Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-22

inns"
They woat ont through the hall to
the balcony again; but Anita was
] very silent
Monsieur Victor had settled down to
his interrupted breakfast fin the court.
reading a paper, lazily enjoying his
morning coffee and cigarettes.
Anita gave a quick gasp as two
Brazilian monkeys scampered out
q from underneath a bench
( lei. Mimi: ici. Piotro." the French
/ man called. and both his obediont pets
/ ouddled in his lap
Alice's eyes wandered about ex-
/ pectanty. as II bird OF paradise. or
even an elephant. might suddenly ap-
pear from somewhere else 70 was
possible for anything TO happen in
such a place as this.
The two girls went slowly down tho
stairs. Stripes Of gilt peeled from
the moldy columns. plaster fell from
tho ceiling, exposing great patches OF
naked lath. The marble noor OF the
entry. in alternate squares OF black
and white. was damp and badly worn
Everythirg seemed different when the
sunshine laid IL bare
II declare. Anita. I can hardly real
came ize that this IS the place where
We came en- last nighu"
Anita nodded. sine was looking AZ
the haif-op-n door OF that little room.
and wondering.
They walked on through the entry.
and stood Tor moment looking out
upon the street.
Old Hirpolyte busled himself
sweeping the banQuette-a sort OF
grudging tribute that he paid 20 the
| eccentricities Of their guests. The
street itself was quite deserted the
| girls gazed mp and down.
"Oh!" Anita exclaimed. and drew
back
AZ the window OF Pcdro's Place
l opposite-the street was very narrow
she saw q mans face pressed close
20 the pane-a tense. harassed. and
anxious face. The eyes were staring
straight into hers. and were so like
Noel Dukes that they startled her.
The face vanished; she must be mis-
! taken. But she could not rid her
self OF an uncomfortable impression.
Whats the natter" Alice asked.
Nothing; maybe we'd better 20
now and wake aunty." she said. and
pulled Alice after her into the entry.
Monsieur Victor did not glance uD
as they repassed along the balcony
above his head. entered the hall and
| Knocked az Mrs. Ashton's door
knocked. and knocked again.
Mother" Alice called. and no an
swer came. 'MOtheri" Alice tried
the door; it was locked. Anita. I'm
frightened" she whispered.
Anita stepped TO the end Of the hall
and called Monster Victor!"
The Frenchman came up smiling
with a newspaper in his hand What
ees it. nam 'selle?"
My mother did not go out any
where, did shc2' Alice inquired. Her
door is locked; She doesn't answer"
Monsieur looked puzzled. be did
not seem 10 comprehend Alice
raped louder on the door.
Monsieur's face Frightened. "Oui.
Out, ma m selle wish 10 see zis apart-
ment. But zis is my chamber, I sleep
IN here"
You sleep in here?" Alice repeated,
vaguely. Anita glanced at the man
and wondered what be meant.
Alice continued beating on the door.
Monsieur Victor shrugged his shoul-
ders a. the persistence OF these Amer
lean girls.
"Arthemise. Arthemise." he called.
and clapped his hands. The maid
came. and a few words passed be-
twee. them IN French. "Ze room Is
not yet prepare. nam 'selle." Monsieur
Victor apclogized. but"
open this door. open this door.
Alice demanded 50 vigorously that
Victor took the key from Arthemise
and threw the room open. Alice
stepped inside with Anita immediate
IL behind her. both their faces turned
toward Mrs Ashton's bed. They bare
~ crossed the threshold, then halted,
staring and bewildered. There was
no bed: IT was strange room; Meth
er OF them had ever seen 1t before.
There was no bed with green curtains,
no crusader tapestys no Charlotte
Corday on the wall, no Spanish cabi-
nothing that they recognized.
"Why-this Is not-mother's room"
Anita's eyes took in every detail at
a glance-coats hanging on chairs.
towels thrown across a screen, a shaw
ing-stand. a line Of shoes, a dressing
gown, and SLIPPERS. 1t was mans
bedchamber she drew back.
The low Napoleon bed in the far
corner had been slept in, and was still
disordered: the heavy center table. the
pictures on the wall-everything was
unfamiliar.
I'VE have made a mistake" Anita