The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-10
!. Short Story OF
TIH(O II II ann TWO
oU/N AIW y TROPHIES.
London Illustrated Sporting and ORA

|
matte News.
few of US still fingered in the smok-
ing room at Freshford Friars, Digby, JacK
Fairholme and L hanging back after the
rest had gone to bed. 1t was my first
visit, and had arrived late that day.
There was large party in the house, but
l did uot know half of them.
When at last we broke up Jack Fair
holme said: TN take you by a short
cut. L know my way about; I've been
coming here so often"
With implicit faith in his knowledge
of the place followed him
| across an open space, where a Whit of
night air eXtinguished all our candles.
In at a side door, up and down two
flights of stairs, in and out of several
corridors, till at last Jack paused before
a closed door.
Here you are, Reggy,' he said to me-
This is where you live"
L turned the handle and went In. The
room was dark, the blinds down, the cur
tains close drawn. 1 felt my way to-
ward the mantlepiece. guided by the pas
sage light streaming through the open
door.
"Counfound it-no matchesv'
Here, have" said Jack
The room, now lighted up, looked
strangely unfamiliar. It was not the
room where 1 had dressed for dinner.
There We're none of my belongings about.
the dressing table and its mirror were
draped in lace and pink ribbons; there
were several tell-taIe articles to be seen
"a pair Of silver-backed hair brushes. a
handglass in silver frame, a number Of
trinkets, an ivory box or two, and there
not doubt Of it-lay a thick coil of
reddish brown hair.
It's not my room. Where the mischief
have you brought me. Jack? It's a very
poor joke, this
Hush-in heavens namel You, Reggy
and Jack, come out of that!'
This in an agonized whisper from the
open door, where Digby stood, pointing
to the corner near him
Inc murder was out! The bed was in
that corner, and In the bed a recumhent
inquire the head plainly visible tied I'D in
some sort of fluffy silk handkerchief. but
sunk deep among the pillow unrecogniza
asleep.
Jack who was with me at the dressing
table, did not wait He blew out the
candles and ran out, I at his heels only
10 find the door shut in my face, no
doubt by Jack to spite me, for 1 stiu
nearo MIN laughing on the far side
was caught In trap Before T co,71d
find the doorknob and escape from tba
room heard a movement in the direction
OF the ped; short pause of stiffness. then
tHe swish OF some soft linen wrap and
the clop-clop of loose slippers on the
floor. VA 'Ne
had only one chance, one hope-tha+
might slip out before she discovered
me. But this was gone next moment for
while I stood there holding INV hreath
she ran up against me- There was
gasp half scream, and no doubt more
to come. --'0-e
Putting out my hand quickly seized
her by the wrist
What is it? What do you want?
How dare your"
~, l apologized eagerly, nay, humbly. I
had come to the wrong room. Now
When wanted to leave 1t, they shut tho
door in my face
Iheyi They? Who are they? Tell
me- or l will go straight to Lady Fresh
ford" AS I hesitated to betray nv
friends, she went on quickly.
1t does not matter. 1 know YOU. Cant
Pnayre. saw You when there was q
voice. 'o0i
But don't know yours"
m glad to hear it. Isn't It right I
snould remain unknown? Have YOU anv
chivalry left in you? Or are you-what
you called the ether, cad?'
Of course you shall remain unknown
NO one shall hear a word of this from
-, -A Al OSAOiS u1f6 10 Talk, Ill cram
the words down their throats.''
THANK you, Capt. Phayre," and as she
spoke quite softly and low, I felt her
nand Just touch my coatsleeve find mine.
ana shake it with unmistakable grar1-
tude
1t was she who now opened the door
for me, and for a few short seconds tina
light from the passage showed me a tan
figure in light, loose drapery; then 7
turned and fed. Fled, but not so fast
that l quite escaped blow from some
missile thrown after me, and it must
have been by her.
Something certainly struck me on the
pack, and as l stopped to pick it up
found tiny bed room slipper of pale
blue silk embroidered in seed pearls
seized 1t, accepting it as an omen Of
good luck, as a token of friendliness.
| perhaps of forgiveness. Why else had
she thrown 1t after me?
1t was not the only relic of that night'a
escapade. When, by and by, 1 got back
to my own room, not without a long
search and emptied the pockets of INV
smoking jacket, I found that l had also