r.F wouldn't rHra fo soc mo. Ihey
had KEYS 20 tho basement door. and
would 60 in that way. Then thought
| OF a WAY or getting 0lf ~ mN em
7 have a friend in the third house west
Of mine. ln fact. Dee is the only man
know iu the whole street. I feit that
n I could reach Dis house I could no
least ger some clothes and ho I'm condi-
ton ID meet the servants Oh their re-
turn.
"Tho street was apparently deserted
/ and Thought I would make a dash for
the shelter Of Jim's doorway. but just
as 7 stepped out of tho door "a man ami
a woman turned the corner and walked
slowly by. while 1 covered behind the
door. Another start was interrupted by
"a couple Of girls omiug up the street.
and r. carriage drove by just as | was
getting ready TO make the third break.
Then the rowsy little cur that caused
mv trouble came trotting up the steps
and could not resist tho tomptationi
kicked him Oh the st00p He howled
as f. wont humuing down 60 tho side
walk. and il was evident that he dh
not recognize me. for. putting his front
paws ON the bottom step be began bark
ing. He kept al it until ] thought he
would have the whole neighborhood
alarmed. and ! tried persuasion TO get
him into the yestibuie. He seemed 10
recognize my voice. and. putting MS
tail between his legs. crept down tne
area steps. I thought had been locked
out for AZ least an hour and mecnanl-
callv felt FOR my watch. Then the 40
o'clock bells rang and l knew that !
had not hoeh more than fifteen minute
I'm my predicamont. II occurred 10 me
then that it would not be long before a
noiicoman came and I could send MIN
fo Jim's for the clothes. Nobody came
along but ordinary men and women.
however. and 7 think that tho street
was considerably livelier that night than
7 ever knew 10 20 be before. / frettod
myself warm in spite Of the fact that the
omen air was rather chilly for my Nsht
attire.
at last. when the coast seemed clear
and I was about 10 mako a dash, Tor
Jfm's. 7 thought Of the fact that had
NOT l4tchcd either of the parlor windows,
and wondered r. ] could reach them.
To my great joy I discovered tnat rom
ID trcachorous footing ON the ledge "hlch
ran across the front of the house ] could
cling with one hand % the side strlp
o. the window frame. The windows are
heavy. ono-rano affairs. and there was
no wy % raising them except by press
ing the palm of the hand against th.
GLASS and pushing inward and upward
rrtl could get my fingers under the
sash. T. was sometime before l succeed
A .r4 WAS thanking my stars thar