Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-10-07
THE cONDOR'S MANIFEST.


from the business quarters of the river
city, and the key had been turned In
the front door by the clerk. He had re-
ceived instructions concerning certain
correspondence which had to be ready
for the morning mail, hence his pres
ence in the cOunting-roOm at the hour
we named.
With his accustomed promptitude
the letters had been written, and, for
rest and recreation, the clerk had hung
himself into an easy Office chair. His
presence was not demanded anywhere,
and he did not feel like deserving
comfortable fire for the windswept
streets.
The Condor is coming up" he said
in an audible tone to himself; and, by
my lady's love | forgot to look at
her manifest this morning.
A daily journal was within reach;
and the next moment the confidential
clerk was running his eye down the
column of river news. Galley q Co.,
were the largest commission dealers IN
the city, and almost dailyreceived con-
signmcnts from the South. These
consignments brought work to Mark
Compton, and therefore the river col
umn always elected his especial atten-
ton.
On the particular night with which
we deal, the manifest" Of the South
ern boats soon greeted :he clerk eye,
and it was while running over 1t that
he almost started from his chair.
There must be a mista ke some
where" he exclaimed, with his eye
still riveted on the page before him.
WHO could be sending such an OBJ
iect to me from the South-frOm any
where There surely must be another
Mark Compton in the city
With the paper in his hand, the clerk
rose and opened the ponderous "Di.
reetory" on the desk. A moment la
ter he was running his finger down the
list of Comptons, speaking audibly at
ter the manner:
Compton, 0. G. Compton, Nathan;
Compton, Mary; Martin, Maxwell T.
The mischief take it. I'm the only
Mark Compton in the book"
He closed the volume greatly per-
picked, and looked at the paper again.
BY George! I'm going to claim
that portion of the Condor's manifest
marked to Mark Compton" he ejac-
ulated. I've heard of real life-mys-
teries, and, as this may be the only
one | may ever run against, I'm going
to make the most of it.
Having reached, a conclusion, the
confidential clerk of Gaffey q Co., don
ned his overcoat. lowered the gas, and
left the store. He made his way to the
wharf; and inquired at the steamship
Office if the Condor had arrived.
Just in, Mr.. Compton, answered
the night clerk, who knew him as Cat
fey & Cos, "right-bower, " and Mark
at once proceeded to the accustom
ed landing of the particular packet.
Straight to the office Of the clerk
of the Condor he made his way
after obtaining a foOthold OG the boat
and was soon looking over the bills Of
ladiDg.
At that moment the boats clerk en-
tered the apartment.
"Thirty-two barrels of oranges f0i
Gaffey & Co." he said, nOdding anC
smiling to Mark, land a consignment
TO you, Mr.. Compton"
"Yes," answered the clerk, growing
pale.
~ relative, | presume. D"
mo; a friend.
'Ah! yes, the best of friends mus
part" said the COndOr's clerk, with ;
show of sympathy that almost made
Compton smile. DO you wish the
the deceased tO-night?'
II have come for the body" wa
II 4
receipt he hurried from the boat.
On the wharf he met the favored
draymen Of Gaffey q Co. One of then
he accosted:
There a box on board the Condo
for me; see Marley, aud bring it to tn
store as soon as possible
The man complied by moving to
ward the boat, and Compton Teturne'
TO the store.
I'm in for it now" he said with ;
curious smile, dOfhng his overcoat
The dickens knows what's going +
come Of this, and if there's anOthe
Mark Compton in the city, why | INA.
be reminded Of law to punish fellow
who obtain goods under false pretense>
Well, if the thing shouldn't be mine
there a train going out of the city be
fore day, and the clerk laughed at hi
own words.
1t was this announcement that hat
first startled the clerk, and he fOunC
1t in the report of the COndOr's mani
fest:
Mark Compton, one corpse"
Brief as the sentence was, it wa
enough to Startle any person, aud t
say that Gaifey Il Cos, cOnhdentlG
clerk was astcuHded and Mystic
would not be describing his feeling:
Who would send him corpse?
More than one hundred times ha
he asked himself the question sine
reading of the terrible freight consign
ed to man Of his cOgnomcn, and a
often had he failed to answer 1t.
Finally he had resolved to await tn
arrival of the consignment wlthou
botherlng himself further with tn
ncyp exing interrogation; bat, llk
the ghost in Macbeth it would no
down. 1t tormented the poor clerk
and his torture was reaching an acm
of terror when he heard the dray Il
the door
The sound was a relief, and presan ut
IL the long and suggestive box was i
the cOunting-room of Gatfey x &c
After it's reception Mark dismissed To
drayman after whom he locked til
door, and, returning to the little room
took up a formidable-looking screw
driver
But he did not attempt to use tn,
instrument until he had spelled an,
reSpelled his name on the box. Their
were the letters that spelled Mar
Compton, and they were ARRANGED i
proper order. The lid of the boz va
we'll down by screws, and at last til
little shining heads received the clerk
attention. Having doffed his coat, tn
young man stopped down aud worke
with will and silence. The screw
came out without noise; but the swea
dropped from the workers brow.
Mark Compton's face MAS white an
almost expressiouless, and he never T,
moved his eyes from his work.
At last the last crew was drawn, an
the lifting of the lid revealed a hanC
some metallic coffin.
At the sight of this the esHfdenti
clerk 81 Gaffey Il Co., started bsei
sav;1q in voice very husky now:
a corpse it is. by heavens
He placed the lid n one corner
the room and returned to the coffin
4he OpiOha hesitafed. while b