Wichita eagle., 1890-03-06
FRIED OYSTERS.

''My dear," said lIr Cassidy, 'put on the
frying pan, and get ready to make some oys
ter frittera I'm hungry, and Wen have a
biz of supper before we Sleep
Mrs. Cassidy liked bit Of supper and oys-
ter fritters as Wen as her husband and She
nodded an assent; and putting by her work,
went into the ltlle kitchen at the end of the
fat and, having handed her spouse a small
tin kettle with u handle looked TO the fire,
and set all thaC was necessary on the cooking
table. Then she sG5 down t, ait for him
1t was warm in the kitchen and comforta
bic and cozy
Mrs. Cassidy, waiting f. her spouse,
leaned back against the weII and shut her
eyes. Not sleeping; oh, TO only thinking.
The clock tucked on; the tes kettle sang its
song, Mrs. Cassidy was back il the country
place where she was born. talking at the gar
den gate with Tom. Then something aroused
her. She started up.
Tom! Toni Why, whG-c was Tom Cassi-
dy! He had been gone oa hour. Aud the
oyster saloon was only around the corner.
she must have mad a nap.
Frightened and nervous, she ran TO the
door. All wes very still, in the street, and
where the houses We're not utterly dark the
lights had gone TO the upper floors
Perhaps the saloon was closed and he had
gone farther for the oysters. Yes; that must
be it.
She went back to the kitchen and waited,
but no Tom came
In fact, he did not come that night. About
dawn next morning the servant, coming
down stSirs 20 kindle the fire. saw her mis-
tress crouched UP in the corner of the kitchen
fireplace moaning and rocking herself to and
fro.
When asked what was the matter. she
said:
"Your master is dead, Sally"
Sally Shrieked, but when Informed that her
lady reasons for this statement were that
her husband had gone out intending to re-
turn in a few minutes, and was not yet at
home, Sally grinned and took the affair
lightly.
Depend upon it, num-" she said, ''he's
only gone off on spree. They all does it
sooner OF later. My last lady didn't see hers
for three weeks one winter Mr.. Cassidy IL
turn up all right again soon"
But her mistress could not be comforted.
Neither was Sally a true prophet. 1t was
soon evident that Mr. Cassidy had disap-
peared.
All his male relatives and connections went
30 work at the search for him as soon as they
could be uelegra phed for. No gentleman of
his description had inquired for oysters late
that evening in the neighDorhood.
At his place of business person waited for
him at nine that morning by appointments
Failing in this meeting was very disadvan-
taEeous 20 Mr.. Cassidy.
He had bought tickets for the theatre the
next evening for Mrs. Cassidy and himself,
and had given them to her to keep safe. Not
the most suspicious detective of them all
could believe tnat Dir. Cassidy had volunta-
rily left home.
a respectable gentleman of his age, well
dressed as be always was, probably, would
have been taken to hospital if be had been
seized with a sudden attack Of Illness in the
street; or, at least, if he had been supposed
20 be intoxicated, olubbed and locked up III
cell for daring TO have apoplexy or heart dis
ease, bis remains would have been found by
this time. They searched high and they
searched low for a week. At last body was
found o the river. Its clenched hand was
closed over something that proved to be the
handle of d tiIs can. Time and weather had
done the worst with person and wearing ap-
pAEeI, buL l3c GH4Y was lueQtlIleu Dy the loss
Of two front ,aayG aad bald spot on his head
To be sure, 5Ir. Cassidy in life had worn
two artificial teeth, but that was nothing.
The detectives, the brother-in-law, the two
cousins. talked the sad affair over, and de-
sided that there could be no doubt concern
ing the manner of his death.
The unfortunate widow had the news
broken to her. She was prepared for the
worst by that tune. And the next days pa
pers had "a full account Of the affair They
stated that
Mr.. Cassidy, prominent business man
of our city, feeling some Appetite at II o'clock
at night, on Wednesday, the of -,
with the simplicity and amiahiiity that dis
tinguisbed him, took a small tin can from
his kitchen dresser. and set forth to procure
a certain number of these luscious bIvalves,
which his estInable lady-a true American
wife-agreed to dress for him Proceeding
down the street, be had reached a lonely
and deserted plsce opposite the well known
church under rhe psst0raCe OF DR. Checkem,
when suddenly from the shadows OF the sa-
cred portal a rutLaH d2rIed toward him. cry
ING. y our money OF your lifen and at the
same lime dealing KIM . furious blow in the /
mouth. which deprived bim Il two front /!
teeth. Nr Cassidy defended himself ably /
with tie can. bus finally fell SensslesS under !
the blows The wretch continued 10 deal hlm. |
The can was wrenched from Ire handle. I