Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-14
A
Game Of Bluff
BY WILLARD MALTBIE

the west end of London, in which l
proposed to keep house, having a serv-
ant to prepare my meals and do the
housekeeping for me. / was at my
new quarters receiving my furniture,
which had nearly all arrived and had
been put in place, when a lady stood
at the open door.
"Dear me-" she said. ~ supposed
you had got moved out by this time"
Moved out?"
Eyes; | was told l could have the
fiat this afternoon"
"Why, my dear lady, l have just
moved in"
"Then l shall have to trouble you to
just move out again."
81 have a written lease of these
premises. Here it is"-taking the doc
ument out of my pocket-"fourth floor.
east side"
"And | have a written lease"-draw-
ing one from her reticule and opening
it-"fourth floor, east side"
The two leases had been made out
in the same schoolboy hand.
''There has been a mistake at the Of
fee" / said. 1--WE will telephone the
agent to know to whom he intended
to lease the fat"
"Do so if you like"
I went to the telephone. and the
agent told me that, of course, the fiat
had been rented to me. He could not
understand how there could have been
two leases issued. I returned to the
lady and informed her of the fact.
az don't care what the agent says. 1
rented this fiat and I'm going to occu-
by It,"
81 have rented it and am going to
occupy It," l rejoined.
I thought had the advantage of her,
and for a moment she looked a bit
abashed, hut, recovering, she said:
"We will see about that. Since your
furniture is here there will not be time
to get 1t out and mine in today, so |
shall be obliged to use yours. Tomor-
row we will make the change"
"You are quite welcome, | assure
you. There are several rooms, and, If
You don't mind being my guest with
out a %chaperon, | don't"
81 do mind and shall occupy my fiat
by myself, You must leave at 10
O'clock"
Gas my guest | must give you a din
ner, and. my cook not having arrived. I
shall be Obliged to take you out to a
restaurant"
This staggered her, but not for long.
.No.n sns said: ito accept your invita-
49,. --~.-17 10 - admit that nor nrn
host here. l see that you have the
tableware and kitchen utensils. If |
had the provisions / could provide a
meal myself"
"I ordered all that is necessary for
q good dinner, but my o disappoint-
ed me. The articles are here"
"In that case / invite you to dine
with me-"
She lighted up the range and went to
work at once. l did my share by set
ting the table, not leaving off more
than half l should have put on and
opening a bottle of port. My guest Tor
host, as she would haveit) got up a de-
iicious dinner and without any of the
fuss and irritation usual to a lady cook.
When dinner was ready we took our
places at the table opposite each other,
and when we were helped l filled our
~wineglasses and raised mine, saying:
ITO your health. dear guest"
"You are welcome to my home, Mr..
Impudence."
Notwithstanding the war being waged
between us, we enjoyed u dinner Inn
mensely. | kept up my assurance and
after drinking most of the port made
bold to say:
81 am to pay the cook l have en-
gagged "a a month. III give you the
place in her stead at f5."
She Smiled. but said nothing. Soon
after we arose from the table, and |
insisted on wlping the dishes while
she washed them. She said she didn't
mind smoking, so l consumed a cigar
while handling the dish towel. When
the tableware had been put away we
sat and chatted. / am a resolute fell
low and was determined not to be
driven out. At 10 O'Clock the lady
| said:
81 am sorry to seem uncivil to a
guest, but l must ask you to leave.
Ten o'clock is my hour for retiring"
"And mine," l replied. and, rising,
l went to my bedroom, said Good
night" and closed the door. The key
was on the outside, and l heard 1t
turned.
II am sorry to say to you." the lady
called from the other room, shat /
am a militant suffragist, and it is my
purpose to blow up this house tonight.
/ have done all I could to save you,
and it is not my fault that you go to
your DEATH"
Never was the backbone quicker TAX
en- out of a man.
81 beg!" ! called.
"Too late! You would give me away
to the police"
tT nromise TO keen vOur secretH