Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-11-08

house terms, the accent Is al
ways on the last world, and when 1t
was opened by a gray-eyed, fluffy
haired girl Of twenty, Mary-Mary
Of the broom and mop, Of the fresh
face and insinuating smile, impaired
the information that her sister 8
youngest was took bad" Remembec
Ing her recent attack Of la grippe, in
which Mary had figured as minister
ing angel, second-foor-side said most
heartily, "And you want to go 70 your
sister; go right along. I shall be III
until evening service, and can answer
the bell just as well as not"
"Oh thank you, MISS" declared the
grateful Mary. "You see, miss, she
won't be home till nine o'clock; would
two hours be too long, missy
"No, indeed, stay three or four. Are
many Of the people INF"
mo, miss, they'll not be many
rings, unless, its the top floor front,
them girls is always forgetting their
keys, they're that light-headed; the
Rlcove Is away over Sunday; the
second-foor-backi is out on a case; only
the second-foor-back is in." (There
was little puckering Of eyebrows at
this, but Mary did not notice.. mot
forgetting the top-foor-back, the night
reporter, miss, but he sleeps til five
And If you'd not mention it to her.
miss, I think she'd not be liking me
to leave the house,"
Mary was assured that not for
worlds would Mrs. Brown be inform
ed, and Mary departed basement
wards. "Pll see that the fires is al
right, MISS" were her last words, and
her smile now in the shadow Of the
stairway was broad and beaming for
one so harrassed by sudden and seri-
Gus family illness.
Second-door- back could not avoid
hearing this converse ton. One Of his
windows was up; evidently his neigh
boris one window was also up. He
had just come in from dinner and
was In the act Of removing his coat.
What could cause his sudden indie
cision, also that pleased chuckle, the
queer pantomime and that crafty look,
that seemed so Ill suited to such DIN
open, honest face? In word, second
door-back had been for weeks making
the most diplomatic efforts to get
upon speaking terms with his shy but
interesting neighbor, with results,
why, the usual results where a really
nice girl is concerned. Here was the
opportunity Of lifetime. Only an
idiot would allow 1t to pass by. He
posted himself at the window until he
saw Marys ample form disappear
through the alley gate. Then he put
on his hat and went downstairs.
Second-hoor-side, deep in avery"
heard the front door bang. 'Thank
goodness" she said. Her relief was
short-lived, for in exactly ten minutes
there was another bang, a masculine
mounting Of stairs, and next an osten-
tatious rafting Of newspaper floated
through the open windows. "Been
buying a paper" she thought. She
was just beginning the last fascinat
ing chapter when there came the
warning click from a radiator, not
hers, for like nearly all side rooms,
this was sufficiently heated from the
hall.
"Oh, I'm afraid Mary forgot the
steamw
As If In affirmative came another
and sharper click, then the regular
"chug-chug" of expanding iron.
"Oh dear. I'm sure she hasv'
"Chug-chug. chug," came the an
swer, now loud enough to be located.
It came from the second-foor-back.
"And it's almost like summer, to-
day, not the slightest need of fire!"
"Chug-chug, snap" came in corrob-
grafton. The housekeeper, pro tern,
opened her door softly, and listened.
From behind closed doors came the
same alarming sound, several Of them,
only more muffled. "That poor night
reporter" she walled, why did 1 tell
Mary she could stay so longY
"Chug- ty-chug-chug." That mis-,
cradle radiator in the next room seem
ed in demoniac possession. She could
hear the occupant adjusting the valve.
II hope he's good and mad" She
might have meant the radiator.
"Chug-chug, snap" And now came
the accompanying hiss Of steam from
somewhere; remembering an occasion
Of neglect on the part Of Mary's pre-
decessor, which resulted in soppy car
pets and a ruined ceiling, to say moth
ing of said predecessors dismissal,
second-foor-side became desperate and
started pell nell for the basement
When she opened the door Of the