Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-01-04


the house, still, there were plenty OF
places to hide the thing.
The worst of our trouble really
originated with Max Reed, after all.
For it was Max who made the silly
wager over the telephone, with DICK
Bagley. He bet five hundred even
that one of us, at least, would break
quarantine within the next "a hours,
and, of course, that settled it. DICK
told it around the club as a joke, and
a man who owns a newspaper heard
him and called up the paper. Then
the paper called up the health office,
after setting up flaming scare-head,
will Money Free Them? Board OF
Health versus Millionaire
It was almost three when the house
settled down-nobody mad any night
clothes, although finally, through Dali
las, who gave them to Anne, who gave
them to the rest, we got some things
Of Jimmy's-and l was still dressed
The house was perfectly quiet, and
after listening. carefully, l went slow
ly down the stairs. There was light
dining room, and I got along without
any trouble. But the pantry, where
the stairs led down, was dark and the
wretched swinging door would not
stay open.
| caught my skirt in the door as l
went through, and I had to stop to
loosen it. And in that awful minute
| heard some one breathing just be-
side me I had stopped to my gown,
"nd t''rned my head withoVf
straightening-I couldn't have raised
myself to an erect posture, for my
knees were giving way under me
and just at my feet lay the still glow
ing end of match!
I had to swallow twice before |
could speak. Then I said sharply:
who's there?"
The man was so close it is a
wonder had not walked into him; his
voice was right at my ear
Il am sorry l startled you," he said
quietly. II was afraid to speak sud
denly, or move for fear I would do
what have done"
IL was MT. HARRISON.
ct thought you were-it is very
late" | managed to say, with dry
lipes. do you know where the cleo
trio switch is?"
Mrs. Wilson," It was clear he had
not known me before. why, no;
don't you?"
Il am all confused" / muttered, and
beat retreat into the dining room.
There, in the friendly light, we could
at least see each other, and | think
he was as much impressed by the fact
that | had not undressed as l was by
the fact that he had, partly. He wore
a hideOus dressing gown of Jimmy's,
much too small, and his hair, parted
and plastered down in the early even
ing, stood up in a sort of brown brush
all over his head. He was trying to
fiatten it with his hands
''It must be three o'clock" he said,
with polite SURPRISE and the house
is like a barn. You ought not to be
running around with your arms I'M
covered, Mrs. Wilson. Surely you
could have called some Of u.s."
II didn't wish to disturb any one,"
[ said, with distinct truth.
Il suppose you are like me-" he
said. "The novelty of the situation
and everything. | got to thinking
things over, and then l realized the
studio was getting cold, so l thought I
would come down and take a look at
the furnace. didn't suppose any one
else would think of it, But I lost my
self in that pantry, stumbled against
a half-open drawer, and nearly went
down the dumb-waiter" And, as If
in judgment on me, at that instant
came two rather terrific thumps from
somewhere below, and inarticulate
words, shouted rather than spoken. 1t
was uncanny, of course, coming as it
did through the register at our feet.
Mr.. HARRISON looked startled.
ooh, by the way said as careless
ly as I could. "In the excitement, 4
forgot to mention it. There is a police
man asleep in the furnace room. II
suppose we will have to keep him
now" finished as airily as possible.
ooh, a policeman-in the cellar" he
repeated, staring at me, and he moved
toward the pantry door.
''You needn't go down. said fever
ishly, with visions of Bella Knowles
sitting on the kitchen table, surround
ed by soiled dishes and all the cheer
less aftermath of a dinner party.
"Please don't go downI-it's one of
my rules-never to let a stranger go
down to the kitchen. I'm peculiar
that way-and besides, it's-it's
mussy."
Bang! Crash! through the register
pipe, and some language quite articu-
late. Then silence
Look here, Mrs. Wilson," he said
resolutely. What do I care about
the kitchen? I'm going down and
arrest that policeman for disturbing
the peace. He will have the pipes
down.
"You must not co." 1 said, with des-