The Argosy, March 1907 — page 175: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Se Steen , _ again, A SILVER -denly remembered that probably he would be unable to find Sears’s house as the streets were only lighted on the corners, and very poorly at that. Turning, he noted a large tree which he felt certain stood in front of Sears’s residence, and so, reassured, he walked on, After a stroll of half or three- quarters of an hour, he retraced his steps. The moon had evidently grown tired _ of shining, and had gone to sleep behind an impenetrable cloud. Everything and everywhere was dark as pitch. Voorhees began to regret that he had gone so far. Not a soul was stirring; everybody, evidently, went to bed with the chickens in this neighborhood. At last, however, he found his street. The rest was easy. Spot the tree, and he would be home. He walked on. He remembered he had come down two blocks before turn- ing a corner, and so back he went two blocks after turning into the street. He found the tree, and sighed with relief. But the sigh was premature. He was sure this tree had stood in front of Sears’s home, but, as a matter of fact, it was in front of the house next door. Ignorant of this detail, Voorhees con- fidently mounted the steps of the veranda and tried the door. It was unlocked, as he had left it. Pushing it open, he entered the dark reception-room. It was not necessary for him to light a match, -as he knew the way, having been shown his room before Sears took his departure. -» Voorhees wondered if he had returned. a bite before going to bed. ~He groped his way to the left of the hallway, where he knew the stairs lead- ing to the second story were situated. He found them, and was in the act of ascending, when his ear caught a slight noise in the stillness. He listened, and he heard it again. It came from the direction of the kitchen. Instantly he jumped to the conclusion that Sears had returned-and was taking Voorhees felt that a small piece of cheese and cracker would not go bad after his walk, and besides, he wished to tell Sears about his troubles in getting home. He re- solved to go back to the kitchen and _join him. He felt for a match to light the way, but could find none. The only thing curred when Voorhees MUDDLE. left to do was to grope through the dining-room until he reached the kitchen. Through the dining-room, therefore, he went without accident, although he moved very cautiously. The door lead- ing to the kitchen was closed, but he could see a faint stream of light under- neath. He would not call to Sears, he decided, but go in on him unexpectedly and try to scare him. He approached the door and found the knob. For a moment he paused, and then a puerile idea seized him. He would open the door quickly and in a frightening voice exclaim, “ Booh! ”’ He did so. His recollection of what occurred during the following ten sec- onds is rather hazy. Did you ever notice two cats, probably - rivals for the affections of some glossy- haired feminine feline, come upon each other quite suddenly around a corner? They stop stock still, their eyes widen and glow with hatred, their heads lower, and tlfeir backs and tails rise in indigna- tion. Well, that is not exactly what oc- ‘“ boohed”’ into the kitchen, but the comparison will give an idea of the scene. A shriek followed the “ booh,’ and then all was quiet. Coming out of the intense darkness of the dining-room into the glare of the kitchen’s gaslight for a moment blinded Voorhees, and he was unable to see the person who _ had shrieked. Of one thing, however, he was sure. It was not Sears. It was the voice of a woman. Gradually his eyelids ceased their blinking, his vision became clear, and his surprise increased, For there, on the other side of the room, supporting herself with one hand on the table, stood a young girl. She was robed in her night-dress, and her hair flowed about her face and shoulders in luxurious disorder. In her right hand she clutched a newly made lettuce sandwich. She was the girl Voorhees had seen on the train that afternoon. For several seconds, which seemed like hours to each of them, neither spoke. The girl’s face was gradually resuming the color which had fled from her cheeks, Gomireboo 747 (SECO i | : > eh Ne rae