Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-08-31
CHAPTER XII.
Midnight.

CLINTON IOlIOWeu the girl 10 MS uOOF
and watched her sprightly departure
down the corridor. When she disap-
peared in the elevator he stepped back
and nodded to the attendant.
"Tell Doctor Kirkland l do not wish
TO see him today. Oblige me by clos
ing the door and keeping it closed"
"As you wish, sir"
The door closed noiselessly. Clin-
ton went to the window. stepped up
on the hOt-water radiator window
seat, lowered the upper sash a few
inches, and felt for loose screw in
the upper left-hand corner Of tho
screen. All the screws were immovable.
He reached over to the other side.
One of the screws in that corner
turned under the twist of his finger
tip, and the screen swung outward.
He drew it shut, pushed up the win
dow. and stepped down to examine the
window-seat radiator. There was
nothing about it to which line could
be fastened. He stepped up again and
looked at the window cord. Taken
together, the cords of both sashes
might be strong enough to bear his
weight From the window he went to
the bed The sheets and coverlet.
though light, were of fine, strong ma
terial
Having made these Investigations
he settled down beside the pile of
magazines and began to read. He was
not interrupted until close upon the
fashionable hour for dining, when an
attendant opened the door and an
nounced that dinner would be served
to him in his room.
A small table was presently brought
in, and the meal served as neatly as in
q first-class restaurant The cooking
was excellent, though noticeable for
the absence of all highly seasoned
dishes and of all stimulating drinks
Neither wine nor coffee nor even tea
was served. Clinton drank his creamy
milk without complaint, and compli-
| mented the cook and the pretty wait
ress.
reported Il 10 in good appetite and
good humor. With the removal of the
table, male attendant brought in q
suit of pajamas. After this Clinton
presumed that he would be left alone
/ for the night. He smoked a cigar
that he happened to have In his pocket
read until eleven o'clock, took batl
and went to bed.
Within a minute after he had turned
| out his light. the door opened and an
attendant stepped in. with an apollo
getic: BEG pardon, sir; but YOU
clothes"
"what about my cfothesr demand
ed Clinton.
There was no reply. Clinton sa
up in bed and saw by the moonlight
which streamed in through the win
dow that the man was deity empty
ing the pockets of his trousers.
"Here-eneugh of that" he ordered
Keep your hands out of my pockets.
but l cannot take out your clothe:
without emptying them, sir" replied
the man.
"Who the devil wants you to TAKE
out my clothes?" demanded Clinton.
1.-THE management sir. We are re
CURED to clean and press all gar
ments."
Leave my clothes where they are
or I'll knock your head off"
Eyes, sir; very good. sir
The man bent over with his back t
Clinton, as if replacing the trousers
| When he rose he had Clinton's shoe
| IN his hand. Before the owner coult
| protest, he was at the door. A re
spectful explanation drifted bacl
through the opening as the door wa
drawn shut: Must polish them, sir
You'll find them here in the morning.
Clinton leapeG out of bed and ran &
jerk open the door. 1t was locked
He raised his hand TO knock, AM
dropped it, probably remembering tina
the door was deadened. He face
about. On the floor lay the article
that the man had taken from his pock
cts. He went to replace them befor
the moon could glide down behind tn
ragged black mass of the mountain
and leave him in darkness.
i Catching up a handful Of SINAI
change, he reached for his trousers
They were not where he had lef
them. They were neither on nor unde
the neatly hung coat and waistcoai
1t was evident that the man had SNUG
gled them out under his jacket.
CONSERVATION alone saved Clinic
from an explosion of his quick temper