Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-06

Nv mind worked rapidly. The only object in
the room heavy enough to serve as a barr1cade was
the bed and it was too heavy for me to move, [
feared.
Pull it over quck!- she commanded promptly.
| put MY shoulder to the huge creaky bed and
showed, and at last, nearly exhausted got 1t over
against the mirror.
There" she said, standing off to survey our
Joint achievement, we've stopped it up very
nicely This afternoon you may fetch up hammer
and some nails and fasten the mirror permanently.
Then you may the bed back to its proper
place. Goodness! What a narrow squeak
MADAM said l. my hand on my heart, but not
through galantry, that bed stays where il is Not
all the King horses nor all the King can put
it back again
"Was it so heavy, Mr. Smart
l swallowed very hard. will you forgive me ii
l submit that you sleep quite distance from
home?' remarked with justifable irony. "Why
the deuce don't you stay on the upper floors,
Because am MORALLY afraid, she said with
little shudder. you've no idea how lonely how
spooky, it is up there at the dead hour of night.
couldn't sleep After the third night I had my
things moved down here. where could at least
feel that there were strong men W1thn-you might
say arms length of me- Tm-I'm shockingly
tin1d.' She smiled a wavering, pleading little
smile that conquered.
"Of course don't mind, Countess, fastened
to say. "Only l thought it would be cozier up
there with Rosemary and the two maids tor COM
pany.'
down here" she said confdentially. 1--WE bring
Rosemarys little mattress down every night, and
put it in the bathtub. 1t is very good fit, and
makes quite nice cradle for her. Helene and Blake
sleep lust across the hail. and we leave the doors
wide open So, you see, we're not one bit afrai
"Um!1 said judicially. "And so my study is just
beyond this mirror, Ell? May inquire how you
happen to know that have my study there?T
once more. II was quite sure that you were out
she explained u opened Ludwig the Red an inch
or two, that's all. You quite coy in there,
aren't you? 1 envy you the grand old lounge
l wavered but succeeded in subduing the i'm
pulse. at is the only comfortable piece of furni
ture 1 have left in my apartments, said l with
convincing candor.
"You poor mani she said, with her rarest smile
"How fortunate you that | did not remember
the lounge! Of course | couldn' think of robbiny
you of it now"
"As matter of fact, l never lie on it, said,
submitting to once conquered impulse. "If you'd
really like to have it, I'll see that it is taken up to
your rooms at once"
She smiled, and the bargain settled without
a word from her.
We returned to the corridor, and as we were
tramping up the stairs I stopped suddenly, grasp
ing her arm.
aid YOU hear footsteps in the Sh!"
Someone was walking over the stone floor in the
lower hall, brisk strides that rang out quite clearly
at is-it is Mr.. Pless!' she whispered in panie;
II recognize his tread. AS could ever forget it!
Oh, how hate him! He"
"Dont stop here to tell me about it, l cut in
sharply. "Get up to your rooms and lock yourself
in. 1n-ITl stop him. How the deuce did he get
into this side of the
Through the dungeons. There is passage
she whispered, and then she was gone, flying noise
lessly up the narrow stairway.
A SSUNlING nonchalance l certainly did not
= feel, descended the stairs. We met in the
Gin having his speed hearing my
footsteps on the stairs
"Helo!" l said agreeably. "How did you get in?"
He surveyed me coolly. II know the castle from
top to bottom, Mr.. Smart. To be perfectly frank