The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-30

snow blizzard in the early
morning the milk boy
plowed his way up the
steps of the dilapidated Wortley
mansion, opened the outer door,
stepped into the narrow vestibule,
and rang sharply the old-fashioned
bell. Ordinarily he then would
have deposited a bottle of milk on
the floor, picked up the empty
that had been set out overnight, and
departed with the cheerful bang and
clatter that has Teen anathema to
Sleepers since the days of AristO-
phaneS; but this time there was
a variation of the program. He
waited. Handling his basket Of
unstable bottles with as much care
as if they were eggs, he placed it
silently in a corner, and with
hunched shoulders, ear to the key
hole, determined expression on
his blowzy young face, he appeared
TO be listening intently to the grad
ually diminishing jingle jingle of
his summons away down in the
basement kitchen.
Retaining, for reasons of his
own, from advertising the fact that
he was still on the spot by second
pull at the knob, he crOuched in the
attitude long after the tongue of
the bell had ceased its musical Clan
gOr. 1t was fully five minutes be-
fore he moved as much as an eye
lid. Then he suddenly gathered
himself, held his breath, and, as the
door opened a crack, pushed it
wide, and stepped triumphantly in.
There" he exclaimed with satisfac-
ton.
Lord a MASSEY What's all this?"
cried a thin. cracked voice.
The hall was dusky but the boy
could see that an old woman Of untidy
appearance stood staring dazedly at
him. her hand on the knob Of the door
which he had closed on entering. He
gave a short. sneering chuckle. Then
he began iaboriously 10 unbutton his
many layered wrapping Of heavy cloth
ing.
This here little BILL" he said. pro-
ducing and handing Il TO the woman
has run three months, an every time
the old man comes round for it's TWEEN
ty-three for him S1liddoo, NObuddy
L home. See2 1 want tn money. 1
want it now. An I'll sit It, too. afore
I'll leave. or III hist out tn furni-
ture."
We'll, good Lord" exclaimed the
woman. who. though plainly OF a
meek disposition. was reused to some
degree OF seif-assertion by this open
attack, III you want your money I
guess you can have It. You needn't
tear my head on. 1 don't owe you
anything. It's Mrs. Wortley. and she's
worth a million dollars. You step over
here away from her door and III tell
her"
The boy jeered at the mention Of
this magnificent sum. II was easy
enough TO call anybody a millionaire.
Anybody. She might call him one if
she wanted to. But her manner pres
aged success for his mission and.
somewhat Modified. he stood back by
the stairs while the woman raped
gently at the paTlor door.
Mrs. wortleyl' she cried. not too
loudly. There was no answer.
Mrs. worfley, Mrs. Wortleyi The
milkman is here and wants 10 see
you" This time the voice was strong
er. but there came no sound from
within. She waited a moment. and
then ratified the door knob. stu no
response.
She must he fast asleep. She
doesn't Ike to be woke up-can't you
come again when"
ooh. sure" he interrupted. with a
world OF expression. All his doubts
and determination were rearoused by
these signs Of tricks. with the winding
and complex patterns OF which he was
on intimate terms "Oh. sure. I'll
come agin' An III stay right here
till I do. too You sure got 20 lead
pipe cinch on me IN this deal morn
mer. Me- Why, you never see me
out when the dew is FILLING Some
rude creature might accost me-
With one explosion of This bomb Of
sarcasm. picked up last night at the
dime museum. he grinned dehehtedly.
sat down on the stairs. and leaned
comfortably against the wall as If he
would be happy to remain there for
any indefinite period.
IF that amt killin'," rnuttered the
woman in disgust and Indignation.
She stood irresolutelt. looking al him.
WELL" she said. after a moment. I'll
go In through the o,her room ard
wake her up. but YOU Won't get any
thanks for making me DO it. I can tell
you. And it, the last milk you'll ever
bring into this house in the bargain"
''HUhl" he smiled Good thing.
too. SwAppin milk FER windu"
lie watched warily as she went down
the hail to a sort Of cabinet built
against the wall with a set washbowI
In It, put her hand in. and from a cor
ner OK a high shelf produced "a tov