Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-11
BY ARTHUR STRINGER.

the room. The wiring of the house, she had
already noticed, with the quickness of an
expert, was both thorough and modern.
Any moment the turning of a bedside button
might flood the room with brilliant light and
leave her there, betrayed beyond redemp-
tion
though in warning. and a moment later
lodged out through the door, going as
noiselessly as she had come.
But the ground was now dangerous, she
felt; and she was glad to escape to the
comparative freedom of a wider hallway
running at right angles to the one she had
just left. This surely led to the back stairs,
she argued. as she CROPPED her way stealth
lily forward She was even debating wheth-
er it would not be better to risk the fully
lighted front stairs. rather than lose time
as she was doing, when her cropping hands
came In contact with the cool wood of the
polished balustrade.
Her foot was on the carpeted second STEP
when she drew back, with a terrified catch
of the breath. =
The familiar click of the light-button had
thrown the entire hall and stairway into
dazzling light man stood at the foot of
the stairs, in his slippered feet with his
hand still on the button. He had not yet
seen her; but it was too late to escape
1t was the bibulous English butler who
had shown her to her room. In a crook of
his arm he carried Sauterne bottle and
nearly empty champagne magnum, carefully
reeorked. 1t was plain. Frances argued,
tndt ne was pllIeTlnS a nl8nLcap Tor himself.
That gave her at least a shred of courage.
She hesitated only the fraction of a sec
ond Then she coldly and briskly descended
the stairs. with her hot-water bottle in her
hand.
The butler fell back step or two at the
sudden apparition. blinked at her unsteadily
In the strong light, and made gigantic eff
fort to draw himself up.
Her first intention had been to march dis
painfully past him; but this she remem-
borQ w 0Iyf 0f the r. II
ready midnight, or more, and Tor all his UNI
steadiness Of limb he was, she knew
shrewd and capable servant; well trained in
his duties
him putting on his official attitude, Just as
he might draw on his serving coat The
new nurse. apparently, took cold easily, for
she still wore her galoshes.
Which way do go to the Kitchen" she
de manded CURLY.
1.-THE Kitchen, miss, Is closed" He was
looking at her with his pale and beady lit
tie eyes. What were You wantfng?"
IT must have some hot WATER she an
swered, swaying her instrument of deliver
ance before her.
''There Is a bath room on your door. miss
two doors to the right Of your own door. -
He spoke thickiy but peremptorfly. Frances
could plainly see that he was not to be
juggfed with.
ct said hot water. not warm" she refort-
cd, almost angrfly.
ssYou'll find a gas-heater in the bath room,
miss" he added: more respectfully. She
unavailing. He even preceded her to her
own door, turning the lights on and OF as
they went.
A moment later, as she stood biting the
end of her fingers in mingled vexation and
anxiety. she could hear the sound of rum
ming water and the hollow puf4 Of q ligiated
xas-harne. She wondered, dreadingly II
she was never to get rid Of the man. As
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