Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-11

y CoalaoA person. anu uAu away
known how to make other people at.
tend to all bothersome details fol
him while he enjoyed himself. He
was quite comfortable and self-com.
placent as he posed a moment before
the mirror to smooth his mustacht
] and note how we'll he was looking
Then he went to the closet for his
coat,
1t was most peculiar. the way II
happened, but somehow, as he
stepped into that closet to take down
his coat. which hung at the back
where the space was widest, the open
ling at the wrist Of his shirt-sleeve
caught for. just an instant in the lit
button which held the cuff to the
w%ristband slipped its hold, and the
man was free almost at once, but the
angry twitdh he had made at the
slight detention had given h e door
an impetus which set it silently NOV
ing on its hinges. ut raj character
istic Of George Hayne that he was al
ways impatient Of the slightest deten-
tion.) He had scarcely put his hand
upon his wedding coat when a soft
steel click, followed by utter dark
ness. warned him that his impatience
had e%ntrapped him. He put out his
hand and pushed at, the door, but the
catch had settled into place. 1t was q
very strong, neat little catch, and 1t
did its work we'll. The man was a
prisoner.
At first he was only annoyed, and
gave the door an angry kick or two,
as II of course it would presently re-
lease him meekly; but then he be-
thought him Of his polished wedding
shoes, and desisted. He tried to find
a knob and shake the door, but the
only knob was the tiny brass n on
not shake a plain surface reared up
before you. Then he set his massive.
f1abby shoulder against the door and
| pressed with all his. might, till his
bulky linen shirt front creaked with
dismay, and his wedding collar wilted
Imply. But the door stood like
adamant. It was massive, like the
man, but it was not labby. The wood
Of which it was composed had spent
its early life in the open air, drink
ing only the wine Of sunshine and
heaven. and exercising against the
north blast. 1t was nothing for it to
hold out against this pillow of a man,
who had been nurtured in the dissipa-
ton and folly of a great city. The
door held its own, and If doors do
such things, the face of it must have
laughed to the silent room: and who
knows but the room wfnked back?
1t would be but natural that a room
should resent a new occupant in the
absence of a beloved owner.
He was there, safe and fast, in the
still dark, with plenty of life that call
had him at an advantage before.
In AnA rAVSrao NJ tina havinO AZ.
hausted his breath and strength in
fruitless pushing, and his vocabulary
in foolish curses, he lifted up his
voice and roared. No other word
would quite describe the sound that
issued from his mighty throat. But
the city roared placidly below him,
and no one minded him in the least.
He sacrificed the shiny toes OF the
shoes and added, resounding kicks on
changed the roar to a below like .
mad bull, but still the silence that
succeeded it vas as deep and monot-
onous as ever. He tried going to the
back Of the closet and hurting himself
against the door. but he only hurt
his soft muscles with the effort.
Finally he sat down on the floor of
the closet.
Now. the janitor's wife, who occu-
pied an apartment somewhat over-
crowded, had surreptttiousty borrow
ed the use of this closet the week be-
fore, in order 10 hang therein her
Sunday gown. whose front breadth
was covered with. grease-spotA. thick
~ overlaid with French chalk. The
French chalk had done its work and
removed the grease-spots. and now
lay thickly on the floor Of the closet.
but the imprisoned bridegroom did
not know that, and he sat down quite
naturally to rest from his unusual ex-
ertions. and to reflect on what could
be lone next.
The immediate present passed rap
idly in review. He could not afford
more than ten minutes to get nj of
this hole. He ought to be on the way
to the church at once There was
no knowing what nonsense Celia
might get into her head il he delay
ed. He had known her since her
childhood. and she had always acorn-
ed him. The hold he had upon her
7--EE-gt-