Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-08
myself. And this In house with %
rooms and five baths!


myself. And this In 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;
colored butler, was working as a
waiter at the Greenwood club and
might come back. I have the usual
scruples about coercing peoples serv-
ants away, but few of us have any
conscience regarding institutions or
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 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!
Well. it 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-haired and a little
stopped. but with an immense idea of
his personal dignity-gave me his
reasons hesitatingly.
II amt sayin' nothing, Mis- Innes,"
he said, his hand on the door-knob, "but
| there's been goin's-on here this las
few months as amt natchal. 'Tain't
one thing an faint another-it's jest
door squealin' here, an winder
closing there, but when doors an
winders gets to cuttin' up capers and
| 10Th
Thomas Johnson sleeps somewhar's
else"
Liddy, 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
a little, and turned a yellow-green.
But am not easily alarmed.
! 1t was entirely in vain l represented
to Thomas that we were alone, and
that he would have to stay in the
house that night He was politely
! firm, but he would come over early
the next morning, and if gave him a
key, he would come in time to get
some sort Of breakfast I stood on
the huge veranda and watched him
shuttle along down the shadowy drive
with mingled feelings-irritation at
his cowardice and thankfulness at get
ting him at all. I am not ashamed
to say that double-locked the hall
door when went in.
you can lock up the rest of the
house and go to bed, Liddy," said
severely. you give me the creeps
standing there. A woman of your age
ought to have better sense" 1t usual
~ braces Liddy to mention her age;
she owns to 40-which is absurd. Her
mother cooked for my grandfather
and Liddy must be at least as old as
1. But that night she refused to
brace.
you're not going to ask me to lock
up, Miss Rachel" she quavered
"Why, there's dozen French win.
dows In the drawing room and the bill
lizard 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" I said
sternly. IF there had been a mar
there she would have had him in the
kitchen and been feeding him wha,
was left from dinner, inside of an hour
from force of habit. Now don't be
ridiculous Lock up the house and &C
to bed. l am going to read"
But Liddy set her lips tight ant
stood still.
II I'm not going to bed" she said. '
, am going to pack up, and tomorrow
J am going to leave"
{ you'll do nothing of the Sort"
r snapped. Liddy and often desire tt
Z part company, but never at the same
; time. "If you are afraid, will g,
1 with you, but for goodness sake DON
! try to hide behind me-"
The house was typical summe
8 residence on an extensive scale
S Wherever possible, on the first floor
J. the architect had done away with par
|. titions, using arches and columns in
i stead. The effect was cool and spaci
e Gus, but scarcely coy. AS Liddy an,
Q I went from one window to another
h our voices echoed back at us uncom
:. fortably. There was plenty of light
:. the electric plant down in the villag
i. supplied us-but there were long viz
o tas Of polished floor, and mirror
Y which reflected us from unexpecte
l corners, until I felt some of Liddy'
l. foolishness communicate itself to me
1 The house was very long, a rectar
b gle in general form, with the main er
e trance in the center of the long side
l. The brick-paved entry opened into
y short hall, to the right of which, seps
o rated only by row of pillars, was
A. huge living room. Beyond that wa
1t the drawing room, and in the end tn
e billiard room. ON the billiard rouil
in the extreme right wing, was del
e or cardroom, with small hall opel
1T Ing on the east veranda, and fror
y there went up a narrow circular stat
III case.
rs Liddy and got as far as the car
a. room and turned on all the lights.
Or tried the small entry door ther
" which opened on the veranda, and 9
g amined the windows. Everything W,
8. secure, and Ldddy. q little less ne
vous now. had just pointed out to n
ID the disgraceful dusty condition Of Il
2 hardwood floor, when suddenly Il
.. lights went out. We waited a m
er ment; think Liddy was stunned wi
n fright or. she would have screame
ut And then clutched her by the ar
In and pointed to one of the. windoy
: !