The Advocate and news., 1899-02-22

bu1CleQG CudptIOu Bnhb lb 6V6E WIS LAY
i'll luck to encounter She would not
have me lead Miss Caverly into any
nook or corner FOR tete.s-tete.
Every New Yorker must remember
the extraordinary succession Of hot and
Cloudless days, with nights Of breathless
calm, that made this particular Septem
Der meteorological phenomenon. My
recollection does not supply me with
time when the Insomnia club could
have met for 80 many consecutive
nights, In a whole week we did not
miss One and it was upon the eighth
night that the incident happened which
brought affairs to climax.
The meeting was proceeding as usual
There was one guest, a young lady to
whom Graves was devoting himself
with as much assiduity as the vigilance
of Mrs Gale would permit Miss Cav
erly and were sitting on the edge Of
the hatch that covered the stairway
leading up from the garrett
Suddenly / felt it tremble under us
| thought at first that it was giving
way Then / heard the rumble Of a hu-
man voice below. We all heard it, and
the Insomnia club was in a panic,
"Hold the villain down." cried
Graves, and, gathering the belongings
Of the club with wonderful celebrity, he
hurled them upon the fire escape bal
cony. Thither the Gales and the guest
had already fled
''Go it, Gravesl" said l. "We'l fol-
low.
Miss Caverly had remained Loyalty
by my side
Gwen never get to that balcony
after we let go Of this thing" she
whispered "We'll be discovered.
run for it now / replied "I'n
take my chances.
II will do no such thing she re-
turned, with energy.
"Then we'll both try run for that
chimney" / whispered. "Nowl"
We released the hatch and fed on
tiptoe for the shelter had indicated
1t was lucky that we didn't try to go
farther, for within three seconds that
hatch rose into the air as if bomb had
exploded under it.
A head appeared, and a voice said
"Achl Gutp'
A man climbed out upon the roof.
He was Of ample proportions and of
German type so pronounced as to be
unmistakable even in the faint light Of
a waning moon. He brought a camp
chair and a huge pipe with him and
Immediately proceeded to make himself
comfortable
Miss Caverly and l were prisoners.
''It is perfectly dreadful" she whis-
pered
''It is the first chance I've ever had
to say word to you alone, l replied.
'"Thank heaven, we are now beyond
the reach Of chaperons
And l Immediately began to attack
the secret Of that trouble which was
the root Of her extraordinary sleepless-
ness 1t was necessary to show at the
outset that my interest in her was deep
and sincere, and, so far as the secret
was concerned, / did not advance be-
yond that point When had finished
proving to her that her welfare was my
dearest concern in the world. her head
was on my shoulder Then our lips
touched, and l forgot that there had
ever been a secret.
The German went to sleep at q
quarter after 4, and we crept by him
unobserved The other insomniacs were
anxiously awaiting us. We all agreed
that this incident dissolved the club.
and we parted for the night with ex-
pressions of deep sorrow and regret
For my own part, aside from the
natural joy which filled my soul. l was
greatly relieved by the thought of the
clubs demise owed that German a
double debt Of gratitude No longer
would it be necessary for me to steep
v,,rygo1F -, hIooIy cocfoo A eo9Iov,r ,,,, 80.