The Washington times., 1911-07-01
CHAPTER I (Continuedl

10 eAcldmdtlon OF surprise check
- ed me; then my own astonish
ment kept me dumb. I ha
thought to enter a familia
room' but the furnishings here wer
not those of the room where / ha
waited for Morgan to finish his toilet
few hours before. But II was not thi
difference which riveted my attention.
On the canopied bed, the upper portion
Of the body concealed by the looseneC
drapery, was stretched the inert fgur,
of man. Near by, on 4 little table
an uncorked flask lay overturned, ant
the rug beneath was stained with the
fluid which had escaped. The odor OF
brandy filled the room; had noticed Il
when first opened the door, but Intent
upon obtaining light, had given it slight
attention.
While l stood staring stupidity, Nor.
gan passed me. With a quick jerk he
pulled back the dropping drapery and
leaned over the motionless figure. Then
he turned and glanced sharply around
the room.
You have made a mistake; It is moi
No. g." said he.
yet surely 1 had read~the figure on the
door correctly; the light had been suf.
fcient for that. / stepped back and
threw the portal wide open, so the light
from the gas jet shone on the outer
side.
At the first glance it was plain
enough, but as l bent nearer and exam
ined 1t more carefully, l realized how
the mistake had been made. The door
numbers had been painted IN black, and,
in some manner. portion of the figure
which stared me in the face had been
erased; a part of the upper and lower
circle, on the left, was scarcely visible.
The figure had been changed into j.
Had haan familiar with the
hall, ] must have known the odd num-
bers were on the left and not on the
right, in which direction | had turned
when first approaching the row OF
doors: and it was evident that Morgan.
absorbed in giving me as much light
as was possible. had not observed the
error. | have never thought the altera-
tion was made Intentionally; 1t was
probably due to the ravages of time and
an oft-repeated' application Of soap and
water to the woodwork.
Morgan, who was looking over my
shoulder, nodded.
I'VE are in No. plain enough. and
suppose, under ordinary circumstances.
should retire with as good a grace as
possible; but ii strikes me the cOndi-
lions here are not Ordinary. Now, that
fellow may be only drunk and in a
stupor but l propose to satisfy myself.
It might be just as we'll to close the
door, Robinson" said he, quietly.
l did So When turned ne was again
leaning over the bed. He took up the
mans hand and let II drop; 1t fell
dead weight upon the cOveriet.
lis he dead?' l asked n an awed
voice.
Morgan laid his hand over the heart.
then hNpt down and held his ear above
the half-parted lips.
He 1 snot dead: but I fancy pretty
near 1t. If you care to examine, you
will find the flesh is almost cold" said
he. without a trace of excitement in his
tone.
Then. surely, We must lost no time
in summoning help" l ventured.
| think my companion would have an
swered in the affirmative, but at that
moment the man opened his eyes.
There was something in them--a fash.
an appeal-which was scarcely to be
connected with a person in the last
stages of an alcoholic coma. Whatever
allied the sufferer, il was plain his
senses were not benumbed by the fumes
of brandy.
Morgan recognized this perhaps even
before did. He made a snarp gesture.
Pull back the curtains further and
give me all the light possible" said
he.
e did so, and the glare from the gas
fame fell full upon the strangers face.