Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-05-09
A Iphonograph in the room overhead

! A phonograph in the room overhead
] suddenly blared into activity, and the
mandarins voice was drowned in the
chaos of band music that followed.
but be continued to nod wisely while
Paul gazed back ar him with a puz-
zled frown.
Mighty queer disconnected sort of
conversation you hold. Wa Shiny" he
expostulated. reaching up for the or
nament and holding Ii close 10 the
light How do you manage that
talkee-talkee business? Your head
seems hollow. but of course that's no
criterion that your III organs may
not be in good working order. What is
it they say about empty vessels max
ing the most noiseg | rather guess
I've been asleep yawned Mr.. Hunt
ing, in conclusion, as be returned the
mandarin TO the shelf. where he con-
tinued to nod foolishly for several
minutes. Lost your power of speech.
Ell? Good for your
He leaned back with closed eyes and
Immediately forgot all about the man.
DARN and his strange conversation,
which he firmly believed to be the re-
suit of a short nap. In his fancy Paul
found an occupant for the other large
chair beside his hearth 1t would be
somebody gowned In pale blue. with a
fluff of golden hair and pair of for
getmenot eyes. Where had he seen
just such face before?
Suddenly he leaned toward his desk
and opened drawer. He fumbled
there for awhile. tossing aside papers
and pictures with furious zeal until he
brought forth small photogravure of
an ideal head. He propped it against
the pedestal of the eectrolier and stud
fed it silently.
At last he drew a deep breath. mo
wonder her face seemed familiar" he
said in low tone. IF she didn't pose
for this picture I'm sinner, and. fool
that l am, never tried to find out the
artist. was just satisfied to be in
love with her without discovering her
name. How in thunder can | get to
know her? For l must even If | hold
old Mason at the revolver's mouth and
demand an introduction" He stared
intently into the Goals of fire, and for
several moments there was dead ST.
lence in the room and without Even
the shrill complaining of the wind had
ceased for awhile.
Then there came piercing scream
from the room underneath. terrified
cry for help, and there was the sound
of running feet across floor.
1t was the work Of an instant for
Hunting TO open his doors and reach
the staircase. Afterward he remem-
bered that his slippered feet only
touched three stairs In descent. Then
he pushed open the parlor door and
met ain appalling sight.
One of the long lace curtains at the
windows was fercely blazing. while
the girl with the golden hair was try
ing to tear 1t down with the little
desperate. shrinking hands.
AS Hunting came through the door
the blazing curtain fell to the carpet,
and as the girl tried to stamp out the
charming remnants her own soft wolfe
gown ignited and the flames swept
upward
1t was then that Paul Hunting
snatched up a white fur rug from the
floor and, throwing it around the girl,
crushed out the flames before they
reached her hands or face or even
burned much of her gown. At last
she lay in his arms. limp and white
as the rug that enveloped her.
I'm all right now, thank you." she
said In a soft voice.
She released herself from Hunting's
arms, and the white rug dropped to the
floor, revealing the skirt of her pretty
gown scorched and charred.
She held out a hand to her rescuer
with a charming smile. 'This gentle
man has saved my life, Cousin Lee
ander. Will you and Cousin Sarah add
your thanks to mine"
"Bless me, child, it's Mr.. Hunting
from upstairs. thought 1t was Pen
low Your hand, Mr.. Huntingw The
mummy extended dry brown paw,
and Paul's strong fingers closed around
1t, while his head swan dizzily as the
old mans voice rambled on In mo-
notonous speech of gratitude, for the
voice of Mr. Leander Mason was like
the voice of the mandarin. high and
thin and piping In quality.
Cousin Sarah stopped screaming and
gave another dry hand into Hunting's
grasp and made a prim little speech.
Paul Hunting and the golden haired
girl looked at each other across the
width of the fireplace. and the forget
menot blue eyes fell before his be-
traying glance. With sudden inn
pulse he told her the story of his little
nap and the whimsical dream be had
had of the nodding mandarin who had
found speech
When be had concluded she laughed
merrily. You were not asleep, after
all. Mr.. Hunting. Cousin Leander
made a fire in the crate tonight to
please me. and he opened some little
ventilator in the chimney that must
communicate with your room. We were
tdihiHS- aHo sou iSatt5 hrdtU 1ouSAh
Lenders voice"
"was he talking to your demanded
Paul suddenly.
"Yes," she said. with embarrassment.
did you hear what we saidT'
II heard only one yoice-his," ex-
planned Paul. with growing enlighten.
ment. "Wbo is named Paul down
hereT'
Il am" said the girl in small voice.
"Pauline is my name, but they call me
Paul. But now, Mr.. Hunting. we are
to drink TO your bravery. Here come
my cousins"
That night before he went to bed
Mr. Hunting patted his mandarin low