The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-10-16
AT NO. "a.
-

L James had written to mo, "or
wire us by what train to expect you.
and We will meet you"
James and Clara were settled at
last, and l was expected to look
Them up. So in due time | got out OF
the train. and looked round vainly for
James. How like the Indifference of
q brother that was! Trust brother
for failing to meet you. For minute
or two thought of going to an hotel,
and giving him the slip altogether.
It would serve him right.
I flung my bag into an open cab.
and flung myself after 1t.
"No. 81 Ellis street." l said sulkily
70 the driver. And in a moment the
cab was jolting over the wretched
cobble-stones.
The rain was falling hard when
the wheels finally grated against the
curbstone, and the driver opened the
door for me, and announced:
Here you are, sir-No. 54!"
! saw the figures painted on the
door, so l paid the driver, let him
go, and rang the bell.
After while l rang the bell again,
and yet again, with no result. Then
it occurred to me how strange it was
that there was no light in the house,
when they must have been expecting
me, too.
Another turn at the bell. This
time there was some response. A
woman, evidently servant, came
along the garden at the side of the
adjoining house, and said:
There amt nobody ut home.
They've gone to the opery. And it's
the servants night OUT
Then she went back.
The rain was pouring. Judging
by the distance l had come, l must
be miles from an hotel. l must
make a run for some shelter part
of the house, and try to get into a
drier place.
Ny run brought me TO little ve-
randa at the side of the house, and
there was another door.
was seized with an inspiration.
took my home hatchery out Of my
pocket, and tried it in the lock. 1t
fitted.
opened the door and walked in.
and sat my bag down with a sigh of
relief.
Aha. James, my boy, you might
have known your brother better than
TO try TO lock him OUT l said glec-
fully to myself. And then l struck
match which the wind blew out.
After | had spent several minutes
striking more matches. l finally lit n
tall lamp. and at the same moment
set fire TO the shade. l extinguished
the fire by putting the shade on the
floor and stamping on it repeatedly.
Then ! left il where il had fallen. 1t
would teach Clara lesson, for a
great irilled affair on a lamp is al
ways exceedingly dangerous.
The high-pitched barking Of a dog
began TO annoy me, and I went in
search OF il, lighting another lamp or
two on the way. l passed through
other side, and there was the dog,
a wretched little pug.
have always been man of ex-
pedients. chased the pug into cup.
board, and, after brief, violent gym
nsstic exercise, succeeded in turning
4 waste-Jasket over the little beast
and then weighted the basket down
with large lump Of coal.
shut the barking and bowling lit
tie brute in the cupboard.
There was a neat little dressing.
room adjoining. peeped into it, and
found several suits Ot James clothes
hanging along the wall. For the
frz; time | remembered that my own
tiC,hes were damp. and l hnstened
rO DO just what James would have
insisted On II he had been there
] put On some dry clothes.
After that ! wandered into the din.
ing room, and was charmed 20 OBJ
EerTe that the materials for post
opera supper had been thoughtful,
Aei On the table, and that there wer,
>.-ces iyr three. Aha! 50 they wer,
expecting me, then. But as ! wal
rs,snous ! decided ~ eat my Shar'
now, a1d no; wait. Happy thought
ate very generous meal.
Then ! 9sD. btIk 20 the bedroom
Dghted one .. James igars. stretched
Iayself Du, in an saKy-chsir, with m.
fee. ~ ;he grs;s, where warm I'm
y.. Yioved, sni smoked and dreamed
nss rot aroused NATL an agiiate.
1asGS wss trying 20 insert ksy Int
x,as loek o. the from, door I smile
~ the surprise wss going " n,
James and Clara jus, then The hal
tSx opsned