The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-07-30

anu paused III front OF MS own QOOT
The CHEEKY whistle came to an alb
rupt close even as the door slammed
noisily in his face. He had seen moth
ing save the bare, lofty room, with
the gray sky beyond the north win
dows. Now he heard little rapping
heel-taps on the boards-the boards
he had paid Ann Moran to scrub the
day before!
He leaned against the banister and
modify surveyed his trunks and
boxes piled in a mountainous heap
against the opposite wall. He had
moved in that mOrning-and now it
was evident that he had moved out.
His peremptory knock on the door
brought the heels rapping across the
floor. The door opened briskly and
Jack removed his hat in the presence
of most bewildering vision.
Graceful, with mist of blond hair
blowing about pink and white face,
gray-green eyes, dark dashed, with
fine line of arching brow; a charm
ing nose and indescribable mouth
that was the girl he beheld. She was
envelOped in a coarse blue apron, in
dicating that she had been engaged
in domestic duties.
Il beg your pardon" Lane said,
meekly, but will you be so good as
to tell me why l have moved out?'
Her face crinkled into a sympa-
thetic smile. You were in the wrong
ROOM" she said, kindly. 81 wanted
to move in here myself so I had the
janitor put your things outside
be some mistake engaged this room
yesterday from the agent, paid a
months rent, and hired a woman to
scrub the foor-in fact, 1 was here
when she scrubbed it. l moved in
this morning"
she leaned against the door with a
little puzzled frown. That's very
strange! 1 came up and looked at
the room last night and it was so
sweet and clean that l decided to
take it at once. I did so and paid
paid the janitor a months rent-see.
here is the receipt"
She drew a small purse from her
apron pocket and fiourished a strip
of paper in Jacks face. He bent over
it just long enough to catch the name.
81 Lane!'" he exclaimed. That's
my name!"
Its my name. too" said the girl.
quietly.
Jack bit his lip and knitted his
brows He felt very awkward stand
ing there and disputing possession of
the room.
81 am very sorry" she was saying,
half alphabetically. There surely has
| oiCfo
you engaged is on the floor below.
You see, l wanted this room because
of the light am an artist
She blushed a little and caught her
breath as she said the last few words,
but there was a light of enthusiasm
in her eyes that Jack recognized and
respected.
He found himself turning away
with a murmured word of regret at
having troubled her and then the
door closed and left him standing
there alone For a brief instant he
surveyed his traps piled about him
and then, drawing a letter case from
his pocket, he extracted the receipt
he had taken from the agent of the
building.
It was made out in proper form
for the rental of this big room under
the skylight-No. II.
He walked slowly down the hall
and scanned the cards affixed to the
doors. Two architects and three art
lists were fortunate enough to find
refuge behind as many doors in the
corridor to the right. He looked hard
at No. 70. There was no card on
! soI, la -
pushed it open and beheld the fac
smile of his own room. Bare and
clean and smelling of suds and Ann
Moran!
Miss ]. Lane had made a mistake
This was her room. Nevertheless, he
decided to say nothing more, and
throwing off his hat and coat tuggeC
and pulled and hammered and un
packed to such good purpose that al
ten o'clock that night he paused anC
triumphantly surveyed the comfort
able quarters. He had laid a fire in
the board fireplace and drawn his
easiest chairs in comfortable prox
unity to the hearth.
Tired and hungry, yet withal happy
Jack removed the traces of his labor
and, freshly attired, went out for {
bit to eat and the evening paper.
light shone through the transom o.
No. II, and as he no longer heard
the click of heels on the floor he de
cided that ]. Lane had also become
settled in her new abode
On his return he paused at the TOT
of the stairs and looked inquisitively
at the transom above her door.
faint dusk of smoke obscured tn,
light and, as the transom was sud
denly lifted from within, the smok,
issued forth, bearing on its breath
telltale odor.
To one who has supped heartily an,
well the fragrance of a Welsh rabbi
is not enticing. Jack mentally re
proved his pretty neighbor for sup
ping so unwisely and fell asleep.
In spite of the fact that they wer
close neighbors they rarely met
When they did she passed him wit
a cool little nod-that was all.
One morning when he was paintin
/ I,s