Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-27

PACK 10 my room till we consider what is
best to be done.'
we retraced our steps silently. A
Vlgllant night Waterman passed on bis
ROUNDS, but did not heed us. How could
ne know the anguish that was rackiug
our very lights and livers9 He couldn't,
happy Fellow. AS we neared my door [
nad an idea. l sometimes have. Strange
mat neither of us had thought of a most
reasonable explanation before. or course,
the whole thing was clear now. Pshaw,
what brace of blockheads we were, to
pc sure. The season was gradually COM
ing to an end; the hotel was thinning out
ana Mr.. Palmer, the ever thoughtful room
clerk, had moved my companions wife to
a larger apartment at the front of the
house. When l mentioned this 10 the
suffering husband be clutched at the
idea as a drowning man does at drift
wood. Only moment was he relieved,
however, for he gasped the horrible
words:
"'But, the trunkr
"That was a blow to my fine-spun
theory, had to admit. Still, reasoned,
the transfer of rooms might have been
made late in the afternoon and the over
worked porters might not have been able
to attend to the transfer OF the baggage.
L confess that l was unable to impart
much enthusiasm to my consoling assur-
ances.
,. HAD TO BE DONE.
"'Clearly, there was only one thing to be
done. The husband must go down to the
desk and ascertainIf his room-his wife's
room-had been changed since his dep ar
ture. No; l couldn't go. Positively no!
He must be diplomatic, too, l assured
him, for his wife's honor depended ON not
awakening any suspicion at the desk. |
still felt that there must be a clear way
ont OF this tangle, but | couldn't see any
daylight ahead. He argued with me again.
The husband, not the friend, must go.
Yes. l was firm on that point. i braced
him up as we'll as | could to the top of the
main stairway leading to the Office. Then
l waited. My friend was about as diplo-
matte as a Hollahder. He walked up to
the desk and, glaring wildly at Clerk Ben
Hays, demanded:
"Why In the flend's name did you move
my room while l was awayP
" 'Your room has not been changed,
SIR was the calm reply of the veteran
clerk as he glanced over the rack on
which the names are all carefully set
down. Then he said 'Frontp in voice
that made the colored porter on duty
spring forward. MIR. Hays said to him in
a matter of-fact way:
"'Show this gentleman to his room.'"
81 saw that a crisis had come. Step
ping down the stairs, plunged into the
thick of the contest. My friend, the hus-
band, acted as though he would fall limp
upon the f1oar. Mr.. Hays expected him
to, evidently, for be whispered to the por-
ter to take the guests arm, but the hus-
band wouldn't have it, He recovered
knew the way; didn't want anybody to
show him to-tO--his room. Hotel clerks
were always impudent, he added.
"Mr. Hays, who has had thirteen years.
experience at the Fifth Avenue Hotel and
West End, had seen such cases before.
He knew the only way to manage man
under the circumstances was to let him
alone. That's what he did. His theory
worked like a charm in this case; and
making what apology l could for my now
thoroughly distracted companion, l be-
gan to navigate him toward the stairway.
Now, l expect you to believe me when l
tell you this staggering man was dead
SOBER He hadn't had drop in my room
because there's never any there. 1t don't
last. Why, | actually thought I'd have
to carry my friend, his legs doubled up so
under the weight his grief. God knows
Ipitied him.
THE PUNISHMENT is DEATH.
"What was to be done? l tried, again
and again, to imagine myself in this
awful predicament. Impossible. must,
of course, regard all that / knew and had
seen as sacred secret (though an I'M
willing confidence that could not be drag
ged from me with heated pincers. 1t
should die with me. But what next? That
was the husbands place to decide, and
his only.
"'Have you pistolv he finally asked.
"'Yes.' l answered, reluctantly. l
hadn't any real wish to be made an ac-
cessory to a murder before the fact, nor
had l the heart to refuse a boon to a
wronged and outraged friend. Anything
had in this world was at his disposal, and
| said SO.
"We had reached my room for the third
time. 1t was after l o'clock-nearer ,,
IN TACT, as found by looking at my watch.
| got out the heavy weapon, examined it
to see that it was properly loaded, and
laid it on the table, 80 that he could take
1T. lie OWNED my mental reservation.
He evidently believed that | shrunk from
handing him a pistol about to be used in
taking a human life. I'd cross the Rubi-
con. l seized the heavy revolver, placed
it in his hands, and, with heroic rising
InileXion. said:
"'GO, and do your duty!'
"The way in which the merchant
0dUUleQ Tue WedpUn SdLlSueu uIb Ludb us
never before had had pistol in bis
fingers. His first act was to place the
butt against his breast and to bring the
weapon to full cook. Then his confidence
grew stronger and his recklessness in
creased.
FORCE OF HEROIC EXAMPLE.
"Stepping back, to give the injured hus-
band courage, l urged him to avenge
himself. [ told him how Mr.. Murat
HaIstead had only the other day actually
threatened TO shOot Mr.. John II. Mclean,
and that be had telegraphed column or
80 about the daring act to all the papers
of the country. Now, do you know, that
was one of the most unfortunate remarks
ever remember to have made. The mer-
chant and husband had read the blood
curdling screed himself, and, recalling
likewise the fierceness OF Mr.. Halstead' g
letter to Secretary Chase in 1868, he
said:
'''They both had seconds. You must
be mine. can't kill man without
second. tell you, it isn't right
81 would have smiled, too, had been
Indifferent to the fate Of this family. as
you are. But / assured you 1t was most
solemn moment, which the succeeding
remark did not render less grave. The
husband had Strengthened himself up as