The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-25


My excitement over my favorinc 9 6rr--
tune and the exciting nature of tho
cnapter | was reading. ANGELS Traces
In Aryan Sources combined to Dro-
duce thirst which remainded me Of
the convenient wine closet and soon
was seated before blazing gas log a
bottle open by my side, smoking an
sorbed in my engaging chapter Thus
disposed. I was surprised suddenly to
lind q stranger standing near me and
was panied TO note that he was in
imminent danger of stroke of apo
plexy
Sir" I said, although you have
entered nay apartment unlimited, your
ols.ress appeals -acutely to my @symS
pathy- beg of you to be seated until
you have averted by rest shock
which seems likely to end your life un-
les precautions are taken"
Ihe intruder, an elderly gentleman
mad the appearance of having lust left
a Tram, was stout. well dressed. a ia
mlhar type. In short, of a prosperous
view orker of leisure. In response to
my poilte speech he tried to speak but
only sputtered, or at best emitted in
artlculate gurgles. BE seated" I
urged Be seated and partake OF a
glass of this excellent wine,
BY supreme effort he succeeded in
exclaiming, who the devil are you and
what the deyeil are you doing in my
apartment ?''
Deciding that he was some mildly
insane person I said reassuringly, ~
beg OF you to be calm and tell me
where you live that l may send for
your friends
The gentleman rang an electric bell
and then sank into a chair To uni
Iormed attendant, who quickly respond
ed to the bell, he said, "Now, who in
thunder is this person and how in
thunder did he get in here?"
He's the clock member, sir. Your
valet brought him here and said that
ne was to return with his tools and
mend some clocks. So when he return
ed We SUPPOSED it was all right
My valet Barker," exclaimed the
gentleman. and then went into gales OF
laughter, from which unseemly mirth
reared he would not emerge alive But
ne Quoted enough to say. as he wiped
his eyes. "Oh, Barlxeri Oh, my Lord!
On, that precious rascal! Oh, Barker,
the villain! Has he done you, my good
man? Tell me the story"
Not relishing being called my good
man." replied with dignity and BRIEF
ly told how l came into possession of
the rooms.
/ will not prolong the painful truths
few hours while we were in commune
cation with the superintendent of the
house and the police. Briefly. rather
let me explain. The gentleman was
the real Mr.. Van Alpine and the I'M,
whipped rascal from whom I supposed
was buying the furniture was a dis
charged valet named Barker. Mr.. Van
Alpine had been warned by the police.
of Barker's character only a few hours
before he (Mr. Van Alpine) left town,
and he overlooked telling the+,super-
intendent of the apartment house any
thing about the matter. Therefore
Barker had been at liberty to come and,
go as IL he were still employed by Mr..
Van Alpine.
He had taken me there under the
pretenSe that / was clock~fnender,
and when we left the house had quietly
spoken to the superintendent, saying
that l would return with kit of tools
and repair the clocks. had CHANGED to
mention to the constituencies villain
my plan of returning with a handbag
of my jewelry, and he hadAduickly
taken advantage of the information to
provide against my being refused ad-
mittance. The police informed me that
Barker was quick moving fellow,
and so we learned when the bank re-
ported that the check had been cashed
within an hour of my drawing it, When
the real Mr.. Van Alpine heard my
name he asked me if I CHANGED to be-
related to S. Larkmead. and when
informed him that you wereSalY uncle
he looked at me in -astonishlaent. and
murmured over and over, "A snephesB OF
sly old 81, and such an easy enfarkts I
do not know what he meant. but report
his words for your information.
/ have told Mrs. Lacquerre OF my
latest experience, and she insists that
she will personally install me in apart
ments and supply me with valet-wllo
will prevent me from being kidnapped.
She will have her little joke. you see.
Me kidnapped! YEARLY, Reuben.