The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-31
PILGRIMS REST.
Meals and Lodging.

 Something, possibly the cheer and comfort suggested by the interior or the hotel. caused the engineer to pause | a moment and then. with smile upon his face. to turn his steps towards the entrance. Can't no develish callboy find me here," he chuckled. as he approached the desk.
 | To the clerk a young man with signs of an early mustache upon his | lip and a paste diamond In his shirt front, the engineer delivered this com mand: Boy. give me a room where nothin' nor nobody can bother me ana where I can sleep as long as my eyes ! will stay shut"
 The clerk glanced at-his room list. | Pretty we'll filled up tonight" he said, but I can give you room in the | basement Not the most desirable | room, of course. bR light. airy, clean bed and all that sort of thing. Nice' quiet room, where a sound can't reach | you and the sheriff couldn't find you l with a search warrant" "Good. said Greene. Show me to it; I want to turn in." Taking a lamp, the clerk led the way down a narrow flight Of stairs ana along a hall at the end of which he opened a door and ushered his guest | into q small but comfortable apart ment.
 The room was provided with but one window and, curiously enough. this window faced a high embankment from | which 1t was separated by space of about four feet.
 Three minutes later Green. drowsily remembering that he had forgotten to register, fell asleep. When he awoke 1t was still dark, so he turned over and went to sleep again. How long he slumbered he did not know, but he suddenly awoke to find the room as dark as wh' n he entered it. He was desperately hungry. and from this he calculated he must have slept many hours. He lay for some time wondering If 1t were nearing day break, then he drifted into another doze.
 Again he awoke and still there was not glimpse of light visible. His hunger was intense, but there was nothing to indicate the approach of dawn.
 During what he imagined to be sev- eral hours, he tossed nervously upon his bed staring at the darkness and falling into occasional maps from which he awoke with a start, only to find it dark-always dark.
 Finally he could no longer force him self to sleep, so he arose. struck a match and looked at his watch. The hands pointed at ten minutes past one, but the watch had stopped. This pug zled him, for he distinctly remembered winding the timepiece just before quit ting his cab.
 He was so nearly starved that he decided to dress and seek a restau- rant. Lighting the lamp which stood upon a dresser beside the window, he reached to pull down the shade, but drew back in amazement
 huildirg seemed to haVa rnOVpd The dirt embankment. instead of being at least four feet from the window, was now less than as many inches. It touched the casing; in places 1t pressed against the paues!
 When at last he had got into his clothes, Greene unlocked the door and stepped into the hall. To his astonish- ment he saw. few feet distant. an open door through which flood of sun light poured.
 Weak and trembling he passed into a small area way at the rear of the building. from whence he ascended flight of rough, wooden stairs to the street above.
 For a moment he paused and stared about him. On every hand were evi- dences of flood, as though great volume of water had rushed down the steep hill with tremendous velocity. The earthen embankment which had faced the side of the Pilgrims Rest, had caved in. completely ckvering the window of the room Greeh- had occu- pied
 As he mounted stool in a cafe, the engineer behe1d his reflection in the large mirror behind the counter and was startled. His formerly smooth face was covered with a stubby beard his eyes were suuken; lie was noticably emaciated.
 Have you been sick, sir?" asked the waiter, handing him menu card.
 No" replied Greene, but I'm devil ish hungry. What time is it?"
 Wine fifteen" replied the other. glancing at his watch You must
 Father late" replied Greene. but then. I was about all in when I went to bed last night. Or was it night be- fore last7"
 The waiter smiled I'm sure I don't know. sir" he replied. Don't you?"
 ITO tell the truth, don't" said Greene What day is this. anyway"
 Tuesday, sir"
 ."W- h-a-t?" cried Greene Tuesday,"
 For a moment he allowed his half devoured lunch to remain untouched. while he stared at the waiter In open mouthed astonishment. And I've been sleeping since Saturday night" he said at last. "and--and--''
 Anything serious, sir:" asked the waiter.
 No" replied Greene.a a feeble smile creeping across his features. "only-- I was to have been married last nightr'
 The meal and a shave at a neighbor- ing barber shop restored the engineer to his former self again, and he has tened to his lodging house. His land lady. portly and good natured indi- vidual. met him at the door and ac- corded him a hearty welcome
 "Misther Crane. sor," she said. wip- ing the precipitation from her elorid face with a faded glngham apron sure an there was a tilegrom come for yez, Saturday avcnin,' sor. Ofll so git it."
 4 moment later she returned with a yellow envelope in her hand. "Oi didn't know where to foind yez. sor." she began. but Greene took the uliS- siye and opened it hurriedly. It was from Davis. who he had commissioned