The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-08-13
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the name of Flint, seemed to know un-
c~annily that Barnicle was lying.
Mr.. Rudolph had spared no pains to
keep his damaged condition from the
eyes of the world.
A light tap upon the outer door
broke sharply in upon Barnicle's trou-
bjcd reflections. He cooked an ear In
that direction, and glanced uneasily at
the sleeper. who had not stirred. The
tap vas repeated.
Barnicle was puzzled; he knew 1t
was no hotel employees announcement
with all of which he had reason to
be familiar-ard setting aside this
explanation, there remained only n
other way by which to account for the
| tapping somebody had slipped
through the office, with its guardian
! Gordon of clerks, porters and bell-hops,
and come directly to Van Yechten's
rooms. Such a proceeding bore a sim
lister import to Barnicle's mind.
For Il third time the tap sounded.
And then Barnicle stole into the recep-
| tion-haIl, with the determination Of
! sending the presumptuous caller about
his business. With this purpose in
mind, he cid not bother to close the
living-room door behind him, and
opened the outer door barely an inch
or two -at first.
Next instant out of sheer amazement
he pulled it wide open.
He was confronted by the vision OF
a beautiful, styiishly gowned young
lady. That she really was a lady in
every of the word, Barnicle could
not for an instant doubt. No one could
have doubted.
Excepting on the very rare occasions
when his employer entertained a few
choice friends in his rooms, ladies
were not in the habit of visiting them;
so il is no wonder that he was dunn
founded. With one eye ~expectant for
the young lady's card. and the other
taking stock OF her lovellness, he be-
gan to assure her that Mr.. Van Vech-
ten was out Of the city.
The tone in which she interrupted,
! the flash Of her eyes that accompanied
the words, made his mouth close like q
trap.
Il know that Mr.. Van Vechten is
here" she declared positively, and l
know that he is i'll. mean to see
him"
There vas no doubling this purpose,
either, though Barnicle essayed a final
prOtest-a faint-hearted one. for he
remembered too late the open inner
door, and of course this mad young
lady knew he vas not telling the truth.
The incident was assuming %scandalous
aspects.
But Mr.. Van Vechten is in no con
dition to-"
Once more she unceremoniously
checked him, this time with an ire
pressible sob of mpatience and an i'm
petuous command to stand aside. He
obeyed mechanically, and the caller.
brushing by him, rushed through the
reception-hall into the living-room, and
threw herself upon her knees beside
the unconscious figure on the daven-
port.
Barnicle had never heard tell of
anything like it; he was Mortified.
But whether or not the extraordinary
occurrence was novel in Barnicle's ex.
perience. he was beginning dimly to
realize that it represented a manifes-
tation OF emotional forces with which
it would be dangerous for him to med
die. IF the lady was so d~isregardful of
a third persons presence hat she
would make no effort to hide her feel
ings, then he-Barnicle-would better
be going; this was no place for a
moral male servant of mature years.
CTO BE CONTINUED