ing
on above!"

He lay back, thinking the noise would cease, but Paul, finding the
knocking on the door ineffectual, began to jump up and down, as I have
already said. Of course this noise was heard distinctly in the room
below.

"This is getting intolerable!" exclaimed Mr. Piper, becoming more and
more excited. "The man ought to be indicted as a common nuisance.
How they can allow such goings-on in a respectable hotel, I can't
understand. I should think the fellow was splitting wood upstairs."

He took his cane, and, standing on the bed, struck it furiously against
the ceiling, intending it as signal to the man above to desist. But
Paul, catching the response, began to jump more furiously than ever,
finding that he had attracted attention.

Mr. Piper became enraged.

"The man must be a lunatic or overcome by drink," he exclaimed. "I can't
and I won't stand it."

But the noise kept on.

Mr. Piper put on his shoes and his coat, and, seizing his cane, emerged
upon the landing. He espied a female servant just coming upstairs.

"Here, you Bridget, or Nancy, or whatever your name is," he roared,
"there's a lunatic upstairs, making a tremendous row in the room over
mine. If you don't stop him I'll leave the hotel. Hear him now!"

Bridget let fall her duster in fright.

"Is it a crazy man?" she asked.

"Of course he must be. I want you to go up and stop him."

"Is it me that would go near a crazy man?" exclaimed Bridget,
horror-struck; "I wouldn't do it for a million dollars; no, I wouldn't."

"I insist upon your going up," said Mr. Piper, irritably. "He must be
stopped. Do you think I am going to stand such an infernal thumping over
my head?"

"I wouldn't do it if you'd go down on your knees to me," said Bridget,
fervently.

"Come along, I'll go with you."

But the terrified girl would not budge.

"Then you go down and tell your master there's a madman up here. If you
don't, I will."

This Bridget consented to do; and, going downstairs, gave a not very
coherent account of the disturbance. Three male servants came back with
her.

"Is that the man?" asked the first, pointing to Mr. Piper, who certainly
looked half wild with irritation.

"Yes," said Bridget, stupidly.

Immediately Mr. Piper found himself pinioned on either side by a stout
servant.

"What have you been kickin' up a row for?" demanded the first.

"Let me alone, or I'll have the law take care of you," screamed the
outraged man. "Can