Evening star., 1909-02-14

commotion outside and half minute later d
fellow who looked big as a locomotive
rushed into the hotel, tilnglng people out OF his
way as if they had been children, and roaring
for trouble.
the middle OF the little Office and glarlng around
him.
Everybody seemed anxious to get outside
soon as possible The crush at the doors was
something awful. Women up the stairs,
and two who had suddenly thought OF
things they wanted to do somewhere else were
fast in a window. each trying to be the first
TO get out, and neither of them making much
headway. Mr.. Underwood didn't appear to
like the way they were carrying on, and grab
bng them by their heels, he dragged them
back into the middle of the room where he
bumped them together few times and then
flung them away.
where's my wife, he howled again.
didn't feel like giving him any information
on the subject. and was hoping he might he
kind enough to leave before the lady got
through having her palm read; but boy
who ought TO have been at home in bed stuck
his head out from under the desk behind
which he and the landlord were hiding and,
pointing to the door | was guarding, SAID:
She's in there, mister.
TIL never forget the feeling / had as Mr.
Underwood turned toward me There was
hardly anything that / would not rather have
been at that moment than the manager OF
wizard. / still lose my appetite when think
about it. The Doc had given me strict orders
not to let anybody in while he was busy with
customer, and had learned that 1t was always
a good plan to stick to his rules. While the
terror of the town seemed to be trying to make
up his mind whether to chew me to bits or
merely pull off my head and throw 1t at me: l
slipped into the room where his wife and the
wizard were and bolted the door They had
heard the racket, and l guess she had told the
Doc what was wrong. ! found them standing
in the middle of the room. Mrs. Underwood
was not looking happy:
" If he gets In here, she Whlmpered' ne Ii
kill me-"
Madam" the wizard answered, you are,
/ perceive, inclined to jump at conclusions.
That is an unfort unate habit AS the poet says:
The cares that fret us most
Are those we never have to bear at all
How oft We cringe beneath the blows
That fortunately never tall
'Zachariah. kindly take the lady to yon
corner, l desire to be free IN my movements
when the man of her choice enters.
The Docs plan OF campaign didn't appeal to
me verv forcibly; but Mrs. Underwood seemed
to think that because l some taller and
heavier than the wizard it might be advlsa bic
to trust herself to my care, and she swooPed
on me before could get out OF the way, beg
ging me, if / was not coward, to keep her
from harm. l couldn't think of any first class
reason why ought to come between man and
wife where l had no special interest in either
of them; but she didn't stop to consider that.
All this time the lad with the large fsts was
pounding at the door and naming disagreeable
things that he intended to do in the near future.
Occasionally he would interrupt himself to
veil "Gladys!" in sort of coaxing tones, and
the lady who was using me as protector ex-
planned that Gladys her name limited
that he might forgive her if she went out and
placed the matter before him In reasonable
light; but she didn't receive the suggestion
with much favor.
You don't know Robert" she said, or
you wouldn't expect him to listen to reason at
time like this"
1T was shortly afterward that Roberts pa
tience gave out, and he came against the
door like a freight train humping into car on
a side track. The lock flew halfway across the
room, and Robert entered with below that
didn't put me at my ease a bit.
MY friend said the Doc, Mr.. Under
wood stopped to blink few times and get his
bearings, YOU have violated the right Of
sanctuary. In other words, to use the ldlom
with which YOU are doubtless familiar, you ha We
butted in where there has been no loud de-
mand for your presence. Do / make myself
clear"
Robert threw out his chest folded his arms
across it, and gave a laugh that was not catch
ing A bout a dozen men and boys had crowded
around Just outside the door, and after he had
glared first at the wizard and then at Glady
and me- Mr. Underwood suddenly turned and