Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-03-20
CHAPTER TX.

I went to bed early that night. |
What with worrying and being alter |
nately chilled by tramping through the
snow and roasted a. If l was sitting
on q volcano with an eruption due.
was about all in
guess 1t Yves about four o'clock In
the morning when q hand slid over my
face. and l sat up and yelled. The
hand covered my mouth at that. and
something long and white and very
thin beside the bed said: "Sh! For
heavens sake. Minnie!"
It was Miss Cobb! lighted .
candle and set 1t on chair beside the
bed and took q good look at her. She
was shaking all over. which wasn't
strange. for I sleep with my window
open, and she had key in her hand.
Here" she gasped. holding out the
key, here, Minnie. wake the house
and get him. but. oh, Minnie. for heav-
ems sake, save my reputation"
Get who?" demanded. for saw 1t
was her room key.
Il have locked q man in my room!"
she declared In terrible voice, and col
lapsed into the middle Of the bed.
Well, leaned over and tried to tell
her she'd make q mistake. The more
l looked at her, with her hair standing
straight out over her head, and her
cambria nightgown and Q highs collar
and long sleeves, and the hump on her
nose where her brother Willie had hit
J her In childhood with baseball bat.
the surer l was that somebody had
made a mistake-likely the man.
sat down on the side Of the bed
and put on my slippers.
what did he look like?" asked.
Gould you see him?"
She uncovered one eye.
"Not-not distinctly" she said. T.
think he was large. and-and rather
handsome. That beast of q dog must
have got in my room and was asleep
under the bed, for 1t awakened me by
snarling."
There was nothing In that to make
me nervous, but 1t did. Al ! put on
my kimono l was thinking pretty hard
l could not waken Mr.. Pierce by
knocking. 90 l went in and shook him.
MT, Pierce! Mr.. Pierce!"
It was two or three minutes 1t least
before had him sitting on the side
of the bed, with . blanket spread over
his knees, and was telling him about
Miss Cobb.
After he seemed pretty well wax
ened I went out. I waited in the sit
ting-room and l heard him growing a.
he put on his clothes. He was quiet
when we got to the bedroom floors.
however. and when we stopped outside
Miss Cobb's door he was a. sober a.
any one could wish him.
I gave him the key and he fitted It
quietly In the lock. Arabella, Just out
side. must have heard. for she snarled
But the snarl turned into yelp. a. II
she'd been suddenly kicked.
Mr.. Pierce, with his hand on the
knob, turned and looked at me in the
candle-light. Then he opened the
door.
Arabella gave another yelp and
rushed out; she went between my feet
like . shot and almost overthrow me-
and when I'd got my balance again
looked into the room. Mr.. Pierce was
at the window. staring out, and the
room was empty.
THE idiot" Mr.. Pierce said. "I1
1t hadn't been for that snow-bank!
Here, give me that candle!"
He stood there waving It in circles
but there was neither sight nor sound
from below. After q minute Mr.. Pierce
put the window down and we stared
at the room. All the bureau drawers
.. were out on the floor. and the lid oi
poor Miss Cobbs trunk was open and
the tray upset.
We brought her back. to her room
and she didn't know whether to be
happy that she was indicated or mad
at the state Nsr things were in Sht
drew my head down to her and hel
eyes were fairly popping out Of hel
head.
II feel a. though I'm going crazy
Minnie!" she whispered. but the only
things that are gone are my letter.
from Mr.. Jones. and-my black wooler
tights!"
l slept late the next morning, ant
when I'd had breakfast and waded :,
the spring-house 1t was nearly nine
Az I noundered out l thought l saw
somebody stink around the corner o
the spring-house. but when got Their
nobody was in sight. was on m.
knees in front Of the fireplace. rakinl
out the fire, when l heard the doc
close behind me. and when I turned
there stood Mr.. Dick. muffied to tn,
neck. with his hat almost over hi
face.
What the deuce kept you so lat
this morning?" he demanded. in
. sulky voice. and limping over to
y table he drew . package out of hi
' pocket and slammed 1t on the table
e Il was up half the night. az usual.
( said. rising. You oughtnt to b.
d here. Mr. Dick!"
Il He was pulling something out o
his overcoat pocket, an inch at q time
|. For Gods sake. Minnie" he e.
Q claimed. return this-this garment t
D l-whomever 1t belongs tot"
He handed It to me. and 1t was Mis-
Q Cobb's black tights! l stood an
stared.
z "And then" he went on. reachin
3 for the package on the table. "whe
you've done that, return to 'Binkis
, these letters from her Jonesie.