Gilpin observer., 1912-07-04

TO make up for the other night"
Jenkins sighed as he punched out
the light. Thank you. sir-and good
night" he murmured.
How long l slept 1 cannot tell. as
they say in stories. you know; but
was brought Jolly wide awake by q
light that shone through the bed
rooms open door. For II there's one
thing will wake me quicker than
everything else it's light in the room
at night Fact is, always want 1t as
black as the what's-its-name cave, or
else l can't sleep. And this light
came from the small electric stand on
the writing-desk. could tell that by
the way It shone.
And Just then the little silver gong
In there chimed three. Jolly rum
hour for anybody to be up unless
they were having some fun or were
sick. So I raised my head and called
softly:
Notwithstanding
No answer. Reluctantly I swung
out and stepped within the next
room. Not a soul there, by Jove!
Then l moved over to Billings door.
which was wide open for coolness,
shadowed alcove in which the bed
was placed. and SO l stood there hesi-
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 jolly fog, Just
stood there, nodding and batting at It
for a full minute before l could take
II in.
What l call devilish queer" l de-
cided. l walked over and stuck my
head out into the dark hall.
Billings! Jenkins!" whispered.
BY Jove, not a word! Everything
as silent as the tomb!
didn't like 1t bit-so mysterious.
you know. Besides, dash 1t, the thing
was getting me all walked up! l Just
knew II once l 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 l got hold Of the fact
after l had stared at 1t while. that
the door Of my apartment opening
into the outer corridor was standing
ajar. Why. dash 1t. 1t was not only
standing, 1t was moving. Then sud-
denly the broad streak of light from
the corridor widened under the i'm
pulse Of freshening breeze. and the
door swung open witn bang.
And then / 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
jolly owl wagon!
Away down the corridoe. by the
mail chute. a man was standing. read
ing 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 | couldn't
recall ever having seen him before:
yet, standing as he did under the light,
had opportunity for a devilish good
view.
He was a heavy set old party, rather
baldish, with snowy mutton chops and
a 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 when
It is Oporto red Had something OF
the cut OF the retired India colonels
| one sees about the Service clubs in
London-straight as lamp post still,
| but out OF training and in devilish
need of tapping-that sort OF duck.
you know!
What 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 jolly hang. But the
thing that dashed me was that Just
as moved toward the door to close
It. he uttered my name again and
came straight toward me as though to
| speak.
So had to wait. by Jove. for
| couldn't close the door in his face.
Awfully rotten thing to do-that. you
know,
Lost his floor and wants to in
| quire," decided.
| And then as he toddled across the
last yard and stopped before me.
saw that the old chap was in his night
things-some darkish sort OF pa1amas.
"By George!" he exclaimed with a
! leer that showed his almost toothless
old gums. Bet you never would guess
what got up for!"
No. dash It. didn't even care to
try. | lust coughed q little.