The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-23

hcpU ~ OiCF6N.
ANY business IN the cityt,, Mr.. Queen
asked incsutiously at the end of that time.
Have your asked Mr.. Gregg, with
: much Significance. 800.
Important business" replied Mr.. Queen,
while his nose grew more and more like an
ember blown by bellows.
The men relapsed intora mutual stare.
They fell next to day dreaming."
Mr.. Gregg, feeling that politeness to a
guest of the lady called upon him to soy
something, especially as he thought that
he other had spoken. said:
did you speak,"
Ibid your" asked the suspicious Queen.
who believed that Mr.. Gregg had again Mt
tempted to DO facetious at his expense.
NO" said Gregg.
Thought not"
"Why did you ask, then?" inquired Mr..
Gregg.
Same identical reason," responded Mr.
Queen, made you ask"
They had called at half past 9 in the
evening But when the clock in the white
tower of tho town hall had struck it's
"tarml tarmi" twelve times neither had
thought of leaving. But at five minutes
past u Mr.. Gregg gave up the battle He
left the house, and while shaking his fist
ut something which, judging from the tii-
rection in which he shook it, seemed to be
the man In the moon, he determined to I'm
mask this man of whose character he had
formed most unfavorable opinion.
Walking down the street he began to
feel the effects OF his previous excitement
AS his gesticulations had helped besides
to weary him he did what was very nm
usual thing He stepped into a saloon and
drank glass of brandy. Having done
this he felt inclined to take a last linger-
Ing look at the house made sacred by the
presence OF tho lady beloved by him be-
fore retiring for the night.
He had gone by tho house, and was pass-
ing the lot next to it. when his attention
was arrested by tho figure of IL man stand
ing by rosebush behind the house, and
alongside tho door of large shed behind
1t This mans back was turned townrdl
him. Concluding that no was an ince.,-
diary, and springing over the fence. Mr.
GregB walked to summer houSa from
which he watched him. The man opened
the door of tho shed and entered it, and in
a moment the light OF a candle was seen
streaming through tho keyhole of tho
door
Going up to this shed, and peeripy
through this keyhoe, Mr.. Gregg had hardly
timc to observe the back of q man. who
was gathering up some legal documents
from box, when the light was blown OUT.
MIR. Gregg stepped aside. and when this
man. who had not been recognized by him,
came out of tho She'd ns he now supposed
him to bo n burglar, he sprang upon him
with the agility of "a monkey. The two
rolled over together on the ground, but
Mr.. Gregg was soon on top, with his knee
Oh the breast OF Mr.. Queen. for It was he.
MIR. Queen gave utterance to rapid shouts
OF murder" in succession, which set the
dogs to barking for miles around
I've mind to murder you, sure
enough" said Gregg. AT this point the
outline OF Il female head, with miniature
crosses upon it, appeared on window cur.
tain in the upper story at the back part of
the house. Then the window went up
and head covered with curl papers looked
cautiously out.
WHO arc your" asked the lady
"1'm being murdered" cried her brother.
but he was unable to say more for Mr..
Gregg frightened the hold which he had
npon his throat.
WHO are you?" Miss Queen again cried
ME and burglar that l caught" Mr..
Gregg answered. 1--WE got him fast, and
he won't harm anything nowl"
The light above vanished and couple
of uhbuttoned shoes were heard moving
down the back stairway. a door was I'M
bolted, and the lady, in loose wrapper
and curl papers, stood at the back entrance
to the house.
MY brothers" she cried when the light
| from the lamp fell upon the man beneath
the offlcious Gregg, the brother who had
| come to town to learn something of the
character of Mr.. Gregg, with this result.
Your what?" screamed the suddenly
interested Gregg.
"Brotherr' said the lady as she dropped
the lamp, which fortunately was extin-
guished by the fall.
Eyes, sir Yes, sir! Her brotherl" said
Mr.. Queen whose throat had been released
| and upon whose mind the true situation
was beginning to dawn. 1t was evident
to him now that the man who had been
choking him was the one described as mild
| hammered and sanity in the letter which
| his sister had written
II hope it can't be that you are her
| brotherl'' said Mr. Gregg in voice full Of
| eloquent patbos.
"Oh, now, am her brother?" said Mr..
Queen, whose sore throat inclined him to
be sarcastic. "Well maybe not; but il
not, at any rate I'm her twin"
"Will you ever forgive me2" the painting
Gregg asked.
1T depends" said Mr. Queen, alto
| gether on whether you have these peculiar
attacks often"
What an awful and desolate mule l
have made Of myself" said Gregg.
ut seems SO to me-" said Mr.. Queen. IT
suppose you're the one engaged to my SIS
teri"
II once had that honor" Gregg replied,
"but having given such clear proof of how
weak minded l am, don't suppose any
woman on earth would think OF having
me for moment now"
His tone of utter 9e1f ahosameDt and IN,
initiation appealed quickly to the heart Of