Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-08-11
THE PREDICAMENT
OF SILAS SINGER
A Short Story
EY ELLIOTT FLOWER.

regretted that ne hau HOt DISi
ltboughtful enough TO lay paper OF
Itbe tor OF the cabient 50 that ht
could pass the time by reading. But
Itbat was a minor matter. Tine main
Thing was that he was being brought
hack to a condition Of perfect health
he could actually feel the change,
but Il came in spots. Some parts OF
hiy anatomy we're being rejuvenated
more rapidly than others. This set
him 10 wondering whether the thing
was working right and he began TO
worry. It was annoying TO have a
blaze that he could not see in such
close proximity to him; 1t might set
something afre and scorch him be-
fore he could release himself.
This is bound to make a man
perspire one way or another" he
muttered. " II the steam doesn't do
Il. the anxiety will. My head, which
is outside, is perspiring worse than
the rest OF me that's inside"
Then a fy settled on the top Of his
nose. He shook it of. and 1t settled
on his forehead. He shook 1t of
again, and II went back to his nose,
after which 1t tried to locate on one
ear.
I'D give a million dollars" he ex-
claimed, "for Just one swat at that
fly"
But the fy was forgotten when he
heard a step In the hall.
Great Scott! wonder II lock-
ed that door?" he muttered anxious
ly.
The answer came almost imme-
dlately, for the door slowly opened
and a strange man looked in. He
hastily lodged back when he saw the
room was occupied, but almost in
stantly looked in again and surveyed
with some curiosity what was visible
OF the astonished occupant The lat
ter's first impulse was 10 Jump up,
but he realized his utter helplessness
and also the danger OF any sudden
move with a blaze Immediately be-
meath him.
who are you?" he demanded
What are you doing here?"
MET" answered the stranger,
olowly. entering. "Oh, my names
Bill or Tom or Reddy or most any
old thing. an come in cause some
body left the front door open"
"a sneak-thief," calculated Silas
Don't you git 10 callin no
names" retorted the stranger,
cause man wot calls names has
got to back It up, an you amt in no
shape to back up nothin' | could
paste you one easy"
The perspiration was coming fast
or than Silas desired, The mental
strain of trying to decide what he
could do was OF great assistance to
the yapor In producing results.
Have you taken anything yet?"
he asked.
nix not" replied the stranger
with cheerful friendllness. II got
into this room first, cause It was
close to the door"
We'll, II you viii so out without
touching anything IN let you so and
say nothing about IT,"
Tanks" said the stranger. with
out giving any indications of an in
tention to depart
N you don't persisted silas.
I'm call for help"
The stranger coouy closed the
door and set down on chair In front
OF the bath-cablnet.
II didn't know you was iu." no
explained, easily. ~ fought the two
girls was ALL an that wouldn't worry
me, an il don't worry me now. No
suro-thing gent would want the fe-
ualc servants tn see hts cavortlu'
round In a short-skirt drygoods boa
IKE you'd be II you stood up. They'd
be- worse scared ot you than they
would OF me: an' besides, Il YOU
make a whimpcr nm prste YOU one
alongside the ear an put you IN a
tangle thatll be nothin short OF ats.
graceful No, sir. nix, not; sou aln't
In the shape TO make no honsr-no
unless you're lookiu' for somethiu
scand lous."
sllas realized that the man spoke
the truth; and that ala not make his
predieamont any the more pleasant
Irrespective of the prcseuce Of a,
theif. the vapor-bath had continued
As long as he desired. Tie felt that
he was melttug away, and he wantet
relief
For heavens sake. get out ans
let me set out ot this. anyway" b,
pleaded. Il can't stand e."