Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-08-28

pldCh as the WhhI s-lt5-nume cave or
else ! can't sleep. And this light
came from the small electric stand on
the writing-desk / could tell that by
the way II shone
And just then the little silver gong
in there chimed three. Jolly rum
hour for anybody TO be up unless
they were having tome fun or we're
sick SO l raised my head and called
softly.
'Jenkins-er-Billings!"
No answer. Reluctantly | swung
out and stepped within the next
room. Not a soul there, by Jovel
Then moved over to Billings door.
which was wide open for coolness,
like my own. could not see the
Swallowed alcove I'm which the bed
was placed. and so / stood there hest
tating, hating awfully TO risk the pos
sibility Of disturbing him, don't you
know And just then my eyes. rang
ing sleepily across the room toward
the private hall, we're startled by the
apparition Of an open doorway.
Startled, all right! And yet, by
Jove, | was in such a Jolly fog, Just
stood there, nodding and batting at II
for full minute before | could take
It in.
What l call devllish queer" l de-
cided. walked over and stuck my
head out into the dark hall.
Billings! Jenkins!" | whispered
BY Jove, not a world Everything
as silent as the tomb!
didn't like 1t a bit-so mysterious,
you know. Besides, dash 1t, the thing
was getting me all walked up! l just
knew II once / got excited and thor
oughly awake, 1t would take me near
ly ten minutes to get to sleep again.
And, by Jove, just then the excite
ment came, for got hold of the fact
after had stared at 1t while. that
the door of my apartment opening
into the outer corridor was standing
ajar. Why, dash it, 1t was not only
standing, it was moving. Then sud
denly the broad streak of light from
the corridor widened under the i'm
pulse of a freshening breeze and the
door swung open with a bang.
And then l heard my name spoken.
By Jove, had been standing there
with my mouth open, bobbing my head
like a silly dodo; but, give you my
word, l was suddenly wide awake as
a jolly owl wagon!
Away down the corridor, by the
mail chute, a man was standing, read.
ing a framed placard. Nothing partic.
ularly remarkable in this, but as the
door banged he turned his head
sharply and calculated:
Dammit! Now, that will wake
Lightnut!"
was surprised, because l couldn't
recall ever having seen him before;
yet, standing as he did under the light
| had opportunity for devilish good
view.
He was a heavy set old party, rather
baldish, with snowy mutton chops and
beefy complexion that was jolly well
tanned below the hatband line, you
know. The kind of old boy you size
up as one of the prime feeder sort
and fond Of looking on the wine wheT
it is Oporto red. Had something d
the cut of the retired India colonies
one sees about the Service clubs II
London-straight as lamp post still
but out of training and in devilist
need of tapping-that sort Of duck
you know!
What a respectable-looking old par
ty might be up to, wandering around {
bachelor apartment building at three
in the morning, was none of my bust
ness What's more, you know,
didn't care a jolly hang But thu
thing that dashed me was that jus
as moved toward the door to clos'
1t, he uttered my name again ant
came straight toward me as though Il
speak.
So | had to wait, by Jove, for
couldn't close the door in his face
Awfully rotten thing to do-that, yol
know
Lost his floor and wants to in
quire," I decided.
! And then as he toddled across tn
last yard and stopped before me,
saw that the old chap was in his nigh
things-some darkish sort of pajamas
by George!"- he exclaimed with
leer that showed his almost toothles
old gums. Bet you never would CUES
what l got up fort"
No, dash it, l didn't even care &
try. I lust coughed a little.