Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-07-22


heart 1 entered the house. Mabel was
IN bed, and turned her head slightly
without looking at me or speaking. |
ielt intuitiveiy that she was crying.
AT that instant, any plan, any lie, no
matter how black, that would have
renewed the poor girls distress would
nave seemed noble to me. So it was
with no pang of conscience thatIs sank
INTO a chair and exclaimed in a hol-
low voice: 20, Mabel, if you had
seen what have seen you would be
sick at heart"
What was it, Frank" she asked
bed
This was the effect l had calculated
upon, and for moment | said moth.
ING, as II too much overcome to speak.
Then in low tone continued:
Bancroft is IN jail?"
%, Frank" she cried, her eyes sud
denly dilating. what has he donei"
Again was overcome with emotion;
had to have time to think.
You know how Bancroft is when
he IS drinking" ] said, finally.
Yes" she replied, eagerly, "very
quarrelsome."
Exactly. Well, we we're playing a
game of Billiards last night. I hadn't
noticed that he was under the influence
OF liquor, but he got into a dispute
with clergyman, who was a perfect
stranger, and took his billiard cue
and"
"Killed the minister shrieked Ma.
bel.
NO, thrust it down his throat and
broke it off"
Mabelstopped herears and Ipaused
for breath.
"Of course" | went on, che was ar
rested and / went out to get bail for
him.
what business is that OF yours''
asked Mabel, sharply.
For your sake, dear" | replied.
Although no party to the affair ]
realized how the linking OF my name
with it would pain and mortify my
little girl, so | determined to sink
my pride and ask some of my friends
to go on Bancroft's bond to hush the
matter up"
"Gou dear, old darling. said Mabel,
impetuously, "can you forgive me?"
forgave her, and, assuming the
meln OF martyr, went to bed. From
that moment, however, she regarded
Bancroft as my bad angel, and hated
him with all the cordiality of indig.
nant womanhood.
Meantime Bancroft had commenced
to haunt me. From being anaturall
frank and open disposition, | became
preternaturally yigilant and alert,
fearful each instant that / would
betray myself and realizing that each
day put mefurther from the possibili-
ty of an explanation. | grew pre-oc-
eupied, moody, morose. Ny nerves,
quivering under the tension, were Civ
ing way. looked scared and guilty.
The very name of Bancroft was hate
full TO me, and when my wife harped
upon him felt that should go mad
if did not get away. He had become
astonishingly real to me, and / felt my
personality becoming mixed and
meshed with this myth--this man OF
air and nothingness-in a manner that
upset all my previous notions OF iden.
tity. almost believed that had ac-
tually met Bancroft at some time,
or that was living a dual existence.
In short, ] was on the verge of lunacy
when the climax came.
One evening when 1 went home to
supper in my usual perturbed state OF
mind there was strange man at my
gate. He had keen, Ratchet face,
and wore sioueh hat.
"Mr. Frank n. Styne, believe"
"Yes, SIR"
az am a member of the city detec-
tive f9Ice. The chief wants to see you
at his office"
"All right" gasped. my brain in a
whirl. "Wait till go in and see my
wife
"Your wife is at the Office" he re-
piled with a peculiar smile.
Shocked and alarmed beyond ex-
preston, piled him with questions,
but he insisted that he knew nothing
of "the case" as he called it, and hur-
ried me along. The fact that | had
not the slightest idea what Mabel
could be doing at the police headquar-
tiers redoubled my fears.
The chiefs Office was approached by
a series OF passageways, at the end of
of one which saw, as in field-glass, "a
room in which were seated my wife
and stout gentleman in uniform,
whom knew by sight and reputation.
Mabel did not seem frightened, but
was very pale and wore a determined
look
"Mabelr / cried, as l rushed in,
what does this mean?"
your wife," mterposed the chief,
blandly, Estates that you are &C
1uainted with the occupant of room
II, No. 20 Staunton place. Is such
the fact?"
'What about it2" / asked, appre-
ciating the necessity of gaining some
more information before committing
myself.
Have you seen Intervening papers?"
"No."
.Then," said the chief, al will tell
you frankly what | want, for believe
you to be a man OF reputation. The
occupant of room 10, No. 20 Staun-
ton place, was murdered last night,
and the occupant of room IL is sus-
pected. We could not find out who
that individual was, but your wife has
been kind enough to inform US that it
is a party named Bancroft, friend of
yours. We want Bancroft. When
and where did you see him last2"
j felt the ground suddenly slipping
from under my feet. The whole hor-
ror OF my situation flashed upon me-
Mabel spoke up; Frank" she said
when / saw that number in the paper
this afternoon ! knew that it was
Bancroft. could not keep silent aft
er such dreadful thing, and / felt
that this was perhaps the way open
to break your connection with that
wretch. So put on my things and
came down here. 1t was for both our
sakes. o, Frank, tell the gentleman
ali you know of that nan and let us
at least get our skirts clear OF this aw
full crime"
The chief looked at me fixedly. I'M
der certain circumstances a mans
brain will work like lightning. In an
instant | had formulated & plan.
"Have you private room?" l
asked.
"Yes," he replied, "eome this way"
"Wait here" | said to Mabel; do
not be alarmed will tell him all"
When the chief closed the door of
the inner room | said to him very
There is no such man as Bancroft.
He is a mere creation of my poor
wife's fancy" said.
Explain yourself.
IL will. II you will make the most
trifiing inquiries you will find that no
such person as Bancroft ever existed.
Did she tell you he used to work in
Reeds tea store?"
ayes. l believe she did"
'sWell, inquire at Reeds ard you
will learn that he never had such q
mau in his employ. The fact is, my
wife exhibits at times certain signs of
This imaginary man