The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-07-23

A Fool and His Monev

| forgotten by me in the excitement of
the hour. Commanding them to fetch
their files, saws, broad-axes and augers,
/ led the way to the mighty doors
that barred my entrance to the other
side. Utterly ignoring the supplications
of Conrad Schmick and the ominous
frowns of his two sons, We set about
filing off the padlocks, and chiselling
through the wooden panels. stood
over my toiling minions, and I venture
to say that they never worked harder
or faster in their lives. By twelve
o clock we had the great doors open
and swept on to the next obstruction.
At two clock the last door in the
east nte-chamber gave way before our
resolute advance and I stood victorious
and dusty in the little recess at the
top of the last stairway. Beyond the
twentieth century portieres Of thir-
teenth century doorway lay the goal we
sought. I hesitated briefly before
drawing them apart and taking the
final plunge. AS q matter Of fact, I
was beginning to feel ashamed of my
SELF Suppose that she really had a
headache! What an uncouth, pusillani-
GUS bruit L
Just then, even as my hand fell upon
the curtains, they were snatched aside
and l found myself staring into the
vivid, uptilted face of the lady who
had defied me and would continue to
do SO if my suddenly active perceptions
counted for anything.
l saw nothing but the dark, indig-
nant, imperious eyes. They fairly with
Tered me.
| In some haste, attended by the most
|disheartening nervousness, tried to
find my cap to remove it in the pres
ence Of royalty. Unfortunately I was
Obliged to release the somewhat cum
bersome crowbar / had been carrying
about with me, and it dropped with O
sullen thwack upon my toes. In mo-
ments of gravity l an always doing
something like that. The pain was
terrific, but l clutched at the forlorn
hope that she might at least smile over
my agony.
"I beg your pardon" began, and
then discovered that I was not wear
ing cap. 1t was most disconcerting
$50 you would come" she said, very
coldly and very leyelly. I have dis
, tinct recollection Of shrinking. If yor
, have ever tried to stand flatly upon 8
!, foot whose toes are crimped by an ex
cruclating pain you may understand
r something Of the added discomfitur,
that afflicted me.
= "It-it was necessary, madam"
replied as best / could. "You defiet
me- I think you should have appreci
lated my position-my motives-er-
imy-"
= She silenced me-uckily, heavel
knows-with a curt exclamation.
i, "Your position! 1t is intensely Ma
e lpoleonic," said she with fine irony
d Her gaze swept my horde of painting
j. wide-eyed house breakers. "What ,
y noble victory!"
y 1t was quite time for me to asser
+ myself. Bowing very stifny, re
9 marked:
8 "I regret exceedingly to have beel
a forced to devastate my own propert.
t in such trifling enterprise, madam
5 The physical loss is apparent-you ca
n Isee that for yourself-but Of cours
n lyou have no means Of estimating tn
n lr entail destruction that has been goin
1 on for days and days. You have bee
a hacking away at my poor, d-stracte
o brain SO persistently that il really ha
Q Ito give way. In a measure, this shoul
account for my present lapse Of SAINT,
r. Weak mindedness is rot crime, bu
an affliction.'
It'll She did not smile.
e "Well, now that you are here, M,
% Smart, may I be so bold as to inquir
II what you are going to do about ite''
g. / reflected. ~ think, il you don
e. mind, I'll come in and sit down. Ths
1t was a deuce of rap l got across th
k toes am sure to be great deal moi
b. lenient and agreeable if I'm asked
ALL