Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-26
I THE VICTIM
OF HIS
CLOTHES.
By Howard Fielding and Frederick z. Burton.
rCoPYRIGHT. 1901
CHAPTER Xl.
VIRTUES OF NECESSITY.


lures he ought to have met the emer-
gency with calmness and q ready wit.
He had certainly experienced quite
enough of encounters with the police;
but, law-abiding citizen that no was,
having an innate and cultivated respect
Tor the guardians Of the peace and faro
banks, the moro he encountered their
power the weaker he was to resist them.
Therefore, when he was hustled out OF
the good old parsons study he went
with blind acSpiescepce TO cruel fate.
mems eOHSria recti, but very much cast
down nevertheless.
In the hallway OF the parsons house,
however, he pulled himself together
and demanded the cause Of his arrest.
The policemen were by no means will
ing to explain; they really believed
that they had a dangerous maniac on
hand, and Jimmy, the reporter, was on
the Qut rieC to get good news item and
a reward at the same time. However,
as Mr.. Drane resisted, Jimmy finally
produced this telegram from New
York newspaper:
Rush interview with Drane. Man
held here proved to be sane and not the
right one.'
just one ray Of Joy shone against the
dark background of Mr.. Drane's pros
poets in this dispatch-the tramp, i'm
properly confined as insane at his in
stance, had been released. Thinking Of
that as of ono sin which had been for
given, Lawrence bowed his head and &C.
companied the policemen out of doors.
An officer was at either elbow and jim
my pranced along behind. AS Mr..
Drane was very quiet no especial at
tention was attracted until they came
to the door of the Beaver House. There
a man was slowly descending the steps,
Booking vastly worried and out Of sorts.
1T was the tramp. He had Mr.. Drane's
CLOTHES on and he appeared to be in
hard luck. When he saw the officers
and their convoy sailing down the
street he stopped suddenly and looked
hard at the prisoner with o wildly
angered expression on his face. 1t was
but q moment that the tramp stood
thus, but in that moment his reasoning
faculties went through a tremendous
operation. This was about the SUBJ
stance OF it:
''Hellol there's Lawrence Dranel I
stole his clothes and his name and mar
ried in both of them an awfully rich
widow. He got back at me by stealing
his clothes again and getting me in
hook. He even inveigled me into an
insane asylum. He is even now sus-
pected Of being lunatic. Now know
that he is not only sane, but that have
been the cause Of his misadventures. /
further know that the Kansas City men
who declared this morning that was
not Drane, will DO here by the next
train from New York and will free this
man from all his troubles. He is ire
mendously rich and good-natured. D.
me If don't do him good turn"
This chain Of reasoning was so speedi-
~ accomplished that by the time Law
renee and the policemen were opposite
the Beaver House door, the tramp had
resolved upon his course Of action He |
ran down the steps pell-mell, seized |
Lawrence by the hand and exclaimed:
''Well, WE'LL to see you again and In
this SHAPED I'm delighted and everlGst-
ingly relievcdT"
''Ohl you arc, are your" responded
Lawrence, as the policemen paused.
II SEQ that you are at the upper end Of
the tecter-board at present"
He would have said more in express
sion Of his bitterness, but the tramp
''Oflcers, don't think you have any
right TO hold this man. know him.
He is my only brother. His name b.
Lawrence Drane, Of Kansas City, and
I'M his brother John, come on to.taks