The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-03-01

was really John Corlzins.
On reaching New York he went first
to Mr.. james friend, finding him to be
a reserved, digniied looking man Of
middle age, who carried on according
to the sign on the door of his Wall street
Office the business of ''banker and
broker"
{ Mr.. Friend listened quietly while Mr..
Playfair explained his errand, and he
read the letter which Tanning had writ
ten without the slightest change of coun-
tenance Mr.. Friend was an excellent
poker player. While he read and listened
he was busi1y Analysing difficult situa-
tion and dallying with a tremendous
temptation He had speculated heavily
of late and had lost heavily. Fannings
property was in his hands, and because
of Fanning's trust in him and great care
lessnees about money matters it was not
properly secured. IF Tanning could be
gotten out OF the way for few years all
might be well. IF, on the other hand,
Tanning should call for any very con-
siderable amount at once it might mean
disaster and even complete ruin.
He reasoned it all out rapidly before
speaking Then he said in most bust
ness like manner: "This is most sur
prising thing, Mr. Playfair. DR.. Fan
ming certainly left New York about the
time this burglary you mention was
committed, but he went to Europe. !
do not know his exact address just at
this moment, but it is impossible that he
should be in Illinois now
Even while he was speaking Mr..
Friend realized that he was taking a
long risk, and he trembled inwardly lest
Playfair should press him with ques-
tions. The lawyer, however, only saw
confirmation of his own theory and was
not disposed to be critical. he
.sBut the letter" he said. s'You GER
tainly know whether that was written
by Tanning or by an impostcr."
s'The letter." said Friend, twas GER
tainly written by some one who knows
something about Fanning's business,
and it even has a resemblance to his
handwriting, but it is not close resem-
blance, and If you will notice there are
two errors in spelling in it. Now DIR.
Tanning is highly educated man"
eyes, / noticed that. said the lawyer,
pluming himself On his own astuteness,
and SO this triAe helped to lock the pris-
on doors on an innocent man.
s'Now what On earth can that Cor
kins be thinking of to send me to New
York on such an errand as this?" thought
Piayfair as he left Wall street. He saw
no more of Friend, and did not for mo-
ment suspect that that reputable looking
man drank much more brandy than was
good for him that afternoon
Twill goto DIR. Sandringham though
said PIayfair to himself 'sCorlrins pays.
and I'll do what agreed to. Besides, it
is interesting"
Dr. Sandringham was an extremely
busy man, bat very conscientious. Yes.
He knew Tanning, but had not seen him
very lately. A most promising young
man, who stood well in the profession.
What! In prison in Illinois? Impossiblel
Oil man there who claimed to be Fan
ming. Well, that could be easily settled,
Fanning's Office was right around the
corner. Most remarkable thingl
And the doctor called his secretary,
and asked him if he would go to Fan
ning's Office and ask that gentleman to
step around at once on important bust
ness. 1t was done, and the secretary
presently returned saying that DR.. Fam
ming had sailed for Europe about a
month ago"
What the servant at the door had said
to the secretary was, '.Sure, he left here
month gone, an ! behave he whit to
Yarrup." The secretary's unintentional
lie, however. tailed with Friends fend-
ish one, and together they seemed to be
proof absolute.
DIR. Sandringham hesitated. He was
bewildered, and had Playfair produced
Fanning's photograph he would certainly
have Investigated further, but he was
expected at two deathbeds, and when
the lawyer gave up the case, as he did on
the moment, the physician assumed that
it must be one of attempted imposition,
and straightway forgot all aboutit in the
multiplicity Of his own affairs.
Playfair was also very busy He did
not write to Tanning because he had no
time to waste on hopeless case. He did,
however, meet his obligations so far as
to return to Bloomington in time to see
his client get o fair trial" And his client,
with policy mare cautious than wise,
refrained from upbraiding him lest he
should be angered and so slight the case.
The result of this was that Playfair was
confirmed in his opinion of Fanning's
| guilt and more puzzled than ever to ac-
count for his clumsy attempt to prove
himself somebody else.
As for flaming, the announcement by
his lawyer on the very eve of the trial
that he, the real Tanning, was in Europe
was SO Supplying that he could not de-
eide what to do. The whole affair seemed
so monstrously impossible that he actu-
ally found himself wondering whether
/ he might not be insane. Then he checked
himself, remembering that insanity often
begins that way The only thing to do,
so far as he could see at the moment,
was to go into court and tell his story
clearly and calmly and rely on his law
| yer. It was preposterous to suppose that
he could be convicted.
He had fair trial; fair, that is. in the
hearing and consideration Of all that was
presented. IL was proven that the burg
larry had been committed, and that be-
I Il L - 7 IL