The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-22

! So nice and high up. When 1 was on the
ground floor 1 did not sleep very well.
Miss Thorne told me one day that the
people in the house were always leaving
the front door open. 1t was rather heavy,
and did not shut unless you shut It,
winch sometimes In hurry you did not
do. And Miss Thorne confided to me
that one of the men in the house had
lost pair of trousers, and she thought
that some one had walked in the front
door and walked off with them, if not in
them. | timidly suggested that as l was
the only one who slept on the first floor
that / did not feel particularly happy
about it. why, how ridiculous" she
said. This is the best policed city in the
country. We never lock the back door.
You see the high wall back of us protects
US. had seen man, the gardener next
door. sitting that wall the day be-
fore, swinging his feet OVER OUR SIDE
OF THE WALL. And I knew that the
back door led to the back stairs. So L
was glad to get nearer the roof. Patty.
| like adventure, but not too much, par
ticularly at night. l have decided to adj
venture in the daytime. 1t may not be so
exciting, but 1 believe 1t is safer.
I had bolted all my doors down stairs,
and kept my windows down, with small
aperture at the top to let in the air. and
spring had come and gone. and the aper-
ture was small for this time of year. SO
1 drew a deep breath of satisfaction (Nor
that L had been afraid, of course) ana
threw my windows wide.
But the light bothered me- 1t seemed
to me that never saw so much light in
all my life. The first night 1 slept
through it. But the second night l got
up and went to the window and looked
out. l saw a brightly lighted house,
across the way, but the curtains were
drawn, and the light was not quite
disturbing as it had been. So 1 turned
my cot around and went back to bed. and
dreamed that was in Pensacola and that
{ Dad was writing me a check for one thod-
sand dollars, and telling me to spend it 10
suit myself. 1t was rather a shock when
walked up in the morning with the maid
knocking on the door to tell that l was
wanted at the phone. / got INTO negi-
gee and was furious when 1 found 1t was
that MONSTER who wanted my ART. L
used to hate Dads profanity, but now !
know that all things have a place. Not
being polite to swear, l slammed down
the phone, took my bath at my leisure,
had my toast and cotree, served in my
room, and then, deep in consideration as
to whether the slim young lady with the
broken back that 1 was drawing should
wear a sport suit or a morning gown,
strolled over to the window and looked
out The room overlooked q yAonderful
garden. Over the high wall a wistaria
vine clambered. There was paved
court with a fountain in the center,
grass that grew between the walks and
bushes with nice, green, and not very
dusty leaves. And not very big and
rather Japanesey- looking, but real tree
And if the fountain had been playing it
would have been lovely. AS it was, it
was spick and span could be, ana
made delightful introduction to the
great house of which it was the rear.
The house. which is really two houses
in one, is of red brick, and six stories
high. There were numberless windows,
and on the second flooA. rnese windows
tanned in exquisite lace an old-fash-
toned pattern. The glimpses one gained
through those curtains gave one sense
OF luxurious appointment and iavished
wealth. But there was no sign of life.
That night 1 was so tired 1 fell asleep
as soon as my head struck the pillow but
was awakened suddenly with start. 1
rad forgotten to turn the cot about and
the light was streaming in. I got up and
walked over to the window and looked
down in evaporation at the flood OF
brilliancy. But l did not go back to bed.
/ was too Interested. The curtains were
drawn back and in beautifully furnish
ed room old, white haired man sat 1T
an old-fashioned secretary, going over pa
pers. He was small almost attenuated
ir form, with pale, aseetic face. He
might have just stepped out of the pages
Of a best seller, for the effect his ap-
pearance had on me. 1 was enthralled,
watching him. The on:y sign of life
had seen about the house.
The next morning I found the place so
deserted-looldng. thought perhaps had
dreamed it, but the next night 1 looked
out, and there sat my old man-and the
next day and the next. / formed the
habit of getting up early in the morning
to verify my vision of the night before,
but he is never there. But every night
hi faIxr
clad in evening dress, going over number
less papers, always looking exactly the
same-like a picture from the past.
Patty, II you will solve the mystery, ]
viii give you a prize. You used to be a
master hand, when it Came 10 solving
riddles.
, Your loving,
POLLY