The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-10-31

nounced that ! stood up. No one wa
in the room"
Il determined TO take a stroll, con
GLIDING that the fresh air would clea
these uncanny cobwebs out OF m
brain. Accordingly ] extinguished tn
lamp and went out. was Just put
| ting my cap on when something
prompted me to return and look Vi
the potsherd."
He fixed his eyes upon US with al
expression Of doubt.
There was some one or something
| in the room"
What do you mean?" asked Lest!
incredulously.
, II quite distinctly saw a hand ant
bare white arm pass away from thu
table and vanish! 1t was dark in thu
room, remember: but / could see th'
arm well enough. / switched on thu
reading lamp. Not a thing was to b
seen. There was no one IN the room
and no one but myself in the fiat
for searched it thoroughly"
Halesowen's nerves evidently hat
been shaken by the inexplicable Incl
dent As the three Of US STROBE bach
across the common he informed vi
that the new tenant of the adjoining
nat had moved in.
We proceeded upstairs and into tho
coy room which had been the scent
of the remarkable occurrence re-
lated.
As It was growing dark, Halesower
turned on the electric light, and In
dicating a chair by the writing table
explained that IL was there he hac
been seated at the time.
Did you have the windows OPEN?
asked Lesty.
Yes" was the reply. IT left the
chairs and the awning out. too. as
IL was a fine night; in fact, you can
see that they still remain practical
ly as you left them"
Apparently Lesty was about to make
some observation when an Interrupt
ton occurred in the form Of a ring
ing on the door-bell, followed by a
discreet fandango on the knocker.
who the deuce have we here?
muttered Halesowen. Il saw no ON.
go in below"
AS our host passed through the
lighted room and into the hall, my
friend and / both leaned forward IN
our chairs, the better TO hear what
should pass; nor were we kept long
in suspense AS we heard the outer
door opened, an odd, mumbling voice
came, with a queer accent:
"Ah, my dear Mr.. Halesowen, II Is
indeed an intrusion of me! But when
| find how we are neighbors I can
not resist to make the call and re-
new a so pleasant acquaintance!
DIR. Zedaw we heard Halesowen
exclaim, with little cordially.
Ever your devoted servant" re-
piled the courteous foreigner.
/ glanced at Lesty. and we rose to-
gether and stepped through the open
window in time TO see 4 truly re-
markable parsonage enter.
He was a large-framed man. with
snowwhite hair cut close to his skull.
French fashion. He had a high and
very wrinkled brow and wore gold
trimmed pince-nez.
LET black and heavy eyebrows were
his, and his waxed mustache and neat
imperial were likewise of the hue of
coal.
His complexion was pallid; and in
his well-cut coat, with a loose black
tie overhangIng his vest. he made
striking picture, bowling profoundly
in the doorway.
Halesowen rapidly muttered the
usual formalities; in fact, / remember
contrasting our friends un-
manners with the court
" department of DR.. Zelda
The latter explained that he had
taken the adjacent nat, having learn
ed only that evening whom he had
for a neighbor. Despite the lateness
Of the hour he said, he could not re-
sist the desire to see Halesowen, OF
whose company in Egypt he retained
such pleasant memories.
When after a brief chat, the for
.ign gentleman rose to take his leave,
he extended an invitation to all OF
Us to lunch with him the following
lay.
Though I half expected Halesowen
would decline, he did not do so;
therefore accepted. as did Lesty.
whereupon Zelda departed
Halesowen. returning to the chair
which he had vacated to usher out
lis visitor, lighted a cigarette. regard
ID it for a moment meditatively, ana
hen frankly expressed his doubts.
Hes been watching me-" he said.
and when he saw the next fat va
,ant he jumped at the chance"
On the following day we lunched
With DR.. Zeda. and were surprised
It the orderly state of his estao-
ishment. Everything, from floor to
was in its proper place.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. for
lie proved an excellent host. and /
hink even Lesty grew less suspici-
,us of him. During the weeks that
the doctor came several
lines to our rooms. and we frequent
y met at Halesowen's.
Then. about seven o'clock one morn
ng when the mists hung low over
he common in promise OF a hot day.
! boy came for Lesty and myself
With news of a fresh development. |
lie was a lad who did odd jobs for |
and he brought word OF
n attempted burglary, together with |
. request that we should go over |
Without delay.
Our curiosity keenly aroused. We were |
Don with our friend, and found him |
Gated in the familiar room before |
arEe cabinet with double glass doors. |
t was clearly evident that 1t had been |
ansacked hastily.
other cases in which he kept various /
urios we're also opened. and the place
ras in general disorder.
What's gomez" asked Lesty quickly.
Nothing" was the answer. The
otsherd is in the safe, and the safe is
n my bedroom-or perhaps something
light have gone!'
you lock It up at night, then? I
nought you kept t in the cabinet"
tOnly during the day. 1t goes in the
afe, with one or two other tribes. at
light: but everybody doesn't know that"
we looked at one another silently: but
ne name that was on all our lips re-
,afned unspoken-for We were Startled
v a loud knocking and ringing at the
oor.
When Carter opened it into the room
an DR.. Zelda.
"Oh. my friends he cried in his
oarse rumbling voice. there has been
my fat a midnight robber. He has
Irned completely upside down all my