The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-06


ton had consented 70 change her name for
his by the prompt process Of special licence,
and they were now man and wife.
There was only one thing that clouded
their honeymoon, and that was the total dis
appearance Of Mr. Widgery. Since the day
preceding the eventful evening he had not
been at business. though previously be had
not been absent, excepting at holiday times
for single day, during three years. The
dreadful thought that haunted Mr. and
Mrs. Flincher-though neither mentioned it
to the other-was that Widgsry had COM
mitted suicide.
Unknown TO any one Flincher, his con-
science accusing him Of being responsible
for anything his weakminded friend may
have deemed himself driven TO, had
advertised for three consecutive mornings
IN the Times and Telegraph an intimation
from "Flinch" to "Widge" that the Re-
gents Park tragedy was all silly hoax, for
which "Flinch" was very sorry, and begged
OF "Widge" to return that his friend might
make every reparation in his power.
Not a word about the marriage, though
Mr.. Flincher was aware how sensitive his
friend Widgery was on that point, and it
was not impossible II he was in hiding any
where, and learned that Miss Dimpleton was
indeed lost to him forever, he might
rashly put an end to his miserable existence
without further reflection. Mr.. Flincher
was eagerly scanning the newspapers men
toned one morning at breakfast hoping to
find some reply from the absent one. when
he CALCULATED, ''God bless my SOUL" in such
startling tones that his pretty wife in alarm
dropped the egg she was in the act Of hand
ing to him.
GOOD heavens, Joe, dearl What's the
matterP'
well, my love. the most amazing news
in the world is the matter, if this precious
4
serely hope that it does not. But the
namel 1t is such an uncommon one, you
ceer'
"What name is uncommonn
"Why, Widgery."
"Gracious goodness! And in the news
paper" and young Mrs. Flincher went
white as the tablecloth. "You never mean
to say, Joseph, that the poor fellow has COM
mitted-"
"Burglaryl Somebody of the name of
Widgery has attempted to do so anyhow.
Listen TO this, my love: Singular at.
tempted hotel robbery at Heybridgel On
Tuesday morning, at an early hour, the pro-
prietor of the Grown and Dolphin was
aroused from slumber by hearing within
his premises cry of thieves, Immediately
followed by the sound of discharged fire.
arms. Hurrying to the spot, it was found
that a gentleman staying at the hotel had
room, and in the act Of endeavoring to abs
stract a pocketbook containing large sum
of money from beneath the pillow of the
owner. The latter fired pistol at the rob-
Der, who thereon flung open the bedroom
window and leaped out into the garden be-
low, and 30 escaped. The most singular
feature of the affair is that an adjoining
bedchamber was occupied by gentleman,
likewise guest at the Crown aud Dolphin,
with whom the other guest had been on
friendly terms the evening previous They
both retired at the same time, and Judging
from the significant fact that the only other
guest at the hotel had not occupied his bed,
and that when the alarm was raised il was
discovered that he had disappeared, there
can be little doubt that he and the would-be
robbsr are identical. The latter left behind
him an umbrella, and in his room a card
case containing cards bearing the name of
Mr.. Samuel Widgery'"
Mr.. Flincher dropped the newspaper, and
he and his wife regarded each other in ST.
lence and dismay for several seconds.
LAS you say, my dear, Widgery is an I'M
common nameg" remarked Mrs. Flincher,
shaking her head
Occupied with Samuel too. But then,
on the other hand, it seems utterly impossi-
BILE. Why, poor Sam was nervous as
mouse, and with no more of the burglar in
his composition than / have. It Is a pity
they don't give description Of his appear
ances-of his clothes, at any rate. He was
wearing that plum oolored coat with vel
vet collar, as you may remember when he
rushed away in the park. l could swear TO
that among a thousand. Besides, why
should he be tempted to such course! To
my knowledge he had money with him
twelve or fifteen pounds"
Perhaps he has gone mad,n said Mrs.
with q SILVER
And much better, perhaps than that
is, that after all, it is not poor Sam at all.
will run down to Heybridge and
make inquiry-quietly, you know, and
without saying even that am acquainted
with him."
And to Heybridge Mr.. Flincher went. and
to the Crown and Dolphin. There was no
in cleaning the required informa-
ton. The attempted midnight robbery was
the current topic of conversation.
''And was he really dressed like a gentle
man!n Mr.. Flincher inquired of the waiter.
son, yes, sir. Sort of claret-colored coat
with velvet collar, and tan-colored gloves
and silk umbrella. That he left in the
stand, sir-a brown silk one with dogs
head carved in ivory for a handle"
That was a clincherl The two friends
were together, when Mr.. Widgery pur-
chased that indentical umbrella in Oxford
street. IL was impossible to arrive at any
other conclusion than that Sam Widgery
was the robber, and Mr.. Flincher's melan-
choly summing up OF the case was that,
hrooding on the sanguinary deed Of which
he supposed himself guilty, his brain had
become affected, and he was not responsible
for his actions. And all through the foolish
prank he, Mr.. Flincher, had played on him
In the unenviable frame Of mind induced
by his dismal reflections Fhncher took train
and returned to Paddington station, and
there, hailing cab, had commenced his
homeward journey, when, chanciog to
glance from the window of the cab, 10!
there was MIR. Widgery on the opposite
side, and about to turn into dingy side
street. There could be not the remotest
doubt about it. AS Flincher had remarked
to his wife, he could swear to that plum
colored coat among thousand!
In an instant he leaped out of the vehicle
and might easily have overtaken Widgery,
but that the caoman leaped down from the
driving seat and overlook him as he had
crossed the road.
mo you won't, IL know itW exclaimed
the irate cabman, getting before him. 1--WE
had 'em try it on after dark, but"
my good fellow, have no wish to cheat
you. am merely anxious to speak with
some one ! saw passing along. My overcoat
is iu your cab."
That's all right, then"
But it was not all right for Mr.. Flincher
The delay was not more than a minute, but
the wearer of the plum-colored coat with
the velvet collar had vanished from view,
and though Flincher paced the dingy street