The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-11-07
NUMBER 81.
A MYSTERY EXPLAINED.
Tho Gentleman From Cincinnati Knew
All About 1t.

100 Gentleman from CINCINNATI Anew
All About 1t.
Speaking of queer things" said the
man with the red nose, as troubled
expression clouded his face, ''some-
thing happened to me when l was liv-
ing in South Bend which has bothered
me not a little. I have told the story
to perhaps two hundred different peo-
pie, but none of them were able to
solve the mystery"
Something tells me that l can do
it, said the Cincinnati drummer, ''and
you can crack right ahead with your
yarn"
well, I went downtown one even
ing to see man. NV wife coaxed me
to stay at home, but l had business of
Importance to transact l promised
her to be at home at sharp ten o'clock,
however, and to be sober AS l went
out she intimated that if didn't show
up till midnight and was boozy at that,
something might happen to me, but of
course took that as joke"
Did you meet your man?" asked the
drummer.
Yes, l met him all right, and we
put in a pleasant two hours to-
gether."
"Drnk anything?"
1.-TWO glasses of lemonade, and it
was very weak stuff at that. About
half-past eleven | started for home. 1t
was beautiful starlight night, and in
walking a mile | saw as many as a
dozen falling stars One of them
,+x, al lD fnr
away"
well, you got home?'
Yes, | got home. NY wife had
gone to bed and left the hall light
burning for me. | took off my hat and
overcoat and was about to step out
into the kitchen to get drink of
water when l suddenly lost conscious
ness 1t was noon of the next day
when l came to-"
ANY wounds?" queried the drum
mer.
Yes. l had been struck on the
head and received very bad scalp
wound You can feel the scar right
here under my fingers. The doctor
couldn't make it out nor has any one
else been able to. No burglar had en-
tered the house, nor did | have an en-
emy ! am inclined to believe that l
was struck by a falling star, and yet,
how could it enter the house? There
was no lightning to strike me down,
nor could l have been overcome with
vertigo and fallen and hurt myself.
1t vexes and annoys me, and wish the
mystery could be cleared up"
''Ill clear it up for you," replied the
drummer "Precisely such a thing
happened to me once-precisely-only
didn't come to for four days. Didn't
it ever occur to you that your wife was
waiting there in the hall, and that she
struck you down with club?'
Mercy, nov'
That's what happened to you and
| me, and will happen to thousands OF
| Others Your wife cracked your cocoa
nut"
rs it possible!" gasped the victim.
| Now that l think of it--!'
Now that you think of it you re-
member that when you came to she
had her jaw set and an icy look in her
eye?"
Just so-just soP'
And about the first words she spoke
| to you was that it served you right,
| and next time you'd come home sober
| and at a reasonable hour"
"Exactly-just her words! And l
wasn't struck by falling-star?"
| Not all, sir"
| 'But by my own wife?'
| "By your own wife, SIR
And you could have solved the
mystery any time in the last six
years?'
ANY time, day or night"
"Well, by-gum! Drummer, l thank
Heaven that | met you! You have rem
dered me favor to win my everlast-
| ing gratitude! Give me your card,
that l may always cherish your cogno-
men. and also come and take a drink
with me- So it was my wife who
whacked me? Yes, it must have been
must have been-but / never sus-
pected it-never! Drummer, follow
me to the convivial bar and nominate
YOUR brandr'-Detr Free Press.