Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-12-10


made a dash for the door, opened
n and looked--anywhe everywhere.
Not sign of life!
But the odor OF coffee. fresh made
toast and broiled meat treasured me.
/ went down again into the dining
room. and there on the breakfast table
were beefsteak. fried potatoes. eggs--in
short. a fine breakfast / looked Into
the Kitchen; there was no one there.
] sat down to the table, poured out
cup OF coffee. helped myself TO the
vIands and ate my breakfast.
The first sip of coffee, the first mouth
full of food, bracing me. as 1t did. made
me feel more confident that was not
In a condition to be transferred to bed
lam, and by the time 1 had finished
my breakfast I felt sure there was
some explanation of the mystery on
other grounds than that had lost my
reason. ''And yet" l argued, relaps-
ing into doubt. insane persons be-
mind"
arose from the table, went into a
sitting room In the front of the house
and looked out through a window.
There was my auto standing beside the
road just as / had left 1t the night be-
fore. The morning was bright, and I
would have liked to lay plan for Its
mending and a possible getting away,
but would not do so on any account
before having solved the mystery. /
sat down In the sunshine, lit a cigar
and began to plan-not the repairing
of my auto. but q method of finding
out whence came the attention / was
receiving In this apparently unoccupied
house.
finally concluded that the only way
to draw out the mysterious somebody
who was ministering to my wants was
to entrap him or her into fancied
security. resolved to pretend to
sleep. Taking up book l found on a
table. began to read. nodding and
starting up alternately till finally. as
If overpowered by slumber, l began to
breathe heavily and then to snore.
It wasn't long before heard whis-
perings in the hall without. Then
after dead silence between my part
ly closed eyelids l saw face peering
through the doorway, which was but
half open. 1t was the face of girl.
1t was withdrawn, and the face of an
other girl appeared. Three OF them in
succession surveyed me with evident
interest and satisfaction. to say moth
ing of merrlment.
"Oho!"I exclaimed mentally. There's
mischief In the wind. Trust a girl for
deviltry and three girls for three times
as much Of 1t as one. i have evident
ly fallen into the tolls of bevy Of
them, and they are having great fun
at my expense"
didn't bother myself as to how
these girls came to be there. con-
tented myself with waiting and watch
ing through my half closed eyes. A
door behind me was opened. and pres
entity l felt tickling on the back Of
my neck. l knew at once that one Of
these girls was teasing me with a
feather. / made frantic grasp for
what was intended for a bug, but
snored on. The bug lighted on my
cheek-another frantic clutch and an
other. my efforts to catch the insect
becoming more and more ludicrous.
At last heard smothered laughter.
1t Is law Of nature that the more
successful we are the more venture
some we become. Women who are
most timid in beginning to take risks
eventually become the most reckless
plungers. Being young and fond of
adventure, was delighted with the
turn the affair had taken. The more
venturesome the girls the sounder
slept, the louder I snored. Then a
girl tiptoed into the room and when
moved scurried out. Another, embold-
ened by the success of the first, did the
same thing. Then heard whisper
ing. catching but a few words-"Dare
you to kiss him"
"Well now" remarked to myself,
this Is getting interesting" And
snored loud enough to wake the dead.
Then one OF the glrls-wasn't she
pretty. though!-stole into the room, ev-
cry fiber under quick control, the spir-
1t OF daredevil in her eyes. advanced,
retreated. advanced again. never
slept 30 quietly In my life. though my
heart was beating like a triphammer.
Then she tiptoed around beside me,
bent over me, Strengthened up. bent
again. lowered her face to mine and
lightly touched my lips with hers.
There was frightful shrek as
infoided her tightly within my two
arms and a whole chorus from those
without. rained kisses on her cheeks
and on her lips Thanks for the
nights lodging" said. giving her a
smack on her right cheek. "And this
is for the hot water at my room. this
for the breakfast" And so expressed
my gratitude for everything had re-
ceived and many things l hadn't re-
ceived
Well, the climax had come and pass
ed. Every one came forward. and the
oldest girl gave me an explanation.
The house belonged to the father Of
one OF them. who had inherited it from
/. his great-grandfather and always kept
II exactly as he had received It. In
summer 1t was used by the family for
a country residence. The night OF my
arrival the daughter of the owner had
brought a party Of her girl friends
with provisions for spending week
end. They had found signs Of some
one within and finally ventured inside
themselves surveying me through the
eyes Of the picture which had been
turned into peepholes for a former