The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-10-15

Leave my clothes where they are,
or I'll knock your head on"
Yes, sir; very good, SIR"
The man bent over with his back to
Clinton. as II replacing the trousers.
When he rose he had Clinton's shoes
In his hand. Before the owner could
protest, he was at the door. A re-
spectful explanation drifted back
through the opening as the door was
drawn shut: Must polish them. sir.
You'll find them here in the morning."
Clinton leaped out Of bed and ran to
Jerk open the door. It was locked.
He raised his hand to knock, and
dropped it, probably remembering that
the door was deadened He faced
about. On the floor lay the articles
that the man had taken from his pock-
cts. He went to replace them before
the moon could glide down behind the
ragged black mass OF the mountains
and leave him In darkness.
Catching up handful Of small
change, he reached for his trousers.
They were not where he had left
them. They were neither on nor under
the neatly hung coat and waistcoat.
1t was evident that the man had SNUG
gled them out under his jacket.
CONSERVATION alone saved Clinton
from an explosion of his quick temper.
1t was truly dilemma in which he
found himself. To remain in the SAM
tarium might be to lose all chance of
escape; but to leave without trous-
ers-! The thought Of fleeing in pa
jamas with a charming young lady
whom one does not acknowledge to b(
ones sister Is, to say the least. EN-
barrassing.
He put on his remaining clothes
buttOned up the coat, examined his
appearance In the waning moonlight,
and blushed. Considerable OF his feel
merciful darkness cloaked him about.
In the obscurity, his courage rallied.
SO dark a night, no one would see.
With burglarious stealth he crept to
the bed and pulled Off the coyerlet
and sheets. To knot them end to end
He stole across to the window, low
cred the upper sash, and tied one end
of his line to the two window cords
on one side. He did not open the
screen, but stepped down to crouch in
a corner and look at his watch by tile
light of a vesta. 1t was five to twelve.
He had not completed his preparations
any too soon.
AS he returned to the window he
saw the light of passing automobile.
He sprang up on the windowseat and
opened the top screen to peer out. The
automobile slackened speed and
stopped at the first house across the
alley from the sanitarium. 1t seemed
TO be a coupe. At once he swung him
self out over the window sashes, peered
down to make certain that the window
below was unlighted, and cautiously
began to lower himself from the sill.
When he put his weight on the sheet
line it stretched with the tightening
Of the knots, but held. He slowly let
himself down. hand under hand. Be
core he came to the lower end, his
stockinged feet touched the ground.
He turned out toward the vague
blot under the overshadowing tree.
The outlines of coupe became dimly
visible, then the white form Of an out
peering face.
"All aboard" he whispered, slipping
into the seat beside the excited girl.
he ~,
and started up the street at quickly
accelerated speed. AS they swept
across the lighted intersection Clin-
ton crouched forward with his hands
on his knees. Amy did not observe
the embarrassed movement. She was
yond the intersection. She ran the
next block, swerved around the cor
ner, and turned on the coupe lights.
you're little trump" he ex-
claimed.
THAT'S nice Of you, you poor dear
boy Isn't it fun7 Isn't 1t romantic 7
| was shivering with fear that they
might pop out and Lean back till
we pass the crossi1g"
Involuntarily he obeyed. She glanced
at him to make sure, and perceived his
costume.
"Ohi" she gasped- "Ohl Didn't
you have time? Where are your
trousersT'
"I-no-that-" he stammered--
that COMPOUNDED attendant stole
them"
"Stole?"
Claimed the rules required him to
take my clothes to be pressed"
$50 that was 1t That must be one
way they keep patients from running
Off. But 1t didn't stop you, you brave
boyl"
Amy burst into gurge of irrepres-
sible mirth.
"See here" he admonished. Even
If l am"
Indeed no, not even If you are my
brother. ] mustn't see. lists real
ly too sh-shocklngw This time she
startled the silence of midnight with
a burst ~ ringing laughter.