The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-11-09
A Novel
Introduction
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN

! mad been at the CnOcanassett inn,
a summer resort, a couple of days when
a young lady arrived whose appearance
struck me favorably and forcibly. !
was standing on the porch when she
came up the steps. and, though she did
not notice me, had a very good oppor-
tunity to observe her "If she Is 30
attractive In appearance" | remarked
to myself, "begrimed with engine dust.
what must she be In evening dressT
The next morning | went down to
breakfast, forgetting to lock the door
Of my room. On returning to get
cigar. what was my surprise to see the
young lady whose appearance I had
admired coming out of the apartment
I doffed my hat and stood looking at
her inquringly. She had taken the
key, which ] had left inside, from the
lock and was putting It on the outside.
Having locked the door, she turned and
faced Inc. Noticing by my expression
that something was wrong, she looked
at me inquiringly.
IL fancy you have made a mistake"
I said.
How so7'
"You have evidently mistaken my
room for yours"
"Not at all; this Ia my room"
beckoned to a chambermaid who
was passing and asked her to call for
the clerk of the house. He came up
and, after telling him of the situation,
I asked him what was the number OF
my room. He said he would have to
70 back to the ONCE to find out, where
upon ! said:
you needn't do that. 90 into the
room with the lady and learn whose
baggage Is there"
He opened the door and entered the
room, the lady following him, follow
ing the lady. had put my trunk In
q closet, removing what l especially
needed to the bureau drawers. The
consequence was that the room ap-
peared to be empty. The girl looked
about her. and saw by her expression
that she was puzzled. The clerk open
ed the closet and displayed my trunk
with mems garments hanging above
II The girl looked astonished. He
then opened bureau drawer. and there
/ Law a number Of laundered shirts. The
girl was astonished-
81 returned to my room after break
fast" she said. remembering that l
| had left my portmonnaie In this little
| place on the bureau. took II without
looking about me-"
That's exactly where left my mon
e." / said. and, lifting the lid Of the
place referred to, / displayed-empti-
ness.
Great heavensr' exclaimed the girl
Can I have taken your property
She produced q roll Of bills and with
trembling hands counted them. "Oh, my
good gracious! l didn't have but 81;
there are thirty here"
Had 1 acQuiesced In her statement, az
I should have done, the episode would
have been ended. and my acquaintance
with the lady would have remained
undeveloped. but especially desired
that the acquaintance should continue.
did not attempt to soothe her feel
| luks. 1 ulu nOt buy TINT oNiAc'S1 AS&
story or that disbelieved It.
Il wish you both to come to my
room" she said. evidently much trou-
bled. shat I may show you there IL
81 In the same place relatively as this"
please excuse me-" l said coldly.
1T would not be the part Of q gentle
man to ask for proof In such a matter
from a lady"
She cast q half troubled, half In
dignant glance at me; then. turning OF
her heel, she said to the clerk impera-
lively, Come with me-"
He seemed much surprised that I did
not at once warmly exonerate the
lady and followed her as she had com
handed.
knew very well that the episode
had not ended. and was not mis-
taken. Later Ia the day the landlord
came to me and said that the lady who
had mistaken my room for hers de
sired to see me, that she might con
vince me Of her innocence Of any
wrong intention and that she hat
taken my money by mistake. She wal
| u