St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-22

And / was better. l was strong, all
at once-desperately strong And what
brought about this change? That SIM
pie receipt which had In my pocket,
Anderson had nothing to show that the
money had been paid, and was not my
unaided word as good rs his.
was foolish enough to believe that |
could brave it through, and | gre W con-
iiden a ii quite easy ut once.
There, Carrie--I am mnch better
now. The room was too warm, | guess.
So some sneaking thief has lodged in
and stolen my coat? Well, let it go. 1t
was an old one. and now I'll have
better one"
but was there nothing in the peck
ets?" asked Carrie.
1t is strange how suspicious guilt will
make us. really thought Carrie sus-
pected me, and an angry reply was on
the end of my tongue. L suppressed it,
however, and uttered falsehood In
stead.
Nothing of consequence, Carrie-a
good pair of gloves and some other
tritling notions"
81 am glad IL it is not worse, Fred.
Now, If you will just wait moment,
will get you one OF fathers coats tOwear
home"
Thus equipped. lett her. You may
guess that my slumbers that night were
not very sound, nor very refreshing. L
never passed more miserable night,
and in the morning my haggard looks
were the subject of remark.
"Why, Fred, you look as though you
met legion of ghosts last night" said
Winston. "What Is the matter?"
IL had bad night of it," l answered,
with sickly smile. y
All! those were terrible hours that l
passed, and night coming oil brought
me no relief. Can you not guess what
l was meditating? Coward that was,
l had at last resolved on self-deStruc-
ton.
commenced my preparation with the
same calmness and deliberatiOn that L
would have used in the most common
transaction. | wrote short eXplana-
ton for Carrie, another for Mr.. Wins
ton, third for my poor mother, andsl
sealed them all. In fourth envelope L
enclosed the receipt to Mr.. Anderson.
All this accomplished, went to my
secretaire and took out the weapon of
death. 1t was simply revolver, small
and insignificant enough in appearance,
but all-suff1cient.
Having examined the cartridges to
make sure that there would be no fall
ure, sat down before the fire, and lift
ing the revolver placed its cold, death
like muZZle against my forehead. In
another second L should have been life
less; but just as my finger began to
press the trigger there came tap on
| my door. 1t startled me, and hastily
cOncealing my weapon l called out that
l could admit no one.
mot me, Fred?"
knew Carries voice, and yearning
| to look on her loved face got the mas
terry Of me. Quietly slipping the tell
| tale letters. which l had left on the ia
| BILE, into my pocket, opened the door.
sob, Fred, you are really illp' ex-
| claimed Carrie the moment the light
fell on his face. "Why did you not send
for me? Aren't you better?"
Worse" answered huskily; "but,
Carrie-good heavens"
AS | uttered this exclamation l started
back, and then forward; and them
scarcely know what, for hanging across
| Carries arm was my overcoat! Recov-
| ering from my astonishment, drew out
eleven thousand seven hundred ana
| fifty dollars and twenty-three cents.
You have heard about, and perhaps
seen, the singular capers of a mailman,
| or the wild antics of those craZed with
rum, or the grOtesque dancing of say
ages. Well, Judging from what Carrie
told me and from the appearance of my
| apartment after it was over, | am led to
believe that, were it possible to concen-
trate the three above mentioned species
of demons into one, l was possessed
| thereby.
But cooled down after awhile, and
| just in time to save Carries head a
thump from the chair which l had
selected in my crazy waltz.
Then asked for an explanation. 1t
was the simplest thing imaginable. l
do not know why had not thought of it
before. 1t was simply bunder of
Carries father. He had mistaken my
coat for his own, and wore 1t down
town, never dreaming that small
| fortune was lying idly in his pocket.
l sent Mr.. Anderson his receipt,
handed over the money to Mr.. Winston.
and went right on with my duties,
wiser and, hope, better man.