The newspaper., 1909-10-22


away to house party. and moved out
to Sunnyside the first of May.
The first night passed quietly
enough. have always been grateful
for that one nights peace; it shows
what the country might be under ia.
vorable circumstances. Never after
that night did | put my head on my
pillow with any assurance how long
1t would be there; or on my shoulders,
for that matter.
On the following morning Liddy and
Mrs. Ralston. my own housekeeper,
had a difference of opinion. and Mrs.
Ralston left on the IL train. Just after
luncheon. Burke. the butler. was taken
Unexpectedly with a pain in his right
side. much worse when | was within
hearing distance. and by afternoon he
was started cityward That night the
cooks sister had a baby-the cook.
seeing indecision in my face. made 1t
twins on second thought-and.< TO be
short. by noon the next day the house
hold staff was down to Liddy and
myself And this in a house with %
rooms and five baths,
Liddy wanted to go back to the city
at once. but the milkboy said that
Thomas Johnson. the Armstrong;
colorcd butler. was working as
waiter at the Greenwood club and
might come back. | have the usual
scrnples about coercing peoples serv-
ants away. but few OF US have any
conscience regarding Institutions or
corporations-witne the way we
beat railroads and street car compan-
les when we can-so called up the
club. and about eight o'clock Thomas
Johnson came to see me Poor
Thomas,
Wen. II ended by my engaging
Thomas on the spot. at outrageous
wages. and with permission TO sleep
In the gardeners lodge. empty since
the house was rented The old man
he was white-haircd and a little
stopped. but with an immense idea OF
his personal dignity-save me his
reasons hesitatlngly
I amt sayin' nothing. Mis- lnnes.
he said. his hand on the door knob. hut
there's been goin's-on here this las
few months as Amt natchal. 'Tain't
one thing an 'taint another-ii's Jest
a door squealin' here. an a winder
closing there. but when doors an
Winders gets to cutiin up capers and
there's nobody nigh EN-. it's time
Thomas Johnson sleeps somewhars
else"
IAddy. who seemed to be never
more than ten feet away from me that
night. and was afraid of her shadow
in that great barn of place. screamed
little. and turned a yellow green
but ! am not easily alarmed
II was entirely in vain ! represented
to Thomas that We were alone. and
that he would have to stay in the
house that night lie was politely
firm. but he would come owe. early
the next morning. and II gave him
key. he would come in time to get
some sort OF breakfast stood on
the huge veranda and watched him
shuffle along down the shadowy drive
with mingled feelings-irritatlon at
his cowardice and thankfulness at get
ting him at all. ! am not ashamed
TO say that doubie-locked the hall
door when I went in
You can lock up the rest OF the
house and 20 to bed. I.iddy." I said
severely. You give me the creeps
standing there. 4 woman of your age
ought to have better sense" II usual
ly braces Liddy to mention her age:
she owns to t0-which is absurd. Her
mother cooked for my grandfather.
and Llddy must be at least as old as
l. But that night size refused to
brace.
You're not going to ask me to lock
up. Miss Rachel" she quavered.
Why. there's n dozen French win
dows in the drawing room and the bill
Hard room wing. and every one opens
on porch. And Mary Anne said that
last night there was man standing
by the stable when she locked the
kitchen door"
Mary Anne was fool" said
sternly, III there had been man
there she would have had him in the
kitchen and been feeding him what
was left from dinner. inside of an hour.
from force OF habit Now don't be
ridiculous. Lock up the house and go
to bed. am going to read"
But Liddy set her lips tight and
stood still
I'm not going to bed" she said II
am going to pack up. and tomorrow
! am going to leave"
You'll do nothing of the sort I