Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-06-07
A BUNCH OF KEYS.
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In the first place, no young woman
of sound mind sits in a freight ele'
vator at midnight attired in a dinner
gown as mere pastime. Add to this
the fact that the painfully new anG
unyielding ropes by which the lift was
propelled were being pulled upon by
the clerk from the neighboring drug
store-awakened from sound sleer
for the purpose-and it will readily b.
seen that something unusual had hap
pened in the Carton family.
At that moment when the drug
clerk was pulling Mollie with infinite
pains toward the fifth floor, rear, Of
the apartment building in which the
Cartons had the pleasure of residing
Mrs. Carton sat ringing her hands and
calling upon heaven to save her child
upon the front stairs. To be exact, II
was upon the first step of the fourth
fight of stairs she sat. Which should
make 1t evident to everybody that she
was conducting her lamentation just
outside of her own door. She sat out.
side not from choice, but because she
couldn't help herself.
In short, she was locked out. And
so was Mollie.
So was the drug clerk, for that mat.
ter, but the fifth apartment in the
"Brunhilda," not being his abiding
place, he did not take 1t to heart as
Mrs. Carton did. Having known the
Cartons for only twenty minutes, his
interest in the matter was as yet
quasi-professional.
But perhaps it would be better to
begin at the beginning
Be it known, then, that Mrs. Carton
and her daughter had been giving a
little dinner that evening. The guests
had stopped on rather late, and the
ianitor, after the manner of his kind
having put the lights out early. Mol
lie stepped into the hall to light the
gas, that her friends might find their
way down the winding stairs in COM
fort. Mrs. Carton followed her, and
together they sped the parting diners.
While they were thus engrossed, the
door-their own treacherols front
door-impelled by a slight DRAFT, or by
what somebody has called the total
depravlty Of inanimate things, clicked
sharply shut. They both turned
quickly, but it was too late. The latch
had done its worst.
Their maid had departed Immediate
ly after serving, to a ball, intending
to spend the night with her sister. Mr..
Carton was out of town on business
trip. So there was no hope of success
from within.
1t WINS obviously impossible to go to
a hotel attired in their evening frocks.
Besides, they had no money. They
knew no one In the building. Their
guests were already beyond reach,
Mrs. Carton entertained a mental Wis.
ion Of night spent upon the streets,
or at best in drafty hallway. She
sank down upon the stairs, overcome.
She also wept.
But Molie was young, and youth is
ever resourceful. Also she had keen
sense of humor. Although she didn't
dare let her mother know it, she was
amused. At all events, the situation
savored Of adventure, and an oppor-
tunity for adventure is not to be light
ly disregarded, even If II does involve
q little discomfort. She patted her
mothers shoulders soothingly.
"There, there. Don't cry, dear. The
janitor is sure to have skeleton key.
III run down and get It,"
But the janitor hadn't any such
thing. Moreover, he resented being
disturbed. lie was a hard working
man, he said and nights sleep was
about all he got out of life aside from
three meals daily. Why didn't the
young lady go wake up the landlord?
had an easy time. All they
had to do was to collect rents. They I
were just made to be walked up. They
liked 1t.
Fortunately the landlord lived
icross the street. So, wrapping Mrs.
Janitor's shawl about her, Mollle went
forth to wake the landlord.
Notwithstanding his rent-colleciing
iabit, the landlord seemed to share
he janitor's views on the subject of
sleep. He hadn't duplicate key, he
Informed her, after at last he had been
awakened and appeared at an upper
He seemed to Mollie to gloat
,ver the fact. He intimated that his
business was renting apartments, not
'unning other peoples domestic af-
airs.
'But cant you suggest something"
dollie cried, desperately. I'VE must
get in, you know"
He suggested the drug clerk on the
'orner who had big bunch Of keys,
night be able to open the door, and
hen he shut the window.
The drug clerk was asleep, too, ana
lard to arouse, but at last opened the
DOR wide. Upon perceiving young
woman, however, he shut 1t again
uickly, that his disheveled condition
night not be too apparent, leaving,
owever, crack wide enough for con-
ersatonal purposes.
"Giye me your prescription" he
aid, extending hand through the
perture, "I'll turn up the light as