Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-07-18


light. Charles l.. Jeffreys and Isabel
Leavenworth carried strange bundle
into the apartment. At one time tn
maid OF the $40 fiatter who lived abov
No. Z, called her mistress from he
post at the window for consultation o.
a household matter. They stood nea
the aE-shaft, with which all apartment
| buildings are cursed. The mistress dis
missed the maid peremptorily to tn,
kitchen and shut the door. Her ca
was ut the air-shaft. This is what sh,
heard; "Charlle, this is a beauty. IT.,
absolutely perfect. 1t hasn't that deat
finish that made the others so poor
This one will be sure to go. See how
glossy 1t is. We won't have to try
any more of that acid"
An odor of chemicals mingled with
the faint smell Of something burning
came up the alr-shaft and assailed the
listeners nostrils. She had the secret
now. Those drawn shades with the
white artificial light showing at the
edges, the mysterious boxes and 'bun'
dies and the lack of furniture and the
smell of chemicals were all explained
The select apartment building was har.
boring a gang Of counterfeiters. There
was more conversation from below
about gloss and finish, acids, tests an0
prints. The janitor was summoned.
He listened after hearing voiced the
tenants suspicious and was convinced,
The news went through the building
like wildtire. Mrs. Jenkins, the $40
fatter, was n heroine. With a deputa.
ton composed in part by Il special act
Of grace, of the humble $50 renters,
the landlord was waited upon. He had
left town for two weeks.
This vlllainy must be stopped, even
If the landlord is away" said Mrs.
Broderck. "Janitor, you must do your
duty. l never can face my cousin,
Mrs. de Courcey, again"
John, the jantor, was trifie dense,
bu the knew his duty. He got his pass
key and n plain clothes man from
the East Chicago avenue station. They
went to No. Z. John slipped in his
key, opened the door and strobe in, fol.
lowed by the officer. There was
bright white light in the parlor opposite
the doorway. There was n curious
odor in the place. There standing ON a
chair in the parlor was as pretty q
girl as a man cares to look on. She
was holding little frame up within
few inches of the glazing white light
Of the patent gas burner She turned
ut the noise of the intrusion. what
do you want?" she said, just trife
sharply. Then, turning, she exclaimed:
There, you've made me overprint this
picture. This is the last sheet of this
kind Of paper l have in the house."
The officer grinned little and whis-
pered in the janitors ears: you're a
fool. Get us out of this some way"
John was not too dense to get q
sleam of light into his brain that
showed him way out of the difficulty.
Excuse me-" he said, "but I've
brought up the plumber to look at the
water pipes, and as your curtains We're
Town l thought you were out"
"All right; no harm done; III get
ome more paper" and as she spoke
door in the rear of the fiat opened
md Jeifreys appeared, saying: Belle,
his last plate developed beautifully.
is prize winner, you bet"
Three days later morning paper an
the fact that Miss Isabelle |
and her half-brOther,
'harles L. Jeffreys, had taken the prize
t $500 offered by the Cloudy Day
'amera Company of New York for the
est series of amateur photographs.
he paper went on to state that the
rother and sister had taken North
ide apartment for temporary use as a
allery. The $500 money prize which
al been won would be given to ST..
Hospital for the young peo-
lie We're wealthy and followed pho
only for the love Of it. miss
it continued, sis the
aughter OF General Joseph Leaven-
Torth, of the Lake Shore drive. Mr..
effreys is the son of Mrs. Leaven-
Torth by former marriage"
Flat No. Z is vacant again. The
lndlord had let the amateur photog-
lphers have it for month on the pay
lent of double rent. The $40 and $50
alters are now sitting in the back
)oms; the bay windows are deserted.
81 am so glad" said Mrs. Broderlck
Mrs. Reynolds, "that never had an
vii thought concerning the young peo
lie. knew everything was right from
lie moment saw them. If l had said
r thought anything evil, how could l
Ice my dear cousin, Mrs. de Courcey,
u she lives next door to General
eavenwOrth and Is his lifelong
lend ?"-Edward B. Clark, in the Chi.
lgo Record Herald.