The Marshall republican., 1909-04-02

very grand the party looked as they
entered. BY that time, though, | was
very miserable. | remembered that
ut the same time the next night |
might not have my friend. | hung
around among the footmen and idlers.
watching the lights and listening to
the crash OF the music, quite uncon.
scious OF the flight of time, and was
astonished when the ball was over and
the people began pouring out. Then
afraid to be caught by Giles, l ran
home as fast as my legs could car
~ me.
When I reached Berkeley Square II
was altogether dark. and I realized
that I was locked out.
looked all over the front of the
house. and my heart sank. There was
a blind alley at one side, and l re.
membered that in It opened the wiz.
dow Of Sir Peters study, as he called
It, although, as | have said, 1t was
more like the cubby-hole of the Ajax
than any other place l can call to
mind. The window was at least 20
feet from the ground. but q waterproof
q up the wall beside 1t. and to a
midshipman, used to going out on the
topsail-yard, 1t was a trife to get up to
the window. l climbed up, softly tried
the window, and to my joy found 1t
open. In another minute l was stand
fng inside the room. | had my flint
and steel In my pocket. and | CROPPED
about until I found a candle, which l
lighted.
I had often been In the room before,
but Its %grotesque appearance struck
me afresh, and ! could not forbear
laughing. although l was In no laugh
ing mood. There was a regular ships
transom running around the wall. The
whole room was full of the useless
odds and ends that accumulate on
board a ship, all arranged with the
greatest ~neatness and economy Of
space, and there was not n single
object In the room which could pos
sibly be of the slightest use on shore.
looked around to see how l could
make myself comfortable for the
night, and, opening a locker In the
wall, / found a collection of old boat
cloaks OF Sir Peters, In every stage Of
d~ilapidation, but all laid away with
the greatest care. Taking one for my
pillow and two more for MY coverlet,
Z lay down on the transom and, blow.
ang out the candle, was soon In a
sound sleep.
vas awakened at Ave o'clock in the
morning by the Ginning of a ~neighbor-
Ing church bell, and at the same mo.
ment | saw the door to the room noise.
lessly open and Lady Arabella Stor.
mont enter, carrying a candle which
she shaded with her hand. l involun'
tarily covered my head up, thinking
she had probably come in search OF
something, and would be alarmed II a
man suddenly jumped from the pile
OF b~oat-cloaks. Bun she went to q
glass door which led out upon a bal.
cony, with stairs into the garden, and
unlocked the door. / had completely
forgotten about these stairs, not be-
ing familiar with the room. when ]
climbed up and got In through the
window.
Presently | heard a step upon the
stairs, and before the person who was
coming had time to knock Lady Ara
bella opened the door. The rosy
dawn OF a clear June morning made
II light outside. but inside the 0 II
was quite dark. except for the candle
carried by Lady Arabella.
A man entered, and as soon as he
was in the room, she noiselessly locked
the door. and. unseen by him put the
key in her pocket.
AS he turned and the candlelighl
fell upon his face | saw It was Philil
Overton. Amusement was pictured II
his face, and his voice. too, when h'
spoke.
II was sent for In haste. by ST
Peter. Just now he said. with SONS
confusion.
At which Lady Arabella laughed, al
II It we're a very good Joke that h
should ind her instead OF Sir Peter