Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-11-03

most singular thing.
ne hurled. the hard, shining nipple.
oent, one end Of which had seemed to
stotesworthy as the entrance to Nam
aotn cave, against large bowlder by
the side Of the path.
1t shattered into thousand tinklinp
pieces.
stotesworthy st. John had been held
mp, robbed, Invested Of his clothing
and his self respect by the menacino
muzzle of an empty whisky flask.
For many minutes after the robbers
Vast brutal laugh had ioated back to
him on the evening breeze. Stoteswor.
thy remained motionless, an unheroie
statue Of humiliation and chagrin.
Stotesworthy calculated that it was
about o'clock; the hotel was fully
haif mile away, and few yards be-
yond him. where the path debouched
from the shadow of the frs and
spruces, the road was made dazzling
by the shimmering moonlight. He was
In something Of a predicament.
To remain where he was meant to
court death in the unpleasant form of
pneumonia. To make dash for 1t
meant death in far more unpleasant
guise Of ridicule.
To slip In unnoticed was practically
impossible. especially as he had not
the slightest acquaintance with the
rear Of the hotel where an entrance
must be effected.
The sound of nearby feminine laugh
ter startled the Inundated author into
activity, and he scuttled into the near
est thicket like frightened rabbit.
From this coign Of vantage he eau
tiously peered out
The laughter had emanated from
group Of persons who were walking
along the road leading to .Ae hotel.
But what a peculiar assortment of
clothes.
One was nrrayed in the costume Of
colonial days. sword and all; another
had apparently deserted the fall round
up without discarding the sheepskin
chaps and sombrero before coming to
town: several were hidden in the volu-
minous folds of nightgown affairs Of
various colors, and all wore masks.
Stotesworthy gazed in fascinated
amazement There were other ridicu.-
lous costumes than his own abroad
that evening, and for moment he felt
a little easier. And then light dawn
cd upon him, and he groaned aloud.
The last dance Of the season-the
masquerade.
That's what it was. He had forgot
ten all about Ii. And 1t would be 2
o'clock in the morning before the fools
would think of such a thing as sleep;
hence the groan.
Silently and stealthily, though not
quite so inconspicuous as an Indian
stalking his quarry. Stotesworthy st.
John alternately crept and dashed to
ward the unsuspecting Cragside Hall.
He took advantage of every bush
and bowlder in manner that would
have been a credit to a boy scout. and
at last he paused for breath in the
very shadow of the hotel.
Cautiously he peered around the
corner and found that he was looking
into what was Enthusiastically the clothes
drying yard Of the establishment.
A sudden inspiration descended upon
the author. and, not stopping to con-
slider the effect his sudden appearance
might have upon the laundress. he
made a dash for the first sheet which
met his eye.
As luck would have 1t the maids
back was turned, and she did not see
Stotesworthy until. with his rotund
form partially hidden by the damp
sheet, he passed her on the way to an
open door which. he had shrewdly
guessed. opened into the laundry.
"Oh, heavens he heard her whim-
per as she sank upon the pile of linen
In the basket at her feet and hid her
face In her hands. II seen 1t again!
Somebody's goin' to die, know"
By sheer luck. Stotesworthy, STUN
bling blindly about In the darkness Of
the hotel basement, came across stair
way unused since the addition to Crag-
side Hall was built two seasons before.
l1c luOdutcu " tdC AOCk az tAiC toR
and cautiously turned the handle; 1t
was unlocked. He opened the door
crack and peered into small apart
ment which he did not remember Of
ever having seen.
A young man. whom Stotesworthy
recognized as one Familiarity called
Tommy by the younger feminine guests
Of the hotel. was the only person with
in his range Of vision.
King Solomon in all his glory was
never arrayed like Tommy. A dandy
Of the court Of Louis XIV. or probably
Louis himself. he appeared to be as he
stood by an open window anachro-
nistically inhaling an Egyptian ciga-
rette.
1t was a wonder that Stotesworthy
recognized him at all. Notwithstanding
he had laid aside his mask. so be-
wigged and beruffied was he.
"Psstw Stotesworthy Kissed. "Psst.
M