The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

forgot it when he reached the roof
The thermometer must have marked
about 40 degrees above zero and the
wind raced along as recklessly as II
he were not standing on the ROOT
clad only in a nightshirt. The good
bys at the door of the apartment tool
an unknown amount of time, which
Capt. Lawyer has variously estimated
at between one and three hours. He
got a good look at the young man,
however. and If he ever meets him liz
a 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 fights OF
stairs to the front door. 1t was a
heavy door which closed automatical.
ly by a 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 il
anyone caught him his explanation OF
his being out in a nightshirt would be
suspicious, and he concluded that he
would feign crazy in such an emergen'
cy. Out into the vestibule he crept and
reluctantly permitted the big door 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 a wait for results.
"Darn that Ferguson" ne 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-burr went ths
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 &C
outside, dodge down the areaway stepi
and pound on the janitor's window.
As Lawyer reached the sidewalk in
pursuance of this plan 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 a series of fierce growls, which
were none the less horrifying because
subdued. He did not want 10 arouse
the neighborhood.
"Merciful heavens! What is it?"
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 a policeman might appear.
and after a few vigorous thumps on
the window. a sleepy voice within
shouted:
"G'wan away, you scamp. Lave de-
cent people sleep"
"Fergusonl Fergusonl hurry and
let me in"
"Who are you then?"
Capt. Lawyer. Come quickly, for
am nearly frozen"
"All right, captain. Me old woman
will unlock the door for you in a 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 did 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 fat, and
when Ferguson unlocked the door for
him the captain said:
"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 dear young woman on the top
floor. If she knew that a man wearing
only a nightshirt had preceded her up
those stairs and witnessed from the
roof her lingering goodbys she would
very naturally be embarrassed. You
understands"
"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 u
confession two weeks ago. and from 1t
was obtained this story. Every time
he thinks of the roof of his apartment
house he has been forced to take a
high ball 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 -. Ferguson now turns out
the gas in the second hall at midnight.
N. Y. Sun.