The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-11

the door opened and closed sharply.
leaving me alone In the west gallery
/ was tired out by the exciting adven-
ture Of the night and too wide awake
to sleep, so went back to the library.
got my bag, put out the light and left
the house. l spent the night sitting
on a bench in the railroad station, and
it is needless to say that took the
first train to town."
"And that is all?" asked Slade after
q little silence.
Isn't it enOugh?"
you didn't search the house, make
any effort to discover whether the in
truder was spook or human--Gidn'i
you do anything:"
mary thing. | went abroad the fCl
lowing week and at times forgot the
incident. A few days ago it came back
to me. and SO invited you down to
spend this night with me at the Elms.
"Why this particular night?" de
manded Slade suspiciously.
Because it's the anniversary of my
adventure with Viola" replied Gilbert
coOlly. II want witness to further
demonstrations, you know"
John Slade sank back into the shad
ows of his chair and smoked thought
fully. Once he burst into a reminis
cent chuckle.
II suspect you have lost your heart
to this Viola, as you call her. Was
she so lovely?"
,, .;,
cerely. Her hair was that dusky
black that frames the face mistily, you
know; her eyes were almost golden
and her brows fine and black like her
hair; but her coloring, her features,
her fOrm-oh. ! say, Slade. can't get
her face out Of my mindr
Slade lighted fresh cigar. II must
tell you an incident of the same sort
that happened to friend Of mine"
he said solemnly, land 1t may serve
to throw light on your own affair.""
"Out with it," said Gilbert briefly
"It's only 10 o'clock now. You have
till midnight, John"
This man owned a grand old place
in the country. but he was a bachelor
and never looked ut 1t.
There was young cousin Of the
mans, girl who was a beauty and
a toast Never mind her name. She
has married and changed it for another.
This girl was NJ to all sorts of mis-
chief and pranks and carried a lot of
scatterbrained young folk with her in
many harmless escapade.
"She conceived the idea of giving
ball in the old mansion of her cousin.
Now, ! have not the slightest doubt
that the man would have gladly con.
sented to turn the house over for such
merrymaking had they asked him.
But, no; Of course half the fun lay in
the clandestine proceedings!
And so one night when the moon
was young and the aged caretaker off
on leave several great automobiles roll
ed quietly up the long avenue, and
the mischievous girl and her friends
and their reluctant chaperons trooped
through side entrance and made their
way to the great ballroom on the sec
Ond floor.
"The room had been cleaned in some
mysterious manner, and when the elec-
trio chandeliers were ablaze and the
polished floor stretched forth an invit-
ing surface the small orchestra they
had brought tuned up, and the fun be-
gan. Several servants unpacked re-
freshments In an anteroom while the
young people danced and between
dances wandered over the grand old
house lighted from top to bottom by
Lauras"-
Laura" shouted Gilbert, but slade
interrupted:
Hold on there. Danny! 1 didn't
mean to make slip! The house was
lighted up and the dancing was going
on and everything was going along
finely when suddenly messenger ap-
peared among them. The station agent
from the depot. who had known of the
merrymaking, came to say that the
owner had arrived at the station and
was on his way to the house. He had
jumped on his wheel and sped with the
message.
'They worked fast and without judg-
ment. One bright soul cut the electric
light wires and plunged the house in
total darkness. Before a search could
be made for candles and escape made
the front door was opened and the in
truders heard footsteps below stairs.
After awhile the library door opened
and all was silent.
by aid Of matches and the sta
tion masters bicycle lantern the party
reached the ground floor and by stealth
left the house. That was all part of
the fun, don't you know. And then
Just as they were going to leave, one
of the girls discovered she had lost her
pet handkerchief and was sure she had
left it in the library. She recovered it.
although she would not say how. and
she was quite breathless when she
climbed into the motor. And that is
ALL"
Daniel Gilbert arose to his full
height and laid his pipe on the man.
tel. And that was Laura, who got up
the party and everything. shall bless
your wife all her days, John, IL she