The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-08

SHE CA5iE HASTILY UPON A GROUP OF MEN.
she nearly collided with a man in over
alls who was coming out with a bucket
Of ~whitewash.
She knew at nee that he must be tile
j~anitor, and she was afraid he might
sternly inquire what she wanted there
at half past 10 in the forenoon. On the
contrary, he did not even look sur
prised, whereupon she was angry with
him and more. than Yer Convinced that
she was committing an indiscretion.
She felt a woman's impulse to stop
and tell this man her errand-tllat she
had just learned that Mr.. Morton's best
friend was in q peck OF trouble, that
she had every reason to believe Mr..
Morton to be totally unaware of it and
that she knew that Mr.. Morton would
be heartbroken if he should miss the
chance to proffer instant help at such
a time.
Avoiding this absurdity by a strong
effort of common sense, Miss Weld hur-
ried up the first flight Of stairs. 1t was
a crazy old building that had once been
a great residence. The lower part lad
recently been remodeled. in the inter
ests OF trade and the upper part for
studios and bachelor dens. Its tenants
escaped all restrictions and formalities.
There was no one to care about their
manners or ~nsGrals, no one to receive
the cards of visitors or aid or hamper
them in finding whom they sought.
&c che Yoro1,nJ t1,, Foot ~ +J,, .a.L,,I
fight of stairs d mans head that had
not known brush or comb that morning
was suddenly thrust out into the hall,
and a s%tentorian voice cried, "Edward!'
yes, sir!!" responded the janitor's
colored assistant, looking over the ban
lister rail above.
Miss Weld had been so startled that
she had run up the second stairs as if
for her life; otherwise she might have
perceived that there was something go
ing on in the hall above and might have
turned back. AS it Glanced, she came
hastily upon a group of men, some of
them in shirt sleeves and all talking at
once.
They blocked the passage that led
rearward to Morton's door. Miss Weld
knew where his ROOMS were. She had.
been in them several times with other
young people and adequately chaper-
oned. She remembered that the hall
narrowed running backward from the
stairs and that Morton's parlor door
this little corridor.
She thought to pass the group of men.
but instantly perceived behind them a
more serious obstacle. 1t wa a large
sideboard of antique design. Miss Weld
perceived at once that the men were
moving it into the suit beside Morton's.
The door of those apartments was open,
and the young lady caught a glimpse
of the tenant enveloped in an enormous
bathrobe. She had a slight a~cquaint-
nee with this gentleman, but she had
no inclination to meet him under these
circumstances. 1t seemed better to
walt until the sideboard should be
moved in and the door closed.
Therefore Miss Weld lodged back
just as the gentleman started out TO-
ward the hall. She knew that he had
not seen her, and he could not do so if
she remained in the shelter of the wall
that curved around with the stairs. The
sldeboard would prevent his coming
out, and she would have to wait only n
few minutes. Being somewhat exhaust
ed by the stress of her emotions, she
sat down in a niche that had been in
ended for a statue, having FIRST spread
a newspaper e its dusty surface.
why in blue hades don't you bring
the thing inY" inquired the owner of
the sideboard.
It's stuck, SIR replied one of the
men.
Miss Weld heard this with despair.
II the sideboard We're going to make
any trouble. she could not wait for ii.