Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-06-09

events that seemed+to center on me.
l dined alone that evening in no
cheerful frame of mind. There had
been polo game the day before and
/ had lent pony, which is always a
bad thing to do And she had wrench
ed her shoulder, besides helping to
lose the game. There was no one in
town; the temperature was 80 and
climbing, and my left hand persistent.
ly cramped under its bandage.
Mrs Klopton herself saw me served,
my bread buttered and cut in tidbits,
my meat ready for my fork. She how
cred around me materially, obviously
trying to cheer me.
THE paper says still warmer" she
ventured. THE thermometer is so
now"
And this coffee is ESQ.," said, put
ting down my cup. Where is Eu-
phemia? l haven't seen her around,
or heard a dish smash all day"
"Euphemia is in bed" Mrs. Klopton
said gravely. rs your meat cut small
enough Mr.. Lawrence?" Mrs Klop-
ton can throw more mystery into an
ordinary sentence than any one l
know. She can gay. Are your sheets
damp, sir?" And can tell from her
tone that the house across the street
has been robbed, or that my left hand
neighbor has appendicitis. So now
looked up and asked the question she
was waiting for.
Whats the matter with Euphe-
mia?" / inquired idly.
frightened into her bed" Mrs.
Klopton said in a stage whisper.
She's had three hot water bottles
and she hasn't done a thing all day
but moan"
She oughtn't to take hot water
bottles" said in my severest tone.
"One would make me moan. You need
not wait, I'll ring If l need anything"
Mrs. Klopton sailed to the door,
where she stopped and wheeled indig-
nantly. II only hope you won't laugh
on the wrong side of your face some
morning, Mr.. Lawrence" she declared,
with Christian fortitude. But l warn
you, i am going to have the police
watch that house next door,"
/ was half inclined to tell her that
both it and we were under police sur
veillance at that moment. But / like
Mrs. Klopton, in spite Of the fact that
l make her life q torment for her, so
l refrained
Last night, when the paper said 1t
was going to storm, sent Euphemia
to the roof TO bring the rugs in. Eliza
had slipped out although 1t was her
evening in. Euphemia went up to the
roof-it was IL o'clock-and soon l
heard her running downstairs crying.
When she got to my room she just
folded up on the floor. She said there
was a black figure sitting on the para
pet Of the house next door-the empty
house-and that when she appeared it
rose and waved long black arms at
her and spit like cat"
had finished my dinner and was
lighting a cigarette. IF there was
any one up there, which doubt, they
probably sneezed," l suggested. But
II you feel uneasy, I'll take a look
around the roof tonight before | turn
in. AS far as Euphemia goes,
wouldn't be uneasy about her-doesnt
she always have an attack of some
sort when Eliza rings in an extra
evening on herr"
So made a superficial examination
Of the window locks that night, visit
ing parts OF the house that had not
seen since l bought it. Then went
to the roof Evidently 1t had not
been intended for any purpose save
to cover the house, for unlike the
houses around, there was no staircase.
A ladder and trap-door led to it, and
it required some nice balancing on
my part to get up with my useless
arm. l made It, however, and found
this UNEMPLOYED part Of my domain
rather attractive. It was cooler than
downstairs, and l sat on the brick
parapet and smoked my final cigarette
The roof Of the empty house adjoined
tigation showed that the trap door
across the low dividing way was
bolted underneath.
There was nothing out of the or
binary anywhere, and 80 l assured
Mrs. Klopton. Needless to say, did
not tell her that 1 had left the trap
door open to see If it would improve
the temperature of the house. l went
to bed at midnight, merely because
there was nothing else to do. turned
on the night lamp at the head Of my
bed, and picked up volume of Shaw
at random lit was Arms and the
Man." and l remember thinking grim
ly that was good bit of chocolate
cream soldier myself, and prepared
to go to sleep. Shaw always puts nae
to sleep. have no apologies to make
for what occurred that night, and moi
even an explanation that am sure Of
did foolish thing under impulse
and have not been sorry.
It was something after tive wher
the door-bell rang, 1t rang quickly
, twice. l got up drowsily, for the
J maids and Mrs, Klopton always loci
themselves beyond reach of the bel
at night and mt On a dressing gown