The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-03-24
THE MAN IN POSSESSION.

evenings! GfllQn SConldke inquired OF
his better half.
Il am. Oh, I don't want your es
cort! Pm going with Mrs. jackson.
I'll take a cab and call for her on my
way"
All right. my dear. I'll turn into
my den us [ have some writing to do. p"
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 vas consuming
whisky and water and smoking a pipe,
and Of whose presence in. the house
Mrs. Stenlake had not the faintest
conception.
1t should be explained that Griffith
Stenlake had married a young widow
with two little girls. They had not
been very happy during the last year.
Their attitude toward each other
might aptly be described as an armed
neutrality. Each drifted their own
way. The lady was a votary of pleas
ure and must have money at any cost.
Her husband was a man of weak
character. hence he supplied the need
full meekly and concealed his difficulties
from her, knowing that she in her
turn would only upbraid him for his
folly.
SO it, came about that till now he
had successfully secreted from her the
shabby man in his den (Which she
never intruded upon). the said shabby
individual being no less a person than
a man in possession. Griffith, in his
indolent fashion, vas a 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 a glimpse Of that lady as she went
out at the front door.
Don't let yourself be seen. for
goodness sake" exclaimed Griffith.
AL right, sir; Pm sure l don't
want to be. the brokers' man replied
very quietly, but as he turned STEM
lake noted a strange look in his face.
"1our wife, sir? She's a very pretty
woman"
I'm glad you think So"
oh, don't mind me-, sir. She
brings back to my memory some one
L once knew"
"A flame??"
"Ies-well, no.. l suppose you'd
be astonished to hear I'd ever been
anything different from a bum bailiff?"
NO, Mr:-by the way, what is
your name?'
'Sangster-Bill Sangster. That
will do well enough for me at present.
| suppose you'd be surprised to hear
la been a solicitor once:9"
Il should indeed"
We'll, I was. And that I'd been
struck'off the roll?"
NO, l shouldn't be surprised at
that
':Ah. well, that's just what I WASH +!
simply sank gracefully into oblivion.
Only about four years ago the final
crash took place, mind you, and all
because l vas too trustful for this
world"
"A %coniding lawyer!'
''Ah. you may we'll laugh. But l
PAID dearly for my experience. Ibar-
tered away both fortune and happi-
ness, and now | believe in no one"
lie. sat for a moment pulling at his
pipe, and then cOntinuel:
1t was all through a lady who
came to me representing that she was
entitled to a large fortune. She told
me she did not wish to take proceed
1ngs in the matter at once, as there
was a 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. [ be-
ileVed this romantic tale and ad-
vanced her-wel!. nearly every penny
l had in the world.
Then she levanted. and I had to
lace my wife and little children and
tell them they were beggars. She
was furious and jealous. too. for she
thought there vas more in the matter.
than L would confess to. I blended
excuses then; l can find none now. It
was a %cowardly piece Of folly on nv
part. She left me. taking the little
ones. L don't know how they Jared.
l became a penniless %wanderer. with
out home, without friends. I sank
lower and lower until I have found
my level. Experience has taught me
cunning, care has made me drink; SO
l have become a brokers man.
He stopped speaking: Griffith was
thoughtful and there was a long ST.
lence between them.
Mr.: Stenlake coughed and wlnked.
The man in possession did the same.
The room was full of smoke. a 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 s~hrieking:
Fire! 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
this? What's up? Is this some
dodgeg