St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-11-03

that he could keep his lead. but he
was naturally curious to know on
which floor the girl lived. At the
top of the second flight of stairs he
waited. The couple started up after
him. Higher went the captain, and
behind him slowly came the couple.
When he reached the top floor the
captain was agitated. 1t couldn't be
possible that this girl lived on that
floor! She did however. As she
and her escort started on the last
fight of stairs Capt. Lawyer hesitated
between shouting at them, doing a
shadow dance on the landing to
frighten them, or climbing the lad
der that led up to the skylight. Dis
cretion prevailed, and as the captain
hurried up the ladder his luck
changed for the moment. The sky
light was unlocked. He had just
time to push it open and vanish when
the couple reached the hall. If the
captain had been cold in the halls he
forgot it when he reached the roof
The thermometer must have marked
about 10 degrees above zero and the
wind raced along as recklessly as if
he were not standing on the roof
clad only in a nightshirt. The good
bys at the door of the apartment took
an unknown amount of time, which
Capt. Lawyer has variously estimated
at between one and three hours. He
got good look at the young man.
however, and if he ever meets him in
dark street the nearest hospital will
have to send its ambulance.
AS soon as the door closed behind the
girl and the escort started downstairs
the captain climbed down from the
roof stiff with cold. He made his way
cautiously down the six flights OF
stairs to the front door. 1t was a
heavy door which closed automatical-
" by spring. To reach the janitor's
bell he must release this door and let
it close behind him. The other door
at the rear of the hall, which led to the
basement stairs. was always locked.
Capt. Lawyer hesitated. To arouse the
janitor he must permit himself to be
locked out of the house. By this time
he was desperate. He knew that II
anyone caught him his explanation of
his being out in nightshirt would be
suspicious. and he concluded that he
would feign crazy in such an emergen-
CIV. Out into the vestibule he crept and
reluctantly permitted the big ooor to
close behind him. He punched the jan.
itor's bell and it tingled family. More
punches and more faint tinkles. Then
long push and wait for results.
Darn that Ferguson" he muttered
Does he want to keep a man outside
in nightshirt until morning? Why
don't he wake up?"
Burr-r-r-r, burr-burr-b went the
bell, but Ferguson was sweetly dream
ing of the rake-off which the butcher
had promised him on the new tenants
bill.
Lawyer knew when he was beaten.
and he saw that he could not hope to
awake Mr.. Ferguson by the bell. There
was one last resource. He could GO
outside, dodge down the areaway steps
and pound on the janitor's window.
As Lawyer reached the sidewalk in
pursuance of this plan a belated maid
and her beau came around the corner,
headed directly for him. just as they
caught sight of him in the dim light
from the street lamp Lawyer threw his
arms wildly around his head and emit
ted series of fierce growls, which
were none the less horrifying because
subdued. He did not want to arouse
the neighborhood.
"Merciful heavens! What is it?n
screamed the maid.
Run" said her escort, and run they
did,
Lawyer regretted that he missed the
young mans explanation of the spec
tacle. Down the janitor's steps piled
the captain, knowing, that in few
minutes policeman might appear,
and after few vigorous thumps on
the window sleepy voice within
shouted:
"G'wan away, you scamp. Lave de-
cent people sleep"
ferguson! Ferguson! hurry and
LET me in
'Who are you then?'
Capt. Lawyer. Come quickly, for l
am nearly frozen"
"All right. captain. Me old woman
will unlock the door for you in min
ute"
For heavens sake, Ferguson, don't
let your wife come near the door. Come
yourself, and hurry"
There was sincerity in this appeal,
and when Ferguson appeared he
saw the force of it. Lawyer die not
charge Ferguson's laugh up against
him. He admitted that his appearance
and his explanation Of it might seem
humorous to others. 1t didn't take
him long to climb up to his fiat. and
when Ferguson unlocked the door for
him the captain saiG:
"There is as much as ten dollars in
this for you. Ferguson. if you will keep
quiet about it. / don't care for my.
self. but please respect the feelings OF
that Gear young woman on the top
floor. If she knew that man wearing
only nightshirt had preceded her up
those stairs and witnessed from the
roof her lingering gooG-bys she would
very naturally be embarrassed. You
understand"
"Sure!" said Ferguson.
Capt. Lawyers cuckoo clock was
striking two as he entered his bed
room. The belated maid who had
seen him spread the report that wild
man or a spook was loose at night in
the neighborhood. and within a Cay a
dozen other women alleged that they
had seen him. Capt. Lawyer made a
confession two weeks ago, and from it
was obtained this story. Every time
he thinks of the roof of his apartment
house he has been forced to take a
high bal! TO restore his nerves, and to
avoid any repetition of this experience
he has gone to his club to sleep when
he found that he could not reach home
before II. Ferguson now turns out
.hs gas N the second hall at ri6DiGkt.
N. \. Sur.