The Forrest City times., 1892-03-25
THE MAN IN POSSESSION.

evening" Griffin Stenlal.e inquired of his better ha'f
 Il am. Oh. don't want your es cort! I'm going with Mrs. Jackson. I'll take cab and call for her on my way"
 All right my dear I'll turn into my den as 1 have some writing to do. n
 So to his particular sanctum in the front basement (most families would have made it a housekeeper's room) he betook himself in due course. Not to write. however but to the compan- ionship of a strange. shabby genteel individual. who was consuming whisky and water and smoking a pine. and of whose presence in the house Mrs. Stenlake had not the faintest conception.
 It should be explained that Griffith Stenlake had married young widow with two little girls. They had not been very happy during the last year Their attitude toward each other might aptiy be described as an armed neutrality. Each drifted their own way. The lady was votary of pleas ure and must have money at any cost. Her husband was man of weak character hence he supplied the need ful meekly and concealed his difficulties from her, knowing that she in her turn would only upbraid him for his folly.
 So 1t came about that till now he had successfully secreted from her the shabby man in his den (which she never intruded uponl. the said shab V individual being no less person than man in possession Griffith. in his indolent fashion. was student of character This man amused him and he resolved to spend the evening in his company until Mrs. Stenlake's re- turn. He found him peeping between the venetians. apparently trying to get glimpse Of that lady as she went out at the front door.
 Don't let yourself be seen. for goodness sake!" exclaimed Griffith.
 All right sir; I'm sure I don't want to be the brokers man replied very quietly. but as he turned Stem lake noted strange look in his face. 'Your wife, sir' She's very pretty woman.n
 I'm glad you think so.
 'Oh. don't mind me. sir She brings back to my memory some one l once knew.
 "A fame?"
 "fes-welL no l suppose you'd be astonished to hear I'd ever been anything different from bum bailiff?"
 No Mir. by the way what is your nameP'
 Sangster--Bill Sangsier. That will do well enough for me at present l suppose you'd be surprised to hear I'd been a solicitor once''
 Il should indeed.
 Well, l was Ana that I'd been struck.off the roll? ?"
 No. 1 shouldn't be surprised at that
 ',Ah. we'll that's just what wasn' t! simply sank gracefully into oblivion. Only about four years ago the final crash took place, mind you and all because was too trustful for this world
 "A confiding lawyer!'
 An. you may we'll laugh. But paid dearly for my experience. bar tered away both fortune and happi- ness. and now l believe in no one"
 He sat for moment pulling at his pipe, and then continuel:
 ''lt was all through lady who came to me representing that she was entitled to large fortune. She told me she did not wish to take proceed ings in the matter at once as there was young man in love with her who would not propose to her If he knew it, lest it might be thought he wanted her for her money. l be- lieved this romantic tale and ad- vanced her-well, nearly every penny had in the world.
 Then she levanted and l had to face my wife and little children and tell them they were beggars. She was furious and jealous, too. for s5e thought there was more in the matter than I would confess to. pleaded excuses then; can find none now. It was a cowardly piece of folly on my part She left me. taking the little ones 1 don't know how they fared, l became a penniless wanderer with out home. without friends. 1 sank lower and lower until l have found my level. Experience has taught rue cunning care has made me drink; so I have become brokers man.
 He stopped speaking. Griffith was and there was long si- fence between them.
 Mir. Stenlake coughed and wlnked. The man in possession did the same. The room was full of smoke. great deal more smoke surely. than could possibly have been caused by their pipes. Griffith opened the door. The passage was full of smoke too. and at the same moment the servant maid came positively flying down the stairs wildly shrieking;
 lire, Fire,"
 "Halloa!" said Bill Sangster, start ing up. his utterance a little thick for he had absorbed nearly as much whisky as was good for him What s this? What's up? Is this some dodge?"
 II know no more whats the matter than you do."
 And the children, Where are they?" cried Bill. passing his hand over his eyes.
 .In the top-front room" Stenlake ~apliad mach anical1u He WAS not