Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-05-28
THE MAN In POSSESSION.

evening" GrlHln Stenlake inquired OF
his better half
II 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 / have some writing to do. "
So to his particular sanetum in the
have made it a housekeeper's room)
he betook himself in due course Not
to write, however but to the compan-
ionship OF strange. shabby genteeI
individual who was consuming
whisky and water and smoking a pipe
and Of whose presence in the house
Mrs. Ssenlake had not the faintest
conception.
II 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 votary OF pleas
ure and must have money at any cost
Her husband was a man OF weak
character hence no supplied the need
ful meeSly and concealed his difficulties
from her knowing that she in her
turn would only upbraid him for his
folly
50 il 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 u person than
& man in possession. Griffith, in his
lndolent fashion. was a student Of
character This man amused him and
ne resolved to spend the evening in
his company until Mrs Stenlaka's re-
turn. He found him peeping between
the veuetians apparently trying to
get a glimpse Of that lady Us she went
06a g N IL s sFsont door.
Don't let yourself be seen. for
goodness saker exclaimed Griffith.
AL right sir; I'm sure | 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, sir2 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
once knew.
"A fiame?n
.Yes-welL no. 1 suppose you'd
be astonished to hear I'd ever been
anything different from bum bailiff?''
mo Mr.. by the way, what is
your name?'
Saugster-Biil Saugster That
viii DO well enough for me at present
suppose you'd be surprised to hear
Id been a solicitor once?"
Il should indeed.
Wei. / was. And that I'd been
struck off tho rollan
no l shouldn't be surprised al
that
.'Ah. we'll that's just what WASH 4
] simpy sank gracefully into oblivion.
Only about four years ago the final
crash took place. mind you. and all
because was too trustful for thi:
world.
"A confiding Iawyeri'
.Ah. you may well laugh. But
paid DERRY for my experience. bar
tered away both fortune and happi.
ness. and now believe in no one. I"
He sat for a moment pulling at hi.
pipe. and then continued:
1T was all through a lady who
came TO me representing that she was
cntitled TO large fortune. She told
NE she did not wish to take proceed
ings in the matter at once. as there
was young man in love with hel
who would not propose to her If he
knew il lest it might be thought hC
wanted her for her money. I be-
lieved this romantic tale and adj
yanced her-well nearly every penny
had in the world.
Then she levanted and | Ind tc
face my wife and little children ant
tell them they we're begPars. She
was furious and Jealous. too. for sbt
thought there was more in the matter
than would confess to. / pleaded
excuses then: / can find none now. I
was cowardly piece Of folly on M
part. She left me- taking the littlt
ones. don't know how they Jared
/ became penniless wanderer with
out home, without friends. / sanl
lower and lower until / have fount
my level. Experience has taught mc
cunning. care has made me drink; 81
! have become brokers man. :"
He stopped speaking. Griffith wa
thoughtful and there was long 81
lence between them.
Mr.. Stenlake coughed and winked
The man in possession did the same
The room was full OF smoke grea
deal more smoke surely. than coult
possibly have been caused by thei
pipes. Griffith opened the door. Tn
passage was full OF smoke, too an
at the same moment the servant mai
came positively dying down the stair
wildly shrieking
Fire! Fire"
"Ialloalr said Bill Sangster. start
ing up his utterance little thick
for he had absorbed nearly as muci