The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-03
MY ODD EXPERIENCE.

lam commercial traveller, and when
travelling long distances time hangs very
heavily on my hands for want Of some.
thing to do. A few days ago, while trav-
cling from Newcastle to White Haven, II
was perusing my favorite paper when my
eyes fell on the following: ITO Authors
One guinea a column is paid for original
contributions.
l had seen this notice every week, dating
from the first few weeks this noted jour
nal Of fact, fun and fiction" entered onI
its remarkable career, but now II suggest
ed to me an idea. Why not, when travel
ing, devote my time to contributing to this
paperf
No sooner thought of than out came my
notebook, and travelled some miles further
in deep thought endeavorng to find sub
ject on which to base my story. At length
/ | came to the conclusion that had got al
column or two of interesting matter so 4
commenced writing. After having halfl
filled my notebook and concluded the last
chapter of the tale closed my book just
as the train began to come to a standstill,
and heard the porters' voices crying out
"Whitehaven.
This being my destination for the pres
ent, emerged from the compartment, put
my luggage 1.-TWO sample bags) in the left
| luggage Office and went of in search of
diggings. had not proceeded far when u
noticed card in window on which was
printed apartments" / made inquiries
about the rooms, and was shown over them
| by the landlady. The price being favor
able and her rooms comfortable. engaged
them for fortnight. She seemed to look
on me with suspicion. so tried to assure
/ her of my integrity and respectability by
remarking that was commercial travel.
/ err She still seemed very dubious, and re
marked alphabetically:
"Eou haven't much luggage. sir"
What little carry have left at the
station, and now, II you please, will take
some tea, Mrs. Smith" replied.
While she was preparing this meal / took
/; out my book, and began to go over my lit
! erary effort, when the landlady entered to-
! spread the table.
by the bye. sir may make bold to ask
I your pame?"
oh" replied half jokingly, assuming
tine name / had given to a character in my
story; Edwards is my name" / little
thought how much trouble should pass
1 through as the result of an assumed cog
), nomen
4 Having finished preparing tea, she with
drew and once more was alone. Presently
4 went for stroll round the town and then
on to the pier. There | saw bill an.
nouncing that the steamer Lady Find ran
twice weekly to Belfast. | had often
: thought should ike to see Belfast, so,
: not being overburdened with business, /
) determined to go with the steamer on the
Thursday.
l., 7
during the day ana spent my evenings il
writing out my tale on several sheets Of
note paper preparatory to forwarding it to
: the editor.
Thursday, the day fixed for my trip to
the Emerald Isle, arrived. l got through
my business in good time and as the BOAT
: did not leave until p. m. | thought ]
would have a game of billiards at the
r station hotel, so thither l made my way,
While watching game | remembered that
had not told my landlady of my inten
i tions, and looking at my watch found
had ten minutes in which to go to my
rooms, gather my papers and inform Mrs
Smith of my excursion. l rushed to my
: rooms, and while l hastily gathered my
scattered sheets Of the manuscript ex
planned to Mrs Smith:
/, "Going to Belfast--must run-back or
Monday. GOOD dayF
When / arrived at the pier the vessel was
6 already in motion, but got on board. and
q soon the town of Whitehaven grew less
e and less distinct until it gradually disap
=, peared from sight.
II Having settled down in the SELDOM, / be
a gan to wonder whatever my landlady
e would think, for had not paid her
farthing in my hurry and excitement, bu
n had promised myself would make it al
right on my return.
= We landed at Belfast at o'clock OF
D, Friday morning. / took a room Mt tenn
:, perance hotel and prepared myself for
II look around the city. | had returned t.
!. my rooms to tea in the evening when
knock came at the door.
Z The waiter informed mo that two gen
n, tlemen wished to see me, so told him &
show them in. Presently two tall gentle
men entered. Not recognizing them, how
+ ever, l babe them be seated, when one o
them remarked:
5, ~ think you're Mr.. Ed-ardsf"
ii was puzzled for a moment.
well, yes" replied, remembering m
T. tale; II am known by that name, but yoI
IS have the advantage of me. To what, ma
| ask do l owe the honor of this visitfn
In reply one of them handed me his car
q on which was printed, "F, p, b, de
tective Belfast city police, ireland"
~ "Well, fail to understand the nature c
Y your visit even now"
' "Oh, yes, of course, we expected that
but it is no good beating around the busl
ln Mr.. Edwards. l wish to ask you fe,
questions
IN Proceed then" replied.
N Your name is Edwards you admit9"
"Well-ef-that is a name used on on
ii OCCASION"
q. ION Thursday evening you left Whit,
haven?a
YES"
n "Were you, when in that town. lodgin
- at the house of Mrs. Smith,"
IL, "Certainly was"
,u Then you are the man we want, an
- before l state the offcnse with which 70
are charged be careful what you say. as "
shall use itas evidence against You"
More mystiiied than ever, and boilin
II over with rage and indignation, thu
~ dered out
why the dickens don't you come to I'll
II. pointS What laundering tomfooling
4 thisS In search of mel-you warn mel
oiTense!-chargel- evidence"
e. Now, Mr.. Edwards, " he nterposed, I'd
of not make a disturbance. whl read til
charge, and then you can come with |
III quietly. and no one will be any the wiser
- Proceeding, he said: You are charged o
your own confession with murder; that
is all can tell you at present. Ny duty is
| q arrest you, so we will proceed at once
the station"
C. In vain l tried to persuade the oflic,
that he had made a great mistake, an
that knew nothing of the matter. Wine
became less excited | saw that the be
III way was to proceed in cab to the static
and explain matters there A cab WI
le procured, and while riding tried tothin
pinched myself to see if | were dreamin
What did 1t meant Surely there was
ar glaring mistake, but knew not a soul
N. all Ireland who could yindicate my cha
acter, and so my thoughts ran on until
III was brought back to my senses by the {
tx fcer, who suddenly said, Here we are
and was marched through n hall into t