Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-14

But as I stopped. and before e,ulS
speak. she Jumped down the stepa
and came to me. an air Of plteous
appeal In her eyes: her hands ria.
ing. she cried: "oh. AR. Charlie
you've come at last"
Automatically I replied: "Sorrv
I've been delayed" But as I spok.
I knew that she was not installing
me for another person. I could se.
the lie in her eyes. the deprecatinv
smile upon her lips. She knew that
I was not Charlie; her intention ia
entangls me manifested itself n,
once In hurried speech "oh, Mr.
Charlie, she's 50 very bad. and she.
been asking for you all night. Please
.confe up now. You won't have TO
stay very long. Oh. Mr.. Charlie, 81,
80 awful to see her so i'll. She's been
such q good mistress to me all these
years" ...
While she spoke. / analysed the
situation. Evidently l was to Be
asked into the house. Evidently I
was to be made to believe that I wa,
the missing Charlie. Something
strange and sensational must hide
behind this. for people do not Law
traps for casual strangers In Viking
Square. In the slums. yes; in the
gilded center Of the town, yes; but
not In the midst Of responsibility. Be,
s~,es, was not wearing evening
clothes, and no doubt. after two
hours in the wet. did not look like
q good prospect for robbers. The
front door was open. The blackness
Of the hall drew me irres!stibly. I
must know what there was behind
So. playing my part. I said: IAN
right. Don't get excited. But then
you always were excitable. weren't
your" went up the steps and fol.
lowed the maid into the hall.
II
The front door closed behind me
mysteriously. Almost at once, the
maid touched a switch which filed
with radiance q large and wealthy
apartment. The well-drilled servant
took my macintosh from my shoul.
ders. and as I. with intentional slow.
ness. withdrew myself from its folds.
I was able to observe with surprise
tie luxury OF my surroundings. The
walls were covered with tapestry
panels let into white and gold frames.
The hall was bare. containing only
a table and two chairs. but these
three were almost priceless Chinese
pieces. museum pieces.
the backs cut out in fantastic scroll.
ings, ribbons and wheels. And my
feet perceived the contact OF a Per.
sian rug Of incredibly fine make and
age. Those four articles represented
a small fortune.
"Will you wait q moment. Mr.
Charlie?" said the maid. She tapped
at the door OF the dining room. went
in. The apartment was liz up. At
once an elderly man in evening
clothes came toward me: "Oh.
he cried. Thank heavens
you've come at lastr'
! did not reply for a moment.
saw that the maid was going up
stairs. l watched my man carefully.
II suppose you got my wire?" he
went on vaguely. lie looked nervous.
'Oh. yes" said. had had time
to survey him. lie was tall, thin.
perhaps sixty. Good breeding ap.
peared in all hs features. and in his
also in the negligent fit Of his
dinner jacket.
"Well then" he said. wed better
go upstairs. You aunt's awfully i'll.
I'm afraid she won't last till morn
ing. and she wants to see you awful.
ly badly"
For a moment was tempted to 90
on with this mad comedy. but / pre-
fer. when can, TO be accomplice
rather than dupe. So / said: Look
here. sir. you know I'm not Charlie"
mot Charlle" he cried. What do
you mean?" But ! caught in his eyes
on his lips the depreoa.
ton which I had perceived In the
maid.
Don't be absurd" I said. but in
nm amiable tone. Il know quite well
that I'm not Charlie. and so do you.
and you know know. But / don't
mind going further with this
II you Ike"
His eyes seemed to measure me:
u don't see how can" he replied.
Continued I'm Our Next Issue)