Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-02-16
A REAL BIT OF ACTING.

l.
Wont you give us some Of your act
nc this evening, dear Mrs. Sterlng:"
The time was 4 p. m. Through the
window we could see the rain sweeping
over the lawn, as it had never ceased TO
do for the last forty-eight hours; and my
guests lounged about the big, uncomfort-
able hall in various stages of ennui.
They had been discussing the vital
question of how the evening was to lie
got through. Music, suggested By our
Wagner enthusiast; dancing, by the
Waiting girl. had been gloomily rejected.
And then suddenly, as though smittcn by
an inspiration, the little blonde widow
had turned on me. and burst out:
Won't you give US some of your act
ing tonight, Mrs. Sterling?"
You See the truth was, in the days Of
her maidenhood. the wife of the Hon.
Felix Sterling had toured three years as
leading lady or Il weil-known provincial
comedy company. And now, having re-
signed the plaudits of the tickle multi
rude for the love and admiration of one,
she still occasionally amused her friends
with such smatteringS of the hlstrionic
art as she possessed.
on this occasion the request that
nv guests was received with acclama-
"Oh. YES. Please act for u.s. came
in \ chorus from all parts of the hall.
And young Charlie Fleetwood eNcitediy
,nrang up and offered to improyise tenn
porary stage if l would consent to per
form on it.
/ would not make any rash promises,
being doubtful. indeed. whether my some
what limited repertoire included anything
that would serve as Il monologue. And
the subject was still under discussion
when tea was brought in, and with its
fragrant presence carried our thoughts
away from things theatrical to the more
important matter Of satisfying the cray
iugs Of physical nature.
Over the sodden lawn, battling with the
wind and rain, half a dozen eager-looking
men advanced, and steered straight for
the entrance porch.
We watched their progress in mild sur
Prise and then suddenly my curiosity was
whetted by recognizing the foremost of
the six as one of the keepers at the big lu-
matte asylum which stands, grim and ST.
lent. about a league from Winston lodge.
This mana burly, hard-faced York
shireman-walked straight into the hall,
after knocking, and asked to see Mr..
Sterling. My husband laZily rose and
went with him to the door.
The keeper Immediately commenced to
talk 10 him in loud, excited Yoice--so
loud, in fact, that we could not avoid
oyerhearing part of what he said. And
that had the effect of throwing my guests
into something like panic. for the keeper
spoke of lunatic who had escaped from
the asylum that morning after nearly
numbering an attendant. The lunatic
was still at large, and had been seen. not
hgl lItFts II MI inn
near our horse.
Mercy on us. He may come here at
any moment" exclaimed my Aunt Mar
gerry. in a state of high terror.
Hadn't wc-hadn't we better have all
the doors locked and bolted?" the waltz
ing girl suggested with a shudder.
Il shall certainly look under the bed
aud in the wardrobe tonight" asserted
The blonde widow; whereupon Charlie
Fleetwood expressed his firm belief that
ladies always did that which sally
only raised rather feeble laugh.
What sort of chap Is hcE we heard
Felix asking the keeper.
Tall chap. sir. Thin. SnOW-WhitC
hair, face deathly pale eyes like fire
lymph, Well. from what you say.
fancy the sooner y0u get HIM under lock
md key again the better it will be for
the community. No. we have not seen
%" heard anything of him. If we do, we
VIII let you Know ut once.
1t was with rather q grave face that
my husband returned to us. But he
spoke some words to allay our alarm,
Nothing to be frightened about. He
would soon be caught. They were now
securing the countryside in search OF
him.
But. nevertheless. it was some time be
fore the more nervous members of our
circle quite recovered their equanimityi
ud when the time came for retiring tc
dress for dinner, that lunatic was still
the leading topic of conversation.
We'll, have you prepared your pro.
@ramme for tonight Mrs. Sterling?"
Charlie Fleetwood asked when we met
IN the dining room.
Don't ask questions" I answered
Let it be a pleasant surprise for you.'
Afterward both question and answer
proved TO have Il strange significance.
We were sitting in the drawing room
after dinner. Felix was talking to the
blonde widow about a curious hook OF
heraldry he had been reading. He SAID
he would show her the volume in cues
ton, and rose to 90 to the library tc
fetch il.
Now, Winston lodge. which we have
been accustomed to take ea-h year fol
tae shooting season. consists of an i'm
posing central pile with two long wing,
extending east and west. The house was
90 big Tor our requirements; consequent
49, We only occupied the center Of tins
west wing. But it was into the east
wing that ny husband had now gone
ne library being situated there.
ne had scarcely left the room when
.etMiccted that the book he wanted wa,
tel III the library at all. and. to save hin
ne futile task of looking for it. l raE
after him
crossed the hall and plunged Gowr
lie narrow oak-paneled corridor leadina
70 me east wing. Ny course was uni
mined. save fDr The dim moonlight thai
t@AetFaged the mn lioned windows: hut
new my way we'll enough. and marched
pug without hesitation.
passed through the lofty picture gal
...{' with its rows of Old World face.
ma grim guardian suits Of armor. Out
"0 the second passage | went-a low
'l'oghS passage, very dark. and smell
4S of musty tapestry.
suddenly. as / was grouping my way
+''1-' saw a slight movement in front