Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-04-09

the door opened and closed sharply.
leaving me alone In the west gallery.
was tired ont by the exciting adven.
surc of the night and too wide awake
20 sleep. so went back TO the library.
got my bug. PM oui the light and left
the house. ! spent the night sitting
on bench IN The railroad station. md
II is needless to say that took the
first train TO town"
"And that is nll:" asked Glade after
little silence.
isn't II enough:"
"You didn't search the house, make
any effort TO discover whether the In.
truder was spook or human-dldn't
you do anythingT'
Mary thing ] went abroad the
following week aud at times forgot
the incident. A few days ago II came
back to me. and so invited you down
to spend this night with me at the
Elms"
"why this particular night" de-
handed Slade suspiciously.
because It's the anniversary OF my
adventure with VIOLA" replied Gil
bert coolly. Il want witness to fur
Their demonstrations. you know"
John Slade sank back into the shad-
ows OF his chair and smoked thought
fully. Once he burst into remlnis-
cent chuckle.
~ suspect you have lost your heart
to this Viola. as you call her. Was
she so lovelyy'
"She was perfect" said Gilbert Gin
cerely. "IIer hair was that dusky
black that frames the face misiiy.
you know: her eyes were almost gold
en- and her brows fine and black Hike
her hair: hut her colorlng. her fen.
lures. her form-oh. say. Sladc. /
can't get her face out Of my mind"
Sladc lighted fresh cigar. II must
tell you an incident of the same sort
that happened TO n friend OF nine"
he said solemnly. land II may serve
to throw light on your own affair"
"Out with It," said Gilbert briefly.
'Its only 10 o'clock now. You have
till midnight. John"
This man owned grand old place
In the country. but hc WINS bachelor
and never looked at 1t.
"There was young cousin OF the
mans. n girl who was beauty and
toast. Never mind her name. She
has married and changed 1t for an
other. This girl was up 10 all sorts
Of mischief and pranks and carried
lot OF scattcrbrained young folk
pade.
''She conceived the idea of giving
ball in the old mansion of her cousin.
Now. have not the slightest doubt
that the man would have gladly con-
scented to turn the house over for such
merrymaking had they asked him.
But. no: of course half the fun lay In
the clandestine proceedings!
"And so one night when the moon
was young and the aged caretaker off
on leave several great automobiles
rolled quietly up the long avenue, and
the mischievous girl and her friends
and their reluctant chaperons trooped
through side entrance and made
their way TO the great ballroom on the
second floor
"Thc room had been cleaned In some
mysterious manner. and when the elec-
tric chandeliers were ahlaZe and the
polished door stretched forth an invIt-
ing surface the small orchestra they
had brought tuned up. and the fun be-
gan. Several servants unpacked re-
freshmcnts In an anteroom while the
young people danced and between
dances wandered over the grand old
house lighted from top TO bottom by
Laura's"-
Laura" shouted Gilbert. but Slade
interrupted:
Hold on. there. Danny. didn't
mean to make slip! The house was
lighted up and the dancing was going
on and everything was going along
finely when suddenly messenger ap.
pearcd amo' them. The station agent
from the depot who had known of the
merrymaking. came TO say that the
owner had arrived az the station and
was on his way TO the house. lie had
jumped on his wheel and sped with
the message
They worked fast and without judg.
ment. One bright soul cut the electric
light wires and plunged The house In
total darkness. Before search could
be made for candles aud escape made
the front door was opened and the In
truders heard footsteps below stairs.
After awhile the library door opened.
and all was silent
by aid OF matches aud the station
masters bicycle lantern the party
reached the ground iioor and by stealth
left the house. That was all part OF the
fun. don't you know. Aud then Just
rs they were going TO leave one of the
girls discovered she had lost her pet
handkerchief and was sure she had
left II In the library. She recovered
II. although she would not say how.
and she WIS quite breaihless when she
climbed into the motor. Aud that IL
all"
Daniel Gilbert arose 20 his full!
height and ibid his pipe on the mante
And TINT wnS Laura. who got up the