The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-25

f"rN Ar-AAtIf"H
open fires, and dark shiny floors that
will reflect the legs Of the chairs" he
began.
You don't put down hard wood floors
IN rented houses she interrupted
'Oh. well, you would IN this one. he
said. Have a deep leather chair With
standard lamp beside q where q fell
low oan read the papers"
With a rose &C ored shade to throw
2 ink glow over every thing added
Beth growing interested "And little
silver lamps on the dining table"
"A little round table. just big enough
Tor a man ana his wife he went on
cxcnedly
"And place 70. the high chair as soon
as the baby IS bis enough
WHAT Oh. yes. Of coussc And
barrel fun OF matches In plain sight in
every room"
And ash trays attached to every
chan. So that the ashes need not be de-
Dosltea on the floor, AMI lots Of puffy
cushions"
'Ai-o a divan IN the corner where We
co.'c--I mean. your sister
walter I heard it again-that queer
little cough. Listen. She had come
close TO him, evidently startled "im
sure ] heard something"
Wasn't in a mouse IN the wall2' he
asked. offering the masculine solution
fer az, feminine terrors
NO. 1t was a human sound. like a
choked-on sneeze. Il might have come
from the next room" Walter boldly led
the way, closely followed by Beth who
was surreptltiousiy holding corner OF
his coat, to his vast delight. All was
empty and silent
"You see, there isn't any one" ne
said. This isn't a bad room. If you
want any ideas about furnishing why
don't you ask Miss Cragan? She is aw-
fuliy good at that sort Of thing" Beth's
face changed indescribably. II she had
been IN another walk OF life. you would
have said that she turned up her nose
] don't know the polite equivalent.
Thanks, I'm afraid our ideas would
hardly harmonize" she said Well.
rw very glad to have seen you. Walter
but you mustn't LEI me detain you.
Tfis in tho most society Of tones. as a
raid punishment Tor disss'rg IN that
Cragan girl Walter however thought
she vas giving him a mint. ana straight
ened himself up rather hufiiy.
please remember me TO your sister" "
he said with an exniessionltss hand
shake. Il hope you viii be successful
In your hunt Good afternoon.
Thank you. Good By" she said
coolly so there was nothing for him 10
do but go. which he did with much
dignity, shutting the door behind him
al f..r.. Faf1
he could go. II he was SO dying to- No
body was going TO call him back Ask
that Cragan girl indeed Evidently he
was epris in that direction already, when
just a month ago-A girl who married
him would have a nice time OF H. Fickle-
ness In such horrid trait Rsth con-
graduated herself on being well out Of
A. and felt 80 relieved that she sat down
on an empty box and took out her hand
kerchief. then stuffed Il resoutely back
determined 10 shake the dust Of that
neighborhood from her feet. As she
started 10 open the door there was
quick movement on the other side, and
TO her amazement. the knob was seized
and held fast before she lad half turned
g. She could not move it one way OF
the other,
Walter what are you trying to do?"
she exclaimed Indignantly and then dis
covered that e was not the nall door
that she was trying. but one that she
had supposed led into a closet shivcr
Of deadly fear ran over her. and her
heart beat wildly, but she would not
run. Perhaps the door led into the next
room. and Walter had slipped in there.
though practical jokes were not particu-
larly In his line She stole out into the
hall and looked trembling. into the next
room. but it had no door on that side.
Evidently then. Il was a closet with
somebody in It. and she had a right to be
frightened. so she ran quickly down the
stairs and opened the front door
Walter, meanwhile. had slowly crossed
the street. Not even after the most
bachelor OF suppers lid he ever have amy
trouble in mounting his own steps and
fitting his own latch key. but this after
noon both took an abnormally long time.
He was about 20 give il UP and go in
when he was rewarded by hearing
low call Of walter" from the opposite
house.
"what Is itg~ he asked. hurrying over.
"Oh. Walter" she said. painting a lit-
lie. "there IS some one upstairs IN that
corner room closet ] tried 70 open the
door. and I distinctly felt some one grab
the handle. I couldn't move It. I'm
awfuliy frightened.
Are you sure It wasn't just stuck 81
ne asked. following her into the house.
Certain. Besides heard somebody
move" Walter grinned a little as men
will and started to make some teasing
remark. but stopped with upiifted head
and listened. There was an unmistak-
able sound from the room above the
whine OF a door slowly opening. They
tiptoed upstairs. Walter signaling eau
tion and Beth ciutching up her skirt In
one hand. a womans first instinct in
time OF danger. The closet door was
gradually opening and the top of q tits
tle bald head was being cautiously thrust
out
Good afternoon. remarked Wal
ter "Do YOU use Macassar ou77 The
head disappeard ike fash and the
door was slammed. walter strode across
the room.
Say. come out Of there he command
3D. laying his hand on the knob.