The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-01

kssA W NSs-lfAtSG AsSSfag Ia IT.
e5riaiss-''persoualiy. I shall
so as 3 burglar.
'-oh. Co. said Tamplin. ''o- go as the
Duke az Wellington You'd look about as
much like enc AS you wocla ike the
other
The difference between Belts and Tam
pin Was largely based on a social qtes-
ton. Both were yoang, married. sGoar-
ban. moral. bat neither was quite SURE
thar the other belonged 10 u class from
which. as a matter OF fact. both were a
hundred miles away. Belts would say:
But do yea think TaEnplrs~a gnoa fel-
low, no doubts quite COED forng' Ana.
changing the narne 10 Retts. Tampsin
would pat the same question.
TTieg suoke when they met. ana always
tnrseasantiy. There was nothing in tae
present occasion 20 cause the social Qaes-
ton 20 rankle; both were free 10 go To- the
dance. The Charity OF subscription dance
is Very. very wide. II is trying To cover
the largest possible multitude Of slihscFip-
ilons all at the same time, aud II gener-
ally dueS il. Nor could Belts see that the
histrtonic difficulty was involved, either.
But Tanplin had an idea. And about
this time TaTplia took to standing APP
parenily unmeaning drinks TO Rsison,
New. Bison WAS in the greengrocery. arsd
occasionally added CORY to q local dinner
charge Of the cloak room at the suhscrip-
ton dance In aid OF the Wopl.ngton Mis-
sion IL Inebriates.
And in course Of time Belts arrayed him.
sell az Il burglar. His disSuis1 had beea
the subject Of much thought. both on the
part Of himself and OF Mrs. Belts Origin
ally. Mrs. Belts had intended 10 so as
Queen Boadicea. A flood 81 bright h!stor-
ical light deferred her from that character.
and finally an acute attack OF hay fever
kept her Pom the dance altogether. But
James was to take the latch key in the
ticket pocket OF his ovegcoat. and she was
sure she hoped ne would enjoy himself and
not wake her on his return. And Belts
did enjoy himself.
4, He vas compiimensed on the complete
accuracy of his costume by many kindly
people. At / o'clock In the morning ne
was feeling good all over: at o'clock he
decided To end one of the most enjoyahle
evenings OF his life and go home. In the
cloak room his coat was ready In mo-
ment: outside his cab drove up at once.
and the driver. though drank, was not
nearly so drunk as Belts. with every good
reason. had expected.
s'Lucks IN my way he said 20 himself
as he drove off.
But when he reached home he was by
no means so sure that luck Was his way.
for he felt In the ticket pocket Of his over,
coat. and the key was not there. He WAS
perfectly certain that he had put IL there
when he wenf out. ami the only possible
supposition was that Bilson. by carelessiy
handling the osercoat. had allowed the key
10 fall out Well, there Were several
courses open TO Mr.. Belts. lie could
throw up a handful Of stones against the
window OF the room occupied BY Mrs
Belts and bring her down 10 open the door
for him. This he thought OF, but with Il
shyeider. and put II by as impossible. Mrs
Belts did not like being awakened at two
In the morning. lie might have waited
vet few hours and have got In with the
milk but Mrs. Belts was "a curious
woman-one who asked many questions
and rarely believed in any answers. Or he
might have returned and searched for his
key ia the cloak room. but this would have
involved a considerable amount of cham.
No. he could not so back He walked
around the house twice like lonely noe
turnal cat. tfgst al the windows on the
ground floor were fastened, and there were
shutters behind them. The walls were just
as solid as when he had left them earlier
in the night. He stepped back a little from
the house and looked up. Joyt The win
dow OF the bath room on the ground floor
had very ca"elessiy. been left open. lie
would certainly renrimand Susannah Sc
verelv for this neglect OF her duty, but in
the meantime he would avail himself OF II.
There was ladder at the other end Of the
garden: the window Was upt OF sight az
the road Once more fortune seeme3 TO
smile 1t struck him rs a humorous thing
that not only at ihe dance. but also In the
manner Of his return. he should keep up
his burg agious character. ~ he placed
the ladder in position the hrr10r appeared
TO him so strongly that he laughed aloud
Then somebody slapped him on the back.
and he stopped laughing. and fortunes
smile was once more obscnfed
He started. dropped his Jimmy. and
turned round A. man stood there, alfred
so far ms Belts could judge in this dim
HIGHT In a tightly buttonea blue serge suit
and a brown felt hat.
",fylo. rnatoy"' he said IN 81 husky voice
you're in luck tonight, Ain't comm IN
on it,
..Wnat do You mean" said Belts in1lg~
ran,iy. what business have you got
here?'
Cheese itr' said the serge man
whats the use? Ny business is same as
yours
~ VIII have yen know" said natss with
dignity. that j am the muster os his
house"
..po drop IL" said Ire other, ''.don's
make nc sau4a "~t t|f1 NH|N - ~F~ssF~t
may Re passing down the road any minute
You look ike the master ~ ths house
1nr., YER uith them sil4ew forks sticking
ont of your pocket and thaf gold watch
cha}r, hanging down your leE? Gettta' In
M the open window with ladder. a.
In the 1aornIn'. looks IKE the master 81
tne 'os~e. Don't ~ New. see, ! dent
ask what cribs yoss'se jaat cracked. nor do
ask yos4 to 81 shares In the Ewas. BAT
reached tails place afoge you did. only