The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-04-10
.rds Of the place-from the Rat

ards Of the place-from the Rat
Mort-actually trun out, to coin
an expression! Doth it not open
glimpses of a depravity hitherto
fabulous? And when / have been
graduated from this emporium, l
shall return, pride in my port
meaning nothing vinous-defiance
in mine eyes, and l shall sit down
in the Rat Mort and behave my
self for long, long periods of time
for ages. in the mad, mad whirl
Of silk hats. Latin Quarter ties
rounded and eyeleted hose and
shimmering lingerie, the only per-
son plunged into beastly sobriety,
a rock of propriety, standing four
square, or mayhap three scornered,
to every bacchanalian wind that
blows, with its scent of garlic, and
Roquefort cheese, and split wine,
and volatile oil of NORWOOD, the
active and deadly principal of alb
sinthe! That's what I'll do"
After this somewhat complicated
pronunciamento, Mr.. Craighead
fell silent, and even forgot to
smoke. Languid from the long
hours of strain and sleeplessness,
and physical as well as mental re-
action in the warm and fragrant
greenhouse, Carson grew somnolent.
AT short intervals the sky was IL
lumined by the far off glare which
Theodore identified with the burst
of flame that had so startled him
in his fall from the Roc, and the
regular recurrence of which proved
it to be either the flame from the
nostrials of some slow breathing
dragon, or the chimney of gas
house. Mr.. Craighead sat upright,
making occasional Evolutionary
gestures with his cigar hand Once
he spoke again of the Rat Mort
"Oh," said he. "I'll be in the pink
Of perfection of desirable citizen
ship-when l graduate from this
emporium"
Silence again save for the bark
ing of the dog. Craighead's breath
ing now identified his .capitulation
to sleep-crumpled prone against
Norfolk island pine. Carson who
had classified his as lunatic, now
! found himself uncertain. The man
behaved like boy playing truant,
rather than an adult prisoner es-
Gaping; yet, of what detection was
he afraid? Why was he flying from
the mysterious emporium" What
did he mean by his talk of STEAD
les" and periodicals" and by put
ting Carson down as the latter?
All mystery! Only one thing was
certain-the superiority of the
greenhouse over the open garden
with it's chill airs and dog. Car
sons head nodded topplingly; and
when he became conscious, it was
day. Whistles were blowing; a
train could be heard leaving the
yards of the near by town. The
clearness Of the morning sounds
advised him that wind had fallen;
and as proof that it had not been
all dream, there lay Mr. Craig
head against the tree pot, his face
pale, pathetic droop saddening
his mouth. his hair woefully tous-
led, the flat cap at his feet by the
half smoked cigar. Yes. Mr.. Craig
head stood the test of the daylight.
Like the flag. he was still there
Two or three men came past the
greenhouse. went round it and
walked away again, as if making
some sort of q, search, They came
back after time, and entered. One
was a tall, athletic, ruddy COM
plexioned, youngish man. who SEEM
ed to be the leader of the trio.
They gazed at Carson and Craig
head as if taking stock dispas-
sionately Of returned strays, in the
/ form of dogs or horses.
well, Mr.. Craighead." said the
tall one in accents distinctly Brit
ish. I'm no end sorry to find you
out of bounds again, sir"
Instantly wide awake, Craighead
assumed an attitude of jocular
familiarity.
1T agonizes me to give you a
moments pain, Dennis" said he;
"but believe me l should have been
knawing the electrolier and howl
ing like banshee-they howl,
don't they?-had | stayed longer in