The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-26
THE EXPRESSING
 OF MIR. ASHTON
BY HELEN A. DooLEr. ...

HY HELEN Az uOOLMAs Copyright, 1905. by Daily Story Pun-
 fishing Co.)
 It was the occasion of my first visit to the city that 1t happened. Nell and I-Nelrs my sister--were visiting Brother Tom and his wife and were having the time of our hves. Tom and Rose lived on the South Side In delightful little flat overlooking the lake. It seemed like dolfs house 70 me and Nell. accustomed as we were to great roomy country house.
 During the first part of our stay, my interest had been greatly aroused by Toms frequent mention of his ehum. George Ashton. Nor did little inci- dent of which I will tell you dampen my curiosity concerning this unknown young man. Tom and Rose were sit- ting in the library one evening, and !, coming in from the back of the house unheard by them. heard Rose saying, would like; she is neither spoiled ny afrectation nor Is she stupid. and she certainly Is fresh and pretty.
 On Wednesday night Tom told Rose at supper that George Ashton was about to take a trip abroad with his mother, who was in delicate health, and was ordered by her physicians to travel He was to start the following Monnay, and to Toms request that he call be- fore leaving, he replied that he would be happy to see the ladies Saturday evening.
 on Saturday afternoon Tom came home at S o'clock was in the bath room when he arrived and could hear him talking to Rose and Nell tn the hall.
 Just as had finished bathing and was coiling my wet hair up on my head Rose knocked at the door.
 DO hurry, Letty." she said; Tom wants suppef early, and am ready for my bath" mouth full of hairpias.
 Hes gone out to the barber shop. He said he'd be back in an hour"
 And hastily donning the only gar ments I had at hand, I stepped out with the serene consciousness of wo- man feeling herself secure from the prying eyes of man.
 The door of the bedroom shared by Nell and me was closed, and on ate tempting to open 1t, I found that the trunk opposed my purpose
 You caa't come In here now Nell said from within. ''The trunks across the door and I've got almost everything out on the floor. Rose hung your clothes in the halI closet; go into the parlor and dress; you'll have mirror enough there"
 went slowly into the parlor, where the sight of the great mirror restored my good humor.
 with the assistance of a towel, and a comb and a brush borrowed from Roses room. proceeded to change my hair from a clinging. unlovely mass with "ratty" ends, to fluffy golden coil with little clustering curis about the neck and temples.
 had lust completed the change to my satisfaction. and was about to pro- ceed to the hall closet for the rest or my clothes when. to my horror, heard a mans voice in the hall. alternating with the voice of the domestic; i,
 "Yes, sir. the ladies are at home. will tell them you are here. No, sir, MT. Allen Is not at home yet--step into the parloF-" -
 made a wild dash for the library dooY. which was partly closed, and rushed into the closet, closing tho door after me ust as the parlor door opened. r Then discovered that there were two men instead of one.
 A aeoond voice, which recognised ae that of MP. Sutton, pastor Of the church which we attended. said: "ThiA is the second time we have met today, Mfr. Ashton"
 Nr. Ashtonl Then the voice had heard first belonged to George Ashton, the man whom, of all others wished to meet and impFessl
 And very impressive looked at that moment, am sure, with my bare rect and eIingfng underwear!
 With a sigh of despair l leaned back against the wall of the tiny closet, when 10 my horror, found myself grasped from behind by a pair of strong arms. and heard 6 whispered ejaculation Of Great ScottP'
 I would have screamed. but a hand was on my mouth and he of the ex- plosive exclamation whispered savage iy: Shut up, now, shut up' Do you want them to hear your
 shranlx, slluddeFing. to the other side of the closet. what a situationi Shut up. half dressed. with this brute A burglar, of eourse-wtth the alteFna- tive of either staying here alone with him, in the dark. or of facing two strange men fin the light of day.
 The closet was triangular and so tiny that shrink back as I might l could still feel the beasts breath on my face. And he smelled of brandy. Ugh! The smell of brandy sickens me to this day. My brain winfield; had haEy con- sciousness of heearing Roses voice and of someone saying something about having to take the train tonight"
 They are coming into the library.
 T have returned the book which Mir. Allen lent me- heard Mir. Sutton say. held my breath as they entered and my heart stopped beating as some one brushed against the knob of the closed door. put out my hand 70 grasp the knob. but drew back shuddering as f