The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-01-22
you see that this gentleman finds his

you see that this gentleman finds his
greatcoat?''
And with the most agreeable air Mr..
Morris escorted his visitor as far as the
anteroom door, where he left him un-
der conduct of the butler AS he passed
the window on his return to the draw
ing room Brackenbury could hear him
utter profound sigh, as though his
mind was loaded with a great anxiety
and his nerves already fatigued with
the task on which he was engaged.
For perhaps an hour the hansoms
kept arriving with such frequency that
Mr.. Norris had to receive a new guest
for every old one that he sent away,
and the company preserved it's number
undiminished. But toward the end Of
that time the arrivals grew few and far.
between and at length ceased entirely,
while the process of elimination was
continued with unimpaired activity.
The drawing room began to look emp
ty, the baccarat was discontinued for.
lack of banker, more than one person
said good night of his own accord and
was suffered to depart without expos
tulation, and in the meanwhile Mr..
Morris redoubled in agreeable atten-
lions to those who stayed behind He.
went from group to group and from
person to person with looks of the
readiest sympathy and the most peril
nents and pleasing talk. He was not so.
much like host as like a hostess, and
there was feminine coquetry and con-
descension in his manner which charm
ed the hearts of all.
AS the guests grew thinner Lieuten-
ant Rich strolled for a moment out of
the drawing room into the hall in quest
of fresher air. But he had no sooner
passed the threshold of the antecham-
Der than he was brought to a dead
halt by a discovery of the most sur
prising nature. The Towering shrubs,
had disappeared from the staircase.
Three large furniture wagons stood
before the garden gate. The servants
were busy dismantling the house upon
all sides, and some of them had al
ready donned their greatcoats and
were preparing to depart. 1t was like,
the end of country ball, where every
thing has been supplied by contract
Brackenbury had indeed some matter
for reflection. First, the guests, who.
were no real guests after all, had been
dismissed, and now the servants, who
could hardly be genuine servants, were
actively dispensing.
"Was the whole establishment a
sham," he asked himself, 1.-THE mush-
room of single night, which should
disappear before morning?''
Watching a favorable opportunity,
Brackenbury dashed upstairs to the
| higher regions of the house. 1t was as
he had expected. He ran from room to,
room and saw not stick of furniture
nor so much as picture on the walls
Although the house had been painted
and papered, it was not only uniphab-
tied at present, but plainly had never
been inhabited at all. The young Off
Ger remembered with astonishment it's
spacious, settled and hospitable air on
his arrival. 1t was only at prodiSous
cost that the imposture could Fave
been carried out upon so great Alle.
Who then, was Mr. Merris' Eat
was his intention in thus pl; e
householder for single night in the
remote west of London? And why did
he collect his visitors at hazard FROM
the streets? |
Brackenbury remembered that he had
already delayed too long, and hastena d
to join the company. Many had lett
during his absence, and, counting the
lieutenant and his host, there were not
more than five persons in the drawing
room, recently so thronged. Mr.. Norris
greeted him as he re-entered the apart
ment with a smile and Immediately
rose to his feet.
1T is now time, gentlemen" said HE.
Ito explain my purpose in decoyiRg
you from your amuSements. trust YOU
did not find the evening hang very
duly on your hands, but my object, /
will confess it, was not to entertain
your leisure, but to help myself in an
unfortunate necessity. You are all gen
tlemen. Your appearance does YOU
that much justice, and l ask for no
better security. Hence l speak lit
without concealment 1 ask you to
render me a dangerous and delicate
service-dangerous because you may
run the hazard of your lives, and deli
cate because l must ask an absolute
discretion upon all that you shall
see or hear. From an utter strang er
the request is almost comically extrav-
agant. l am well aware of this, and I
would add at once if there be any one
present who has heard enough, if
there be one among the party who re-
coils from dangerous confidence and
piece of quixotic devotion to he
knows not whom, here is my hand
ready, and shall wish him good night
and godspeed with all the sincerity in
the world"
A very tall, black man, with heavy
stoop, Immediately responded to this
appeal
Il commend your frankness, SIR,
said he, land, for my part, I 60.
10 M b,,+ no rno+