Those listening at the foot of the stairs heard the first gentle rap on the door, an outburst of profanity, followed almost instantly by a sharp snap, as if a lock had given way, then brief scuffling mingled with the loud creaking of a bed.

Scarcely a minute later the marshal appeared on the landing above, one hand firmly gripped in the neck-band of an undershirt, thus securely holding the writhing, helpless figure of a man, who swore violently every time he could catch his breath.
"Any other room you could conveniently assign Mr .-- ah--Montgomery to, Tommy ?" he asked pleasantly.

"If he doesn't like it in the morning, he could be changed, you know." "Give--give him '47.'" "All right.

I'm the bell-boy temporarily, Montgomery; easy now, my man, easy, or I'll be compelled to use both hands.

'Red,' carry the gentleman's luggage to '47'-- he has kindly consented to give up his old room to a lady--come along, Montgomery." It was possibly five minutes later when he came down, still smoking, his face not even flushed.
"Montgomery is feeling so badly we were obliged to lock him in," he reported to the clerk.