The sun., 1918-08-21
TRAPPED IN. THE LMPROVSED DARK
ROOM or A COUNTRY HOTEL.
Tramp the Folly Fashioned
Closet Behind

terry that is unsolvable soon become,
a bore. I wouldn't dare tell YOU wha,
l told Grace, but she didn't flush be.
cause OF its uncomplimentary nature
II an amateur artist like myself-
and say this advisedly as to all q,
my occupations-reads this yarn hs
will understand the fussy care with
which 1 prepared to load my plata
holders. locked the door OF my room
took the key out Of 1t. pulled down the
shades to exclude every ray Of light
although darkness had settled over the
country. went into the closet and
closed the door. hadn't a red light
SO had to do my work in pitch dark.
ness. And the closeness of that clo,et
as felt for a half hour TO find the
coated side OF those plates Is to me IN
unforgettable sensation like standing
In a nickel in the slot telephone booth
with the door shut in mid August
waiting for an operator to give you
your call or return you your coin.
But I finished the Job, ana the relief
Of getting out OF that alright chamber
was an anticipated pleasure. How l
gasped for air! felt for the thumb
lever-there was more. The latch was
literally on the outside; any stranger
could get in. but once in and the door
closed couldn't get out Of his own
volition.
1 wasn't bit perturbed. though.
By throwing my weight against the
door the staple would yield readily.
I tried. but It resisted stubbornly-
the blows Of a sledge wouldn't have
budged 1t. Well. I'd kick the panels
out. but to my chagrin I found that
they built some" houses in those old
oaken days; this farm house wasn't
a bungalow made of the shocks OF a
lemon box and the panels Of the closet
would have resisted the blows OF
broadaxe swung by a giant. shouted.
little chance OF being heard in the
remote corners where the other occu-
pants of the house were asleep.
1 wonder If any reader of this very
veracious> tale has ever dwelt on the
agony Of possibly being buried alive,
or experienced the uncanny sensation
OF standing in a packed train under
the East River with no light? The
only difference between this last pic
tured situation and mine was the alb
sence Of the nervous excitement OF
hysterical women. Terror and
suffocatng sensation seized me as |
realized my predicament, but found
air enough in my lungs and vigor
enough in my arms to again shout
Justify and beat the panels OF the door
with my fists.
stopped periodically in my vigor-
Gus attempts to arouse from their
sound country slumber the members
Of the family--Dan was in the room
adjoining mine. but he slept Ike death
but my efforts were likely to come
to nothing. At the third or fourth
pause-I wasn't in a mood to be artth.
metically correct in my COUNT
heard some one fumbling at the door
OF my chamber Then with an infec-
ton Of surprise mingled with sup
pressed laughter l recognized the
voice of my humorous hostess.
why, he has locked the door,
Grace"
Break 1t I'M" Grace exclaimed, with
the visor of young womanhood-
III lOS BOiN5 " puAA tio iodoU
down." her mother objected.
I'll get key" Grace exclaimed.
l heard her footsteps on the ladder
like stairs. She is likely. I thought,
to break her neck in going down those
steep and rung-like steps in that pre-
cipitate fashion.
The minutes that Grace took TO re-
turn seemed like the minutes Of
death watch to me-tense, almost
breathless intervals in that alright
closet. When she returned she tried
several keys.
None of them ft!" she cried IN
tone OF dispair.
Get Dan; he may be able TO force
a dry chuckle.
why. Dams strength wouldE Zip
tho steelyarls, mother" Grace cried
derisively.
well, We'll force the door then"
heard them put their weight
against it, but it resisted as sturcly
as the closets had mine.
What shall we do?" Grace asked
agonizingly.
60 to bed" her mother said quietly
"Oh, Dams key! forgot that"
Grace exclaimed.
l heard her open the door TO Dams
room and in n moment the two women
stood in my chamber. Grace must
have made an impulsive move to
raise the latch for her another said
warningly:
zone moment, Grace; your fathers
not home"
whats that got to do with ~
Grace asked with the unrefcCuve m
| pulsiveness OF a young woman VINO
could only see the predicament OF
mysterious stranger who had "faS'!-
mated" her at supper.
EVERYTHING. We don't know any
thing about this tramp He may
have escaped from the Windham
county Jail for all We know Come,
I'm going back to bed" she said WIZ
mock determination.
But l pleaded with them from my
alright prison. and Grace, icno"hS
her mothers jest, raised the latch ana
opened the door.
The two women stood before me n
the deshabille that the sudden sun
iioiiS rum steep ny CldhIolVHS -
terrifying sound had necess.'ate4
But looked on them in their VIII"
robes as angels of the Resurrection
My hostess looked around the room
with the lamp that she had hroHfH'
held high in her hand 10 see that al
that needed her attention had not
been overlooked. She spicd my tarlf'
| lying on my undisturhed bed.
| ,HxyA.. -. .....sl --a.,,rs Van