Hutchinson gazette., 1900-08-16
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! R0MAN0E OF A ROOM. J
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

blBppi JUN fullUOlHlV NNu nhlBlnB
b ck after the rest had gone TO bed
1t was my first visit, and had arrived
late that day, There was a large party
In The house. but did not know half
OF them,
When at last we broke up, JOcls
Fairholmc, said; "lll take you by u
short cut ! know my way about I've
been coming here 50 often"
with implicil fath in his knowledge
/ followed him across an open
spNce, whore whill OF night
mir cS,lngUi6hcd all our cand,
les, In az u side door, up ana down
Two flights of stairs, in aud out OF spy,
cral corridors, til at last Jack paused
l '0"o 4 closed door,
nue you are, Reggy,' he said to
me, This Is where you live"
turned the handle and went in.
The room was dark, the blinds were
down, the curtains close drawn, |
felt my way toward the mnntlepecc,
guided by the passage light streaming
through the open door,
"ConfOund it-no matches2"
'"Ilere, l have" said Jack,
The room now lighted up, looked
strangely unfamiliar, II was not the
room where | hud dressed for dinner.
There were none OF my belongings
about. The dressing table and It's
mirror was draped In lace and pink
riD"yns; there were several telhale
articles to he seen--A pair OF silver
backed hair brushes, hUndgluss In
silver frame, number OF 1rinkets,
bracelets. rings and brooches, an ivory
box or two and ihere-nOt doubt of
tt--lay IA thick coil OF reddsh.brown
hnlr,
TITS not my room, Where the mis-.
chief have you brought me, Jack? It's
q very poor joke, this"
"llush--in heavens nnme You,
Reggy and Jack come out of that"
This Is an agonized whisper from
the open door, whcru Digby stood
pointing to the corner near him.
The murder was out The bed was
In that corner and in the bed n re-
cumbent figure, the head plainly yisi-
bic, tied up Ia some sort Of fluffy silk
handkerchief, but sunk deep among
pillow, unacceptable. and, as | de-
voully hoped, sound asleep,
Jack, who was with me at the dress
ing tublc,did not wait lie blew out the
candles and ran out, at his heels,
only to find the door shut In my face,
no doubt by Jack TO spite me, for
still heard him laughing ON the far
side
| was caught in n trap, Before
could find the doorknob and escape
f,om the room heard a movement
in the direction of tho bed; short
pause Of stiffness, and then the swish
of some soft linen wrap, and the clop
clap Of loose slippers on the floor,
had only one chance, one hope
that ! might slip on, before she dis
covered me, liut this was gone next
moment, for while stood there hold.
ing my breath she ran UP against me.
There was gasp, a half scream, and
no doubt more TO come,
Putting out my hand quickly siez-
her 10y the wrist,
"What is It? What do you want?
How dare you?"
apologizcd eagerly, day, humbly.
had come TO the wrong room. Now,
when wanted to leave it, they shut
the door in my face
"Thcy? They? Who are they? Tell
me, or | viii 60 straight 10 Lady
Frcshrord." AS ! hesitatcd to bctray
my friends, she went on quickly.
at does not matter, / know you
Capt, Phayrc. | saw you when there
was u light, recognized you, and
know your voice"
"Bul ] don't know yours
"lm glad to hear II, Isn't it right
l should remain unlnown? Have you
any chiyalry left in you Or are you
what you called the other, cad?"
"0f course you shall remain un.
known. No one shall hear n word Of
this from me. And If Others dare to
talk, iii cram the words down their
tbroats."
"Thank you, Capt Pbnyre," and as
she spoke quite softly aud, low. ] felt
her hand just touch my cootslcevc,
find mine, and shake ii with unmist0k.
able gratitude.
1t was she who now apened the door
for me, and for few short seconds
me tall figure in light, loose drapcry;
then / turned and fed. Fled, but not
no fast that | quite escaped n blow
from some missel thrown after me,
and IT must have been by Ii
Something certainly struck me on
the back, and as | stopped to pick 1t
up found tiny bedroom slipper Of
pale blue silk, embroidered in seed
pearls. seized it, accepting 1t as an
omen OF good luck, as token Of
friendlincss, perhaps Of forgiveness
Why else had she thrown II after mep
1t was not the only relic Of that
nights escnpade. When, by and by, |
got back to my own room, not with
out "a long search, and emptied the
pockets of my smoking jacket, found
that had also carried of the coil Of
reddish-brown hair
D.. looked at these two trophies with
mingled feelings. The slipper pleased
me, but ] was veXed and disappointed
by the hair. | thought OF the pretty
foot the slipper had framed so neatly,
and beg IN to frame theory as to its
owner. Then ! caught sight of the
false hair and shuddered. was hurt,
shocked, annoyed. II went near fall.
ing in love with the slipper. remember
ing how ! got II, there could be no