The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-29

I Graham hunrriedly explained the main
objections to this plan, and at the same
/ time took occasion to make clear the
dilemma in which he had found himself
upon the steps.
In short. he concluded. there were
put two courses open TO me, as I saw
II; either to leave you to perish in the
snow, or tC brave convention. and bring
you here.
SO. now that you are here his tone
changed again. as mis- glance fell upon
her hall " oezbegone figure. 4 beg that
you viii accept of my hospitality. If
you think you are all right now and
able to manage for yourself, / will with
draw The door. as you see, has both
a key and Il bolt, so you viii be safe
| from intrusion; and you mCEt open 10
no enc, or give any sign of being ii
the room, until l knock softly three
times. like this"
His evident sincerity removed the last
tract o. aS57Ht from her mind.
You were good TO me-" she faltered.
Forgive me, will you. for having mis-
judged you2
But where viii you go?" she ques-
toned Did you not tell me that every
room in the hause was taken?"
Taken, so far as the possibility of
putting YOU into one of them,' rejoiu-
ed Graham lightly; but a man is diff
terent, don't you know. He can always
find corner TO stow himself away in.
Now, don't you bother about me"
as ne saw protest rising TO her lips.
] shall get along fine. What you must
90 Is &c get those wet clothes of yours
dried, and take some rest, so that you
will be able to iaekle the problem which
confronts you tomorrow"
Then. with a few further directions,
he left her, and in his stocking feet
Stole noiselessly along the darkened
halls.
Graham had spoken cheerfuIly in re-
gard TO his arrangements for the night;
but, as a matter of fact, there was little
= =
himself
The only plan he could hit upon was
| the occupy tie general bathroom upon
the floor above as his sleeping apart
ment
1t was q eoli, cherries. little den;
but there was a duapidate0 old couch
there upon which he could spread out
and with his oVercoat over him. he
fanCied that he could get along for the
few hours Yet remaining until daylight.
Locking the door, therefore, he tried
10 sleep, but it was a long time before
he could close his eyelids.
The crazy old window sash ratified in
the wand and let in flood OF icy air
against which he found the overcOat a
totally inadequate protection. The
broken and twisted springs of the
couch upon which he lay prodded him
painfully at every move, and when he
did at last drift on into an uneasy slum-
Der IL was only TO indulge in a series of
narrowing dreams In which the events
of the beefsteak dinner, the Park
avenue FIRE. and the rescue of the girl
upon the stoop were Jumbled up TO mis-
utter confusion
one of the most vivid of these dreams
was a vision in which he seemed to be
on trial for the murder Of the girl from
Montclair, and Miss Bowen. as stern
Judge, found him guilty, and for a pen
atty sentenced him to be buried alive
| in the snow upon her front stoop.
Thereupon his comrades Of the dinner.
who seemed TO regard the affair as a
Z l. H.
hand and foot, and, obliviOus to his
protests. shOVeled over him the heap
The cold seemed to bite into his very
marrow; he could imagine the blood
| congealing in his veins; and although
he insisted that such punishment was
cruel and unusual and contrary TO the
/ letter and spirit Of the Constitution OF
the United States, no one would come
70 his assistance
A rafting at the door interrupted his
fancies. Some one was trying to get IN,
for the morning was already wei ad-
vanced and the sunlight Of a clear. crisp
winters day blaZed in through the
frosted panes OF the window
Graham gave guilty start. He had
| intended TO evacuate MS temporary
quarters before anybody IN the house
was up, but now a hasty glance at his
watch showed him that II was a quar-
! ter after 8.
He must escape somehow. so he de-
cided 10 leave the room at once.
He waited. accordingly, until the
| lodger at the door had apparently gone
away then cautiously advancing TO the
door, opened it and stepped out into
the hall.
But 10 his discontinue he encountered
lust the other side OF the threshold,
I Standing there wrapped In a oathrobe'
the young man who had come &c the
house the day before, being introduced
by the iandlady as Mr. William War
wick
ssOh." said the stranger, glancing at
Bob in surprise. lit was you, was il
Thought Mrs. Bowen told me you had
a private bath?"
why so / have. but-er-the pipes
were out Of order and I came down
here Cant do without my morning
tub. you know"
Just so" The others glance dwelled
QuizzicaIly upon the cvercoat and rum
pied evening clothes and Robert, con-
sciOus of how far these were removed
from customary bath attire, grew even
more red faced and confused.
Strange, too" draWled the man.
hooking light in his eye, that l should
have heard some one moving about In
your room just now as l came by. You
have no room mate, have YOU"
For an instant Graham 1Fas stagger-
ed, then with quick presence of mimi
( he pulled himself together, and faced
the Fellow grinning inperunence
NO, he reJoined, haughtily. NO, L
/ have no room mate, but / occasionally
/ bring friend home with me TO spend