The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-07-25
or six months when | saw the pinch

yesterday. How did you get OUT"
ASK no questions" | answered in q
solemn tone, laying my finger OH my
lips. Il have leave of absence from
his satanic majesty himself for To-
night only. Tomorrow | shall be cook
ed again. as you say"
We'll, we mustn't be seen together:
might cause suspicion. See you later"
| knew not a thing of what he was
talking about, but as my answers were
probably equally puZZling to him |
his advice. left him and began look
ing for certain young lady.
In a few minutes | had found a
graceful Cleopatra. whom | thought /
recognized To such an extent that
was perfectly willing to play Antony
to her for the rest of the evening.
Dropping the high falsetto in which
| had been talking to the red devil.
assumed my natural voice.
"Oh. Mr.. Churchill, Is that you:''
exclaimed the Egyptian queen. "Why,
I'd never have known You in this
world.
In this world. of course not, but you
certainly would in the lower one,
where you see | belong. Miss Dorothy
Cleopatra" | answered, and we shook
hands.
I'm so glad to find some one
know" she continued. I've been talk
ing to so many kings, queens and EN-
perors for the last half hour that you
mustn't mind If my conversation Is a
trife stilted at first
"And as I've just been comparing
temperatures with neighbor of mine
from hades you mustn't mind il there
is a certain warmth to my remarks"
answered.
We were In the midst of an interest.
ing tete-a-tete when some one tapped
ME on the shoulder. Turning. | saw
another devil-this one clad in somber
black-behind ME.
SORRY to disturb you. but l must
see you for few minutes" he said
grufily.
excused myself reluctantly to the
fair queen and walked toward the IL
brary with my black companion.
Andy said you was here, but l didn't
believe him." he muttered when We
were alone. Il got you out here to tell
You the new plan. We had to change
it when we thought you was pinched.
Wilson. the fat butler, will meet us
three here with the keys us soon as
they start down to supper. Andy
have his toys off an be down at the
back door with the team. an you an
me-we've got to git the kid. Madge is
gu!n' to have him tied up in a shawl
an gagged i'll the first room at the top
Of the back stairs. You've got to keep
watch in the halls. for there's a dozen
fly cops hansin' round. an I'll see that
we git the kid down without any boiler
Savy:"
signified that l understood, shud-
dering at the horrible plot l had ac-
cidentally discovered. Colonel Wade
had three daughters and one son, a
baby hoy scarcely two years old.
Now. don't go maxim any dates to
take that fairy | saw you talkin' to
down to supper, but be sharp when you
hear the signal to march down."
Queen Victoria and Sir Walter Ra-
leigh came strolling into the library
just then. and the black devil left ME
abruptly. whispering, IF you git a
chance. that Cleopatra you was talkin'
to has got fine bunch of stones in her
back hair. We could use them too"
Leaving the library, FASTENED out
in search of my host and found him in
the drawing room chatting with Mary,
queen of Scots.
Colonel Wade" | began excitedly.
getting him to one side. there's u plot
to kidnap Robert tonight while the
guests are down at supper. The other
two devils. the butler. Il servant named
Madge and | don't know how many
others are in the SchcIne.'
And who are YOU" he began. glanc-
ing SuSpiciously at my livid costume.
| took off my mask. and never shall
| forget the warmth Of the handclasp
he gave me as he muttered, Ted, my
boy. | can never repay you for this
Calling Il servant, he gave the order
for the orchestra to play another waltz
and to wait for word from him before
striking up the march for supper. Then
he sought out the private detectives he
had stationed in the house and told
them the plot on foot.
And while the crowd Of poets, sol
diers. heroes and heroineS of bygone
ages in the ballroom were waltzing to
the strains of The Serenade," a red
and Il black devil. IL white faced nurse
maid and two trembling lackeys
ingloriously out the front door
and boarded large covered wagon
an ambulance, but which
is known down in the west end as the
Black Maria.