Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1921-01-01
CHAPT ER XII.
Midnight.

Midnight
Clinton followed the girl ia his door
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
20 see him today. Oblige me by clos
ing the door and keeping it closed"
AS you wish, sir"
The door closed nOiSelesSIy. Gin
ton went TO the window, stepped up
on the hot-water radiator window
seat, lowered the upper sash a few
tinches. and felt for a loose screw in
, the upper left-hand corner of the
screen. All the screws were immOvable.
He reached over to the other side.
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 a 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
teral.
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
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.
The girl. who was a trained nurse,
reported b 10 in good appetite and
good humor. With the removal Of the
table, a male attendant brought in a
suit of pajamas. After this Clinton
presumed that he would be left alone
for the night. He smoked cigar
that he happened to have in his pocket.
read until eleven o'clock. took ii bath
and went to bed.
Within a minute after he had turned
out his light, the door opened and an
attendant stepped in, with IN apollo
getiC: Beg pardon, sir; hut your
clothes"
what about my clothes?' demand
ed Clinton.
There was no reply. Clinton sat
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.
"Herc-enOugh of that :" he ordered.
Keep your hands out of my pockets"
"But l cannot take out your clothes
without emptying them sir" replied
he man.
"Who the devil wants you to take
ont my clothes?" demanded Clinton.
The management. sir. We are re-
quircd to clean and press all gar
mcntS."
Leave my clothes where they are.
or I'll knock your head off"
Yes. sir; very good. sir"
The man bent over with his back to
Clinton. as if replacing the trousers.
I When he rose he had ClintOn's shoes
III his hand. Before the owner could
protest, he was at the door. A re-
spectful explanation drifted back
through the opening us the door was
drawn shut: Must polish them. sir.
You'll find them here in the morning
Clinton teape,i out Of he'd and ran TO
jerk open the door. II was locked.
He raised his hand to knock. and
dropped it, probably remembering that
the door was deadeaed. He faced
about. On the floor lay the articles
that the man had taken from his peck
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 a 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.
Ii was evident that The man had smug-
gled them out under his jacket.
CONSERVATION alone saved Clinton
from an explosion of his quick temper