San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-13


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 inwarily lest
Playfair should press him with ques-
tons The lawyer, however, only saw
confirmation of his own theory and was
not disposed to be critical.
But the letter." he said. You Ger
tainly know whether that was written
by Tanning or by an impostcr."
1.-The letter." said Friend, twas GER
tainly written by some one who knows
something about Fahning's business,
and it even has a resemblance to his
handwriting, but it is not a close resem-
blance, and if you via notice there are
two errors in spelling in it. Now DR..
Tanning is highly educated man."
Eyes, noticed that" said the lawyer,
pluming himself on his own astuteness,
and SO this trihe helped to lock the pris-
On doors on an innocent man.
"Now what ON earth can that Cor
kins be thinking of to send me to New
York on such an errand as this?' thought
Playfair 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.
"1will goto DR.. Sandringham, though"
said Playfair to himself. "Corkins pays.
and I'll do what agreed to. Besides, it
is interesting"
DR.. Sandringham was an extremely
busy man, but 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
Obi a man there who claimed to be Fan
ming. Well, that could be easily settled.
Fanning's Office was right around the
corner. Most remarkable thing!
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.. Fan
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
a month gone, an l 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.
DR.. 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 about it 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 clientgeta fair trial" And his Client
with a 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 Tanning, 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 20 go into court and tell his story
clearly and calmly and rely on his law
yer. 1t 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. II was proven that the burg
Larry had been committed, and that be-
yond reasonable doubt John COrEins had
committed it. And the prosecution pre-
sented him as John Corkins-
Then Tanning was sworn and told bis
story. He explained his possession of
the amc unit Of money in question and his
presence in the city as they have already
been explained in this story, and assured
the court that he could easily be ident-
fed in New York.
As against this the prosecution pro
duced the three policemen already men
toned and the warden Of the Illinois
state prison, who all swore positively
that the prisoner was John Corkins be-
,-nnd the nnSsihility of a dnnht The