Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/253

Rh Many years ago I was nursing for Mrs. W, at the Broadway Hotel. My charge was a little girl, who has since grown up an elegant, accomplished and beautiful young lady—an ornament to society, and also the city that gave her birth. While nursing there, I was one night sent out for some coal—as Mrs. W. did not only mind her children by day, but during the night, to see to their comfort. It was about two o'clock. The coal was kept in a closet under the stairwayy. [sic] While there, I heard a noise in the hall, which alarmed me very much, and on looking out I saw three gentlemen, stepping about very softly. I thought they were robbers, and went into the closet and closed the door.

Presently I heard the voice of a female, when, getting over my fright, I opened the door and went out. Immediately a woman, running out, caught hold of me, and asked me to save her. I asked her what was the matter, when she said those men meant to kill her. She clung to me, and came with, me to my lady's door, when I left her and took in the coal—telling my lady of the matter, and saying I would go back and stay an hour or so with her, which my lady permitted me to do.

I found her to be a Mrs., from Maine. She was of medium hight, had beautiful, wavy chesnut hair, and showed every appearance of having been well raised and of good family. After much persuasion, I got her to her room. She would let no one near her but me, and I sat down on the floor, took her on my lap, and sung to her for six long hours, and by that means kept her quiet; but I was exhausted myself.