The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-09
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OF Ole PgY9T[gGRRo
CCopyrighted)

It was a suItry night in midsummer
The crowd that poured out of the "a!e
II Varieties expressed their apprec'"'
ton of the temperature within the the-
alter and without in diverse ways. Inc
MINER gallery took off its coat and was
good-naturedly profane; the family CIT
ole mopped its brows vigorously; thc
orchestra stalls merely sighed, the HAS
culine portion, indeed, going so far as ~
lift its hat slightly to allow the eVehins
air to circulate under the sllq brlm. WI
Reginald de Peyster, who had shareu
box with a party Of friends, cleared MN
self rather impatiently from the cro"u'
and lighting a cigarette, loitered across
the Common and Public Gardens toward
the great empty house on the avenue
where he was lodging for a couple Oh
nights. between the Adirondacks ana
- lfDor. ,,,u
Ybe avenue was deserted at that hour
nv all but the grizzly bearded policeman,
who touched his hat to De Peyster re-
snectfully, but smiled grimly behind ms
back when the young man nad passeu
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 10
wear out silk hats, smoke cigarettes anu
help support the horse show!
Reginald tiicked off q suspicion or DUST
from the aforesaid boots as The stood
moment on the board freestone landing
of his home. The parlor windows were
hidden by broad shutters, and the state
" house, in common with its arsto-
cratic neighbors, looked deserted and
lonely enough in the flare of the street
electric globe; but there was dim light
in the front hail, and De Peyster, hav-
ing admitted himself by a passkey. and
snapped the latch of the two doors, pro-
rp<.ded to hang up his hat and mount
the stairs to his chamber, putting out
the light by touch upon the automatic
switch-button as he passed. His mother
and sisters were at Bar Harbor, and the
great house had for its occupants ths
sultry night only the butler, who slept
and smoked innumerable pipes IN the
basement wing and his young master In
the luxurious bachelor apartments at
the top of the house.
Entering his parlor, or study, as his
friends were accustomed to term 1t, with
a certain element of Righteousness, Regl-
maid drew off his low shoes, donned a
light dressing gown of Powered silk and a
pair of slippers, and, having touched the
electric bell knob, sank languidly down
upon the cushions of the rattan dlyan
near 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 Il
bit of lunch, will your
'W'at will you please to ave, s.r:
fThe genuine elision of the aspirate was
worth a dollar week extra to Thorn
son. He cultivated its neglect assidu-
ously.)
90, don't care, so long as it's cold
No wine. Knock up some lemonade
with plenty of ice. Ah-h-.' And the
young aristocrat yawned and sank back
as il enneryated anew by the effort he
had made.
Thanks Everything locked up:
Good night. Don't smoke too much,
Thomson. It'n hurt your color
''Good night, sir. 'Ere's your cigar
ettes.'
There was no touch of irony i'll the
servants tone as he deposited the box
of imported Turkish cigarettes beside the
tray, gistening with cut glass, and
withdrew.
De Peyster reused himself enough to
pour out a tumbler of lemonade from
the tinkling bohemian pitcher and slipped
it. Then he took a bit of angel cake
presumably procured from the indus
trial union near by, for his especial
benefit, Thomson not being up to that
sort of thing, though 'grilling a steak
was one Of his accomplishments.
Overcome by heat and the expenditure
of force necessitated by an evening at
the theater Reginald turned with a
shudder from dainty dresden platter
of cold meats and having carefully
dipped his white finger tips in bowl
and wiped them with 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-off ''four-ply" locomotive
whistle as the New York express passed
a grade crossing, only emphasized pres
emit comfort, and the young man, not
being concerned with stocks or ward
politics, and having temporarily at least
q fairly quiet conscience, dropped into
q series of light maps, which, joining
their drops, soon became a heavy sleep.
wake up, but don't ye move nor say
a wordv'
/. 1t was considerably more unceremo-
NOUS summons than that of Thomson
announcing the bath, to which De Pey-
ster was accustomed.
: He obediently woke up and disregard
ed the hoarse, half-whispered command
only so far as to turn his eyes toward
The speaker. The electric lights in the
room had been turned out, but the street
lamps sent enough scattered rays through
the windows to enable him to make out
a tail figure standing beside him and
holding a pistol pointed directly at his
head.
Reginald winked Involuntary.
Come, rouse up-but don't move nor
call for help-and tell me where yer keep
yer cash an whatever else's worth tax.
in"
De Peyster now saw that the figure
was masked, that he had a close-ftting
cap pulled down low, and gloves on his
hands
"Why, really, you know" began the
young man
Not so loud!' rasped the figure,
hOarsely.
II