The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-23


You're very kind, I'm sure" he re-.
piled; but 1 think I'd better be go
ing, anyway"
No, don't go yet, please! There's
something else I want to say. See
your man here while I go and speak
to Mrs. Rushmore. Send Mr.. Van
Torp's man up, Potts." she added, and
left the room.
The American walked up and down
alone for a few moments. Then the
impassive Stemp was ushered in by
the maid, and the door was shut
again.
'Well?" inquired Mr.. Van Torp.
HAS anything happened?"
"Yes, SIR" Stemp answered. They
have turned us out of the house, sir,
and your luggage is in the street.
Where shall 1 have it taken, sir?"
"Oh, they've turned US out, have
they? Why"
well, sir, I'm afraid it's partly my
fault, but there must be some mis-
understanding, for I'm quite sure
didn't whistle in your room, sir
$50 am I. Stemp. Quite So Go on
What happened?"
We'll, sir, you hadn't been gone
more than ten minutes when some
body knocked, and there was the land.
lord, If that's what he calls himself,
and strange German gentleman with
him, who spoke English. Rather shah
by-looking, sir, I thought him. He
spoke most uncivilly, and said l was
driving him half crazy with my whis-
tling. l said hadn't whistled, and he
said i had, and the landlord talked
German at me, as It were sir | said
again I hadn't whistled, and he said
l had, the shabby gentleman, I mean,
speaking most uncivilly, sir, I assure
you. So when 1 saw that they doubted
my word, l put them out and fastened
the door, thinking this was what you
would have ordered, sir, if you'd been
there yourself, but I'm afraid ! did
wrong"
mo, Stemp. You didn't do wrong"
Thank you, sir"
II suppose, though, that when you
put them out they didn't exactly
want to go, did they?"
| them"
ANY heads broken?"
mo, sir, l was careful of that.
sent the landlord downstairs first, as
he was fat man and not likely to
hurt himself, and the shabby gentle
man went down on top of him quite
comfortably, so he did not hurt him
self either. / was very careful, sir.
being in foreign country"
What happened next? They didn't
come upstairs again and throw you
out, suppose"
mo, sir. They went and got two
| u these German policemen with
swords, and broke into the room, and
told me we must move at once.
didn't like to resist the police, sir. It's
sometimes serious. The German gen.
| tleman wanted them to arrest me, so
l offered to pay any fine there was
for having been hasty, and we settled
for two sovereigns, which I thought
dear, sir, and I'd have gone to the
police station rather than pay it, only
| knew you'd need my services in this
heather town, sir. I'm highly relieved
to know that you approve of that, sir.
But they said we must turn out direct
ly, just the same, so I re-packed your
things and got a porter, and he's
standing over the luggage in the
street, waiting for orders"
"Stemp." said Mr.. Van Torp, I'D
been whistling myself, before you
came in, and the lunatic in the next
room had already been fussing about
1t. It's my fault"
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir"
And it will be my fault If we have
to sleep in cab tonight"
The door opened while he was
speaking, and Margaret heard the last
words as she entered the room.
I'm sorry" she said, 'T thought you
had finished. l could not help hear
| ing what you said about sleeping in
a cab. That's nonsense, you know"
WELL" said Mr.. Van Torp, they've
Just turned us out Of the one room we
had because / whistled 'Parsifal out
| of tune"
you didn't whistle 1t out of tune"
Margaret answered, to STEM. 8 great
but well-concealed astonishment II
know better. Please have your things
brought here at once"
"Here?" repeated Mr.. Van Torp,
surprised in his turn.
Yes" she answered, in a tone that 4.
forestalled contradiction. IF nothing
else can be had you shall have this
room. can do without 1t.
You're kindness itself, but
couldn't do that said Mr.. Van Torp.
"Bring our things to this hotel, any
way, Stemp, and we'll see what hap
pens"
Yes, sir"
Stemp disappeared at once, and his
master turned to Margaret again.
TO be continuedl