Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-11-08
A Chest In an Insurance Office-A Singular
StePy

= The st. Louis Republican of Oct. 80 says: GA
singular occurrence took place a few nights ago
in one Of our insurance Offices young man,
whose name we choose to withhold, EMPLOYED
as a clerk in the ofice-which is located In the
third story of the building-was engaged in
writing at his desk, between 9 and 10 o'clock
At night. No one else was present or in the
immediate vicinity-all the adjoining offices
having been closed at nightfall. While thus
engaged in writing, he was suddenly inter-
rupted by q man whom he had not noticed,
who inquired if Mr.. McCullock was in. The
clerk replied that he was not, and that he
knew Of no man Of that name employed any
where about the premises.
Having made this reply, he commenced
writing again. A few minutes later he discoy-
cred that his strange intruder had not moved
from the position which he first assumed, and
the inquiry and attendant circumstances then
struck him as being somewhat singular. He
Immediately turned from the desk at which he
was seated, and scanned the strange gentle
man appearance, inquiring at the same time
whether he bad any further business. The ap-
psarance OF the stranger was rather prepossess-
ing. He was tall, dark featured, and well
dressed. He made no response to the clerk g
first interrogatory, however, but coolly ga.ed
at him with an air Of Indifference.
This procedure aroused the suspicion of the
clerk, as well as his anger, and he repeated his
y,
same time emphatically informed the strange
gentleman that unless he could give a salts
factory account of himself he should be undo
the necessity of hustling him out of the Office
The stranger thereupon placed his hands be-
hind him and leisurely replied as follows
" I've been sent here, and shall stay here. :"
Without stopping to parley further the clerk
opened safe near at hand, took out revolver
and leveled it at once at his visitor, at the
same time informing him that he would give
him two minutes to leave the office The
stranger did not move, and did not offer any
remark in return; but gazed steadily, with his
hands behind him, at the clerk The two
minutes passed, and there stood the stranger
In Stdtu guo. The clerk then took deliberate
aim at him and fred. He stood within ten
feet OF the stranger He is known to be q
good shot, and his bravery is unquestionabIe
and were We at liberty to publish his name,
his numerous acquaintances would not doubt
our assertions
But notwithstanding these facts, the stran.
ger, after the discharge Of the pistol, remained
as immoVable as ever. He exhibited no sur
prise whatever, and offered no remarks The
clerk was Of course much astonished and not
little startled, and was at loss what next
to do, as he had discharged the only barrel of
his pistol, which was loaded. After the lapse
OF about minute after the discharge of tho
pistol-during which time no word was ut
tered-the stranger shook his coat skirts, gave
slight shrug and walked leisurely out of the
room and down stairs. The whole affair was
SO strange, unusual and unacoountable, that
the clerk was completely nonplussed, and re-
mained stationary for few moments after the
departure of his visitor. Suddenly rousing
himself, however, he rushed down stairs into
the street, but the stranger had vanished
The clerk has heard nothing from him since.
The affair, every one must acknowledge was
very singular, but the circumstance occurred
precisely as We have related them.