The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-01-02
A Singular
Reception
By RYLAND BELL

houses. all alike, and many are the
mistakes have made in trying to get
into the wrong domicie. soon learn
ed that If my latchkey did not work
easily had better beat retreat. But
on this occasion l must have found
the door unlatched-either this or my
key happened to fit the lock, for had
no trouble in getting in. If it hadn't
been for the wine had drunk doubt
less l would have realized that some
thing was wrong. for in my own house
the hall light would have been turned
low, while here 1t was out.
My foot tripped on something, and /
stumbled, but caught myself. Placing
my hat and overcoat in the hall closet,
l was about to feel my way upstairs
when l heard voice in the adjoining
room. 1t was apparently that of
nervous old woman trying to be reso-
lutte.
go away at once! The house is
wired for burglars, and the police will
be here Directly"
What in the world I was begin
ming when the same voice continued:
Il don't wish you to be arrested and
60 to Jail. Do consider! Prison life is
awful. Just go right out the way you
came in. and you'll save a lot of trou-
bic for YOURSELF"
1t was evident to me by this time
that had made one Of my blunders
in getting into the wrong house, and,
not relishing being taken for burglar,
l was about to apologize and go out
when it occurred to me that an apollo
gy would neither be believed nor &C.
cepted and l had better make an exit
without one. Indeed. l was not quite
sure but that some man might be
waiting with a gun till he could locate
the intruder. So concluded to 60 at
once, but objected to leaving my hat
and overcoat to establish my identity.
While l was feeling my way to the
closet all was silent. but no sooner had
/ started for the door than an entire
~ different voice came from upstairs.
1t was apparently that Of girl.
III you must take something away
with you 60 to the sideboard, and
hanging to rail behind it you'll find
the key to the drawer. and the silver
Is inside. Take it all and welcome, only
60 away as soon as possible"
This was too much. could not for
bear reassuring this timid creature,
whose voice was melodious.
Don't be frightened. I'm not a
burglar at all. I've simply made mis-
take and got into the wrong house. I'm
going away at once"
"Poice! Robbers! Murder"
Confound the girl! She'll bring the
police down on me and get me into a
fix.
'Shut up" cried. II mean. be quiet
Nobody's going to hurt you. tell you
it's all mistake. live in this block.
and my house is
Don't shoot! Take everything-sil-
yer, jewelry. ALL"
hesitated between flight and going
upstairs to calm this hysterical young
woman and finally concluded on the
latter course. 1t seemed that the voice
came from the head of the stairs. l
ran up two steps at time, but was
not quick enough. There was light
in this upper hall. but it was turned
so low that could only distinguish
table with box on it, but couldn't
see what the latter was like. If the
girl was in the hall couldn't see her.
heard door open and saw some
thing white cross the hail. Then the
gas jet was turned up. and | saw
girl in her nightdress under it. What
she saw was young man in evening
dress. She put her hand on her heart
and staggered.
Calm yourself" said. 1--WE been
afraid you would turn an innocent mis-
take into Il tragedy. Do l look like a
burglar?"
III you're not, what are you doing
here?'
"Oh. Gwen" cried the old woman's
voice had heard downstairs, come
hack. He'll kill your
l was puzzled. These persons had
been talking to me, and yet they didn't
seem to have heard me. And how did
the old woman get upstairs?
Are you two deaf?" l asked, iri
tated.
Gradually the girl regained her equa-
nimity. Then she smiled. Her smile
broke into laugh.
What in thunder does it all mean?"
l shouted.
"Wait a minute and I'll tell you"
She ran into a bedroom and in an
other moment emerged in kimona.
She was very pretty in either costume.
Mamma and l live alone and are in
constant terror Of burglars, so we got
two monographs, and mamma talked
in one and l in the other the words
you have doubtless heard. Every night
we conncn. them with a fine wire in
the vestibue 50 that If burglar broke
1t with his foot it would set the pho
nographs talking" .s..
"Well, III be jiuged" exclaimed.
I'D rather be arrested and jagged for
a burglar than be made fool Of"
A silvery laugh from the girl rang
out, and l added:
"Yo,, mood q man in fhis ho,lso and