The state herald., 1916-02-04

came down from the floor above
"Oh, good evening, Mr.. Estrilla!"
said Mrs. Moore. did your sister,
Just then the voice of Captain Han
ska broke in from behind the door.
wait a minute. Ask Mr.. Wade n
he minds my not getting up I've a
| cold and I've taken some medicine" "
Very well. Captain" replied Mrs
Moore. Estrilla. seeing that she was
engaged. went on downstairs to the
! front door.
This narrative has gone, 80 far.
from the point Of view Of Mrs Moore
We will shift now to Miss Harding;
for a time let her mind be the crystal
Of our thought. A moment before Mrs
Moore came back and told Mr.. Wade
that Captain Hanska would see him.
Mr.. Estrilla appeared at the door Of
the parlor. Although they had seen
but little OF him at Mrs. Moore's. he
was popular for Latin lightness OF
temperament. a cheerful and winning
smile. a nimble wit which lost nothing
because Of his quaint accent. and va
rious. winsome, actor tricks which
Mrs. Moore called "capers." At that
moment they were singing "Yip-hi.
addy.hi.ay." then in Its first run. Mr..
Estrilla, bundled up In hat and mack.
intosh. cut curvet in the hall. kicked
out one Of his small Andalusian feet,
Joined note of the chorus In a pleas.
ant. light. tenor voice. changed to a
falsetto tone which was plainly an
Imitation Of Miss Harding's singing.
and whirled toward the outer door.
Miss Harding called:
Come In and sing!" But Mr.. Es.
trilla only pivoted through the door.
calling:
"Buenos noches-yip.hiaddy-hi.ayl"
Perhaps five minutes later, Miss
Harding went upstairs for a handker.
chief. For a moment she was absent.
minded-a rare thing with her-so
that instead OF turning on the second
ioor. where her room was situated,
she continued another flight and
brought up, suddenly aware OF her
mistake, at the third.foor landing.
Something held her there for a mo-
ment-the sound OF high words from
Captain Hanska's room. Miss Hard.
Ing paused longer than necessary. She
was an honorable girl enough. but the
most honorable Of us pay instructive
tribute to our curiosity.
Il tell you both | won't" came Cap
tain Hanska's rather harsh voice.
"oh. think perhaps can make you
, change your mind" came other nc.
cents which. Miss Harding reflected.
went perfectly with the personality
OF Mr.. Lawrence Wade.
Some sort OF rumpus going on up
there" said Miss Harding as she re-
gained the parlor, Then remembering
that she must account to Miss Jones
for her presence on the third floor
the bachelor quarters OF the establish.
ment-she added vaguely. You can
hear II Just as plainl"
They had all stopped singing from
very WEAKNESS OF voice, and Mrs.
Moore and Professor Noli had retired
to leave the young couples alone with
their devices. when Mr.. Wade mp.
peared again In the hall-this time on
his way out Every one saw him
plainly. especially Miss Harding. who
sat facing the door.
Look who's here. Essiel" she whis.
pered In an undertone to Miss Jones.
As she recalled II afterward. he
seemed little pale. He cast no more
than one quick absent glance ut the
group by the piano: and the door
closed behind him. Within ten min.
uteo. tho company" left and the
young women went to their room
There was silence In the house.
Silence until half past two o'clock
and then Tommy North. who occupied
the third floor fro2t. came home from
stag smoker drunk.
This was not the firat time that he
had returned. uncertain OF tongue ana
foot. IN the hours OF vice. on the last
occasion. he made 40 much noise that
Miss Harding refused him her eoun.
ttaanee for week and Mrs. Moore
gave him warning That warning
rested Mt the bottom of his maudlin
psychology M he ercp, up to the
front door. unlocked II. and stole
within,
Tho vigilant Mrs. Moore. who woke
at every night entrance OF dodgers.
ieaped out OF bed. opened her door
crack. and observed Tommy na he
stood balancing himself under tho dim
point OF the ghs-jet obliyious 10 the
op1n door and III. watchful eye. he
made turn abou, the newell post and
began putting one foot cautiously be.
fore the other. saying over and over
q drunken refrain which ran.
Hay foot--stfaw foot-one goes up
and the other goes down" 30 he
yahiHh.d from tho vision OF Mrs.
Moore. By similar devices he ncso.
,ia,ed tho stretch OF hall carpet on
the second moor. and took the neat
hight ~. was near his haven now
his own room. third roor front, In
the dim hall light. he balanced him.
holf and let his tongue play again.
Energy and perseverance victory
almoh, won." he said "just talk to
your feet and let 'em do your work Z"
tI..t