Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-07-01

ing dual existence. In short, Twas
on the verge Of lunacy when the climax
came.
One evening when / went home to
supper in my usual perturbed state of
mind there was strange man at my
gate. He had a keen, Ratchet face and
wore a SLOUGH hat.
"Mr. Frank n. Styne, l believe"
Eyes, sir"
II am member of the city detective
force. The chief wants to see you at
his Office.
"What forP" gasped.
Il dom know. You bad better come
down at once"
"All right" | said, my brain in a
whirl. "Wat till l 60 in and see my
wife,
"Your wife is at the Office" he re-
piled with peculiar smile.
Shocked and alarmed beyond express
sion. piled him with questions, but
he insisted that he knew nothing of
''the case,' as he called it, and hurried
me along. The fact that l had not the
slightest idea what Mabel could be
doing at the police headquarters re-
doubled my fears. The chiefs Office
was approached by series of passage
ways, at the end of one of which saw,
as in field-glass, room in which
were seated my wife and stout gen.
tleman in uniform, whom l knew by
sight and reputation. Mabel did not
seem frightened. but was very pale and
wore determined look.
"Mabelr' l cried, as l rushed in,
"what does this meanp''
"Your wife, interposed the chief,
blandly, Estates that you are acquainted
with the occupant of room II. No. e
Staunton place. Is that a factp"
"What about it?'' l asked, appre.
| ciating the necessity of gaining some
more information before committing
myself
Have you seen the evening papersP
mo"
Then" said the chief, "Iwill tell you
frankly what want, for believe you t.
be Il man of reputation. The occupan
of room II No. 20 Staunton place, wa
murdered last night, and the occu
pant of room ~ is suspected. w
could not find out who that individual
was, but your wife has been kim
enough to inform us that it is part,
named Bancroft, friend of yours
We want Bancroft. When and wher
did you see him last?"
l felt the ground suddenly slippin,
from under my feet. The whole horro
of my situation flashed upon me
Mabel spoke up:
Frank" she said, "when saw tina
number in the paper this afternoon
knew it was Bancroft. could not kce]
silent after such dreadful thing, ant
l felt that this was perhaps the wa
open to break your connection witt
that wretch. So put on my thing
and came down here. 1t was for bot
our sakes. o, Frank, tell the gentle
man all you know of that man and lie
us at least get our skirts clear of thi
j awful crime"
The chief looked at me iixedly. Unde
certain circumstances mans brai
will work like lightning. In an instan
, l had formulated plan.
"Have you aprivate roomP" l asked
yes" he replied, "come this way.
7 "Wait here" said to Mabel; I'd
| not be alarmed. will tell him all"
7 When the chief closed the door of tn
5 inner room | said to him very calmly.
"There is no such man as Bancroft.
: "Whatp" he exclaimed, starting OF
. of his professional stoicism.
I ale is mere creation of my poe
. wife's fancy" l replied, sadly.
{ Explain yourself.
A II will. If you will make the mo,
trifling inquiries you will find that n
n such person as Bancroft ever existed
a Did she tell you he used to work
: Reeds tea store?"
h Eyes, believe she did"
+ "Well, inquire at Reeds and you wi
$ learn that he never had such man in h
}. employ. The fact is, my wife exhibi
}. at times certain signs of mental abe
d ration. This imaginary man Bancro
II is the mostnoticeablc one. l had hope,
G sir, to keep this secret locked forev'
/, in my own breast, but these circun
It stances force me, of course, to make
y confession of it to you. trust, as re
J. tleman you will not betray this mela
&c choly confidence. My physician HI
d warned me not to disturb the hall
u cination, else | would have warnt
d you in the other room. suppose 81
told you, among other things, tn
d Bancroft once thrust billiard CT
n down a clergyman's throat"
"Yes, she did say something abo
ii that. "
= well, how preposterous that
( Do you want further proof"
Tho chief as convinced. Il motto,
something queer about her eyes,"
!. said, grasping my hand sympathetic;
ly. depend upon me to keep mum
:. Mabel was anxiously waiting O.
- coming 1T is all right, Mrs. Styne
:, said the chief. "Your husband h
;" told me every thing and you can
- now: I'm much obliged to you"
!! She cried little on the way hoi
and wanted to be sure | was not angI
), Where has that monster gomez" 5
" asked.
70 70 ''He has fed" l replied, land W
~ ~ never bother us again."
~ And he never has. / keep regul
~ hours now and hold out my experien
as solemn warning to all those W
mediate going into the creative bu
u ness. Chicago Tribune.
-, ABOVE PAR.
WIN n Texas Student ShOwad Some /