Evening star., 1897-05-08
HIS B j R GL AR.
How Reginald Was Taken in by Two of a
Kind.
BY WILLIS BOYD ALLEN.

Copyright, 1897, the s. S. Mcclure Coz
Written for The Evening Star.
1t was a sultry night in midsummer.
The crowd that poured out of the Gayety
Varieties expressed their appreciation of
the temperature within the theater and
without in diverse ways. The upper gal
lery took off its coat and was good-natur-
edly profane; the family circle mopped its
brows vigorously; the orchestra stalls
merely sighed, the masculine portion, in
deed, going so far as to lift its hat slightly
tc allow the evening air to circulate under
the silk brim. Mr.. Reginald de Peyster,
who had shared a box with a party of
friends, cleared himself rather impatiently
from the crowd, and lighting a cigarette,
loitered across the common and public
gardens toward the great empty house on
the avenue where he was lodging for
couple of nights, between the Adirondacks
and Bar Har5cr.
The avenue was deserted at that hour
by all but the grizzly bearded policeman,
spectfully. but smiled grimly behind his
back wheE the young man had passed
into the shadows of The next tree.
Swell to his boot heels" reflected the
guardian of the peace, like his father
before him. Good for nothing but to wear
out silk hats, smoke cigarettes and help
support the horse show
Reginald ficked off a suspicion of dust
from the aforesaid boots he stood a
moment on the broad freestore landing
of his home. The parlor windows were
hidden by broad shutters. and the state
ly house in common with its aristo-
cratic neighbors. looked deserted and lone
ly enough in the flare of the street elec-
tric globe; but there was dim light in
the front hall. and De Peyster. having
admitted himself by a passkey, and snap
ned the latch of the doors nrDppadpI
to hang up his hat and mount the stairs
10 his chamber, putting out the light by
touch upon the automatic switch-button
as he passed His mother and sisters were
al Bar Harbor, and the great house had
for its occupants this sultry night only the
butter, who slept and smoked innumerabie
pipes in The basement wing, and his young
master in the luxurious bachelor apart
ments at the top of the house.
Entering his parlor. or study as his
friends were accustomed to term it, with
certain element of facetiousness, Eegi-
Dald drew off his low shoes. donned a
light dressing gown of fiowered silk and
pair of slippers, and, having touched the
electric bell knob. sank languidly down
the open window.
Thomson said he to the butler, who
rather out of breath and redolent of cut
plug, appeared at the door, bring up
bit of lunch, Will your
Wat will you please to ave, sir?'' (The
genuine eilsion of the aspirate worth
a dollar a week extra to Thomson. He
cultivated its neglect assiduously)
On, l don't care, so long as it's cold.
No wine. Knock up some lemonade with
plenty of ice Ah-h-hr' And the young
aristocrat Jawned and sank back as if
enervated anew by the effort he had made
Thanks Everything locked up? Good
night Don't smoke too much, Thomson.
1tH hurt your color
Good night, sir. 'Ere's your cigarettes"
There was no touch of irony in the SER
wants tone . he d9pOSitpd he hoy of
ported Turkish cigarettes beside the tray,
giistening with cut glass. and withdrew.
De Peyster reused himself enough 20
pour out tCmbler of lemonade from the
tinklng Bohemian pitcher and slipped it,
Then he took a bit of angel cake-presum-
ably procured from the industrial union
near by. for his especial benefit; Thomson
rot being Up TO that sort of thing though
griiiins steak was one of his accom-
plishments.
Overcome by heat and the expenditure
theater Reginald turned with a shudder
from dainty Dresden platter of cold
meats and having carefully dipped his
white finger tips In a bowl and wiped them
with a delicate napkin. he threw himself
down for the third time at full length on
the divan.
A breath of south wind crept In through
the screened windows; the avenue was as
quiet as a country lane; a faint, far-ofr
four-ply locomotive whistle as the New
York express passed a grade crossing, only
emphasized present comfort, and the young
man. not being concerned with stocks or
ward politics. and having temporarily at
least fairly quiet conscience dropped
into a series of light maps, which, joining
their drops, soon became a heavy sleep
Wake up, but don't ye move nor say a
wordr
1t was a considerably more unceremo-
nious summons than that of Thomson an
noCnclng the bath, to which De Peyster
was accustomed.
He obediently woke up and disregarded
the hoarse. half-whispered command only
SO far as to turn his eyes toward the
had been turned out. but the street lamps
sent enough scattered rays through the
windows to enable him to make out a tall
figure standing beside him and holding
a pistol pointed directly at his head
Reginald winked involuntarily.
Come. rouse up-but don't move nor
call for help-and tell me where yer keen
DE Peyster now saw that the figure was
masked. that he had a close-fitting cap
pulled down low and gloves on his hands.
why. really, you know, began the
young man"
Not so loudr' rasped the figure, hoarsely
My watch is"
I've got that"
behind you My pocket book is in the
right-hand inside pocket" said Reginald
with conscientious def1niteness.
The masked figure stretched one hand
behind him. and. still keeping the weapon
pointed at the others head. threw the
coat down on the divan beside him.
Take II out and hand over"
De Peyster rummaged the pockets eag-
erly getting into the wrong one first. and.