Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-19

mined to go a little further.
Stepping into the region beyond the
wardrobe, l opened another door. II
led into a dressing room, so plainly
furnished hat l judged it must serve
the needs of a. valet or other servant,
A second door, not entirely to my sur
prise, took me out into the landing
which l had seen when guided up the
stairs by Hassan.
l half expected to find the strange
creature, and to be called to account
for my movements, but neither he nor
ANYTHING else alive was to be seen.
The old, almost, oppressive stiffness
reigned, and was impelled to pursue
my Investigations.
One after another, opened every
door, saw that which led into the pas
sage | had traversed, and which was
still locked, though keyless. Behind
each one | made the same discovery.
The room into which it admitted was
empty of furniture or ornament.
l had evidently been conducted into a
wing, which, for some reason or other,
had been separated at the will of the
owner, from all communication with
the rest of the house.
Now, if I chose, was the moment for
thinking better of my a bargain,
and e~ndeavoring to escape-which 1t
seemed not unlikely / might have the
luck to do.
| had not yet taken my hosts bride.
and 1 could still keep to my original
resolution of sailing for Africa in the
morning. which could not now be far
off.
Prudence, perhaps even honor (that
honor which Mr.. Smith apparently be-
lieved with the rest Of the world that |
had irretrie.ably flung away, babe me
go. But the wish to probe the mystery
of the strange house and its even
stranger master, pulled me with ire
sistible force.
Without so much as attempting to
| test the luck which had suddenly come
into my hands through such an odd
| chance, | returned as l had come, en-
deavoring to leave no traces of the ex-
petition.
l had not been gone long, though. as
| had no watch. / was without the
means of counting the moments, / had
spent; and with all speed | set about
making up for lost time, that at the
close of the allotted hour l might be
able to keep my appointment.
The comforts which had been put at
my disposal seemed necessities once
only a few days ago; but already tney
had assumed the proportions Of luxur-
les. / gave myself up to the sheer
physical enjoyment of being a clean,
shaved, decently apparelled human be-
ing again-in short, a gentleman; and
found my mind childishly delighting
in the fact that the clothes bestowed
upon me by Mr.. Smith fitted to a nice
ty. l determined jokingly to ask him
II, among other items OF Information
regarding my past, he had possessed
himself CT my tailoT's measurements;
but, as it turned out, other matters OF
more moment efectually erased this
somewhat banal question from my
thoughts
Just as / was about to present my
self in the room where l expected TO
SUP with Mr.. Smith. | remembered
that / had neglected TO hang the little
blue frock where l had found it. Not
only would it be prudent TO do this, IL
| did not wish to publish my discovery
and consequent research Though this
really signifed %lfttle), but somehow /
could not help feeling that it would be
an act OF disrespect to the absent
wearer should l allow her gown to
remain on the floor.
/ went back to the wardrobe. and