The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1912-05-24

JeHhlHS signed as ne pulcDed out
the light. Thank you. strand good
night" he murmured
How long | slept | cannot tell, as
they say in stories, you know; but 1
was brought jolly wide awake by
light that shone through the bed
rooms open door. For If there's one
thing Will wake me quicker than
everything else It's a light In the room
at night. Fact Is, | always want 1t as
black as the what s-its-name cave, or
else can't sleep. And this light
came from the small electric stand on
the writing desk. l could tell that by
the way 1t shoue.
And just then the little silver gong
in there chimed three. Jolly rum
hour for anybody to be up unless
they We're having some fun or were
sick. So | raised my head and called
softly:
Notwithstanding
No answer. Reluctantly swung
out and stepped within the next
room. Not soul there, by Joye!
Then l moved over to, Billings door.
which was wide open for GOODNESS.
Swallowed alcove In which the bed
was placed, and so | 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, were startled by the
apparition Of an open doorway.
Startled, all right And yet, by
Jove, l was In such jolly fog, just
stood there, nodding and batting at 1t
for full minute before | could take
it In.
What l call devilish queer" de-
cided. l walked over and stuck my
head out into the dark hall.
Billings, Jenkins," whispered.
By Jove, not word! Everything
as silent as the tomb
| didn't like 1t bit-so mysterious,
you know. Besides, dash it, the thing
was getting me all walked up. | just
knew If once l got excited and thor
oughly awake, it 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 1t, it 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 a freshening breeze and the
door swung open with bang.
And then l heard my name spoken.
BY Jove, l had been standing there
with my mouth open. bobbing my head
like 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, man was standing, read
ing a framed plscard. 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;
vet. 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
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
1t is Oporto red. Had something OF
the cut of the retired India colonies
one sees about the Service clubs In
London-straight as lamp post still,
but out of training and In deviiish
need OF tapping-that sort OF duck.
you know
What respectable-looking old par
ty might be up to, wandering around a
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 the
thing that dashed me was that just
as | moved toward the door to close
1t, 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.
Awfuny rotten thing to do-that, you
know
Lost his floor and wants TO In
duire" I dCCihed
And then as he toddled across the
last yard ard stopped before me, /
saw that the old chap was in his night
thimgs-some darkish sort of pajamas.
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 1t, | didn't even care to
try. Just coughed little.
(TO BE CONTINUED
Encore.
What on earth dyou keep clappine
Pal