Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25

IAEzS4I mercal traveller IN baby-blue under
clothes. Prokasky, the hotel clerk.
wrenched at the knob in the corridor.
Look out for the splash, Lily" he shouted ex
citedly.
The red-headed chamhermad enveloped her
freckled nose in calico when the lock snapped
But Prokasky was of those born for stern eruer-
gency. With one sweeping movement he hurled
a chair into the window and turned the key OF
the gas fixture.
"You stay here" was his wheeling command
TO the girl. "I'll get Doc Henshaw. If that guy
croaks, the old man'll be hot Why, it's the
best room in the Palace"
A vigorous breeze ran through the apartment
loosening the bits of glass, which tinkled to the
floor in musical detachments, and the blue man
on the bed opened his eyes. When one depends
upon beholding the Great Secret it is shocking
to see a chambermaid mechanically adjusting her
hair
ooh, blame the luck!" groaned the commercial
traveller. His name was written Gus Finch on
the register.
"Good-morning. Can clean up?" faltered
Lily.
A servants formula when he should have
heard-what? He rolled over, sick to the back
bone of his soul. Lily swept the glass into a
newspaper.
''Whew! this certainly does permeate," she
observed, fitting her nostrils to the breeze. "a
fellow could-could do it here in Dakota City
easier than by cramming himself full of this
smelly stuff Now I've often thought that if l
got good and crazy sames you must have
been"
"Oh" groaned the man again. "Oh, my gra
cious'''
The girls bravado broke. She leaned against
the bureau, and tear zgzagged among the
freckles towards her handsome mouth.
Don't take on, Mr.. Flinch," she murmured,
choking ''Tm dreadful sorry. Maybe 1 might
have done something-yes, sir, maybe
"You done all you could, Lii 1t was his faro
box put the hooks into me, like you said when
! laughed at you. Six hundred of the drlus
money!" piped the drummer shrilly six hun
Gred dollars brace game, and Inc raised in
Saint Joel"
Lilly fingered a pyramid of ashes on the bu-
reau. She was tall and well-formed in her gown
of offensive pink. Tough enough she sighed.
'1ts the end OF my lfe," walled the man.
"Oh, why didn't you leave me be? Next time,
you leave me take the count. 1t doesn't hurt
"You hush up, Mr.. Finch"
'Flinch nothing!" he snapped, and pulled the
sheet over his smooth-shaven face.
Half-smoked cigarettes Uttered the carpet near
telescope bag, beneath which protruded the
tern end of an envelope The mans coat hung
over chair by: Lily noted that the max
er's tag had been shipped out, leaving triangu-
lar gap in the collar. She resumed her sweep
ing refectivelv, and so reached the paper frag-
ment beside the satchel.
"Better get on your Clothes" drawled Lily,
Strengthening herself with triumphant air.
Doctors coming, Mr.. Samuel Chaf-ee, repre-
sentinr Un-ger Brothers, New York"
The syllables revivifed the stricken one with
a promptness which was medically incredible.
Even the bed-slats shrieked their surprise when
he bounced into the seated attitude and blinked
in terror at the girl
"Why-how-what!" he mumbled wildly.
Gimme that letter, Lily. That letter'll identify
me-theyIl find my name-wire the frm-dis-
grace-- Gimme that letter, 1 tell you.'
But Dr. Henshaw was already at the door.
Promise you won't try to do yourself again,