The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1903-06-05
A DOOR THAT CLOSED.
BY LAvoN G. CHENEY.


one of the sudden changes for which our
climate is remarkable had taken place, and
in a very short space of time the tempera-
ture had changed from that of frosty ex-
hilaration to that of decided sharpness. In
fact, the mercury was travelling toward the
bulb of the thermometer at an accelerated
rate; in addition to this, the wind was
blowing, which made the cold seem more
intense; moreover, there was nothing about
the hour, two a. m, that was at all cheering.
The hour, the wind, the darkness, the cold.
all served to ruf1e the temper of Mr.. Ellis,
and as he, clad very inadequately for fac
ing a cold drive in evening clothes and
light top coat, assisted his wife into the
open buggy, he made some very emphatic
remarks in regard to the change IN the
weather and the lateness of the hour.
why" he grumbled, as they drove along,
didn't he let us celebrate the event by
our own fireside. How much better it would
have been to simply send a note to every
one, stating the fact that he had arrived
at the ten-mile post, telling us all to give
thanks at precisely nine o'clock, say, and
then 60 about our business. He might have
sent some good cigars, too" warming to
his subject, ''and every man there tonight
would"
''You absurd creature" interrupted his
wife, everyone is not so selfish as you"
1.-TWO o'clock at night is an ungodly hour,
anyway" went on Mr.. Ellis, doggedly. A
person who is not in bed at two o'clock
does not deserve"
81 have often known you to remain up
until two o'clock reading" smihngly put
in his wife; "but never mind, told Emma
to sit up for us, so the house will be warm.
She can make us a cup of hot chocolate
and add a few fresh Jumps of coal to the
fire in the library and that will soon bring
you to more peaceable state of mind
Mr.. Ellis opened his mouth as if to speak
but discreetly closed it again. He had told
Emma, just before they left, not to sit
up for them, saying he would take key
to the front door. He did not think it nee
essary to mention the fact, as he argued
that his wife could make the chocolate as
we'll as Emma, and as for the door, he had
the key.
Arriving at the house, his wife prepared
to descend from the buggy after him.
'Hold the horse" he said; che does not
stand well. I'll get the door open, then come
for you"
''Ring the bell, Emma is up Mrs. Ellis
called after him.
He did not seem to hear, but ran hastily
up the steps and began the search of his
pockets. He failed to find anything re-
eembling the door-key In desperation, he
tried every key on his ring, from the small
key unlocking his desk to the large one open
ing the office door. The few that entered
the key-hole at all seemed determined to
stay there, and the struggle to get it out
again was prolonged and voluble.
AS he stood there with the sharp wind
playfully trying to dislodge his hat, creep
ing boldly up his sleeves, down his collar
and sportively Juggling at his clothes, he felt
himself being rapidly reduced to solid. He
must move or freeze to the doorstep.
He went stiffly down the stairs. Emma
seems to be asleep" he said, hypocritically.
81 will try the back door"
The Ellis home was one of solid row
of brick houses, and to gain the rear door
it was necessary to go through the alley
way. The fence was what is commonly
called a high board fence with gate latch
ing on the inside He felt around until he
found piece of board, and, with its help,
proceeded to mount the fence His age,
which was 40; his avoirdupois, which was
something like 900 pounds, and his extreme
aversion to athletic sports, all rendered the
undertaking a difficult one. He struggled
to the top of the fence and dropped to the
ground on the other side. His descent was
rapid and was accompanied by a tearing
sound.
"Hang the clothes!" he said, savagely.
He broke pane of glass in the window,
unfastened the catch, lifted the SASH and
crawled into the dark kitchen He was
more familiar with the front part of the
house than with the back, and directly
he was in the dark room all sense of
direction seemed to leave him. He made
vain efforts to find the door. He stumbled
against chairs He executed an elaborate
bow over the stove when his knees came
! into contact. with that article of kitchen
furniture, and the upper part of his body
/ continued on its way, colliding violently
with the stovepipe. He plunged his out
stretched hands into something so cold and
! clammy that he, Involuntary, gave a sub
! dued shrek The stuff chung to his hands
and he, shudderingly, wiped them on the
! front of his overcoat wondering if it could
by any chance, be the blood Of the muir
dered girl, and if he would be held as al
accessory to the crime He went, or sc
it seemed to him, around the room again
and again, and there was no door. Wher
the broom fell, hitting him on the back, he
made a long, terrible leap forward anC
struck the wall, violently. He leaned
against it and tried to collect his thoughts
Would he ever get. out of the place? Was
he doomed to wander around in that blacl
hole all night with that cold, clammy some
thing for company? Should he make an
other effort, futile though it would probabl!
be, to find the door?
He ran his hand along the wall, and i
Immediately came into contact with
door knob
Hah! At last! How foolish he had beel
to get bewidered in that way. He openet
the door and passed through What hat
become of his poor wife, sitting outsid
in the cold or had the horse-a shove
of tin pans, which he had paved off tn
shelf with his outstretched hands, inter
rupted his reflections Where was he? Evi
IDENTIFY in kitchen pantry. Did they hav
kitchen pantry? He did not know.
He leaned weakly against the shelves an
tried to remember whether or not he ha
ever seen kitchen pantry in his house an
Iif so, what its location was. His. min
seemed a blank