River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-10-10
A MYSTERY EXPLAINED.
The Gentleman From Cincinnati Kns
All About It

The Gentleman From Cincinnati Knew
All About It
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 q little 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 ] can do
it." said the Cincinnati drummer, land
you can crack right ahead with your
yarn"
well, / went downtown one even
ing to see man. NV wife coaxed me
to stay at home, but had business of
Importance to transact l promised
her to be at home at sharp ten O'Clock.
however, and TO be sober AS went
out she intimated that if didn't show
up till midnight, and was booty at that,
something might happen to me, but of
course took that as joke"
did you meet your mani" asked the
drummer.
Yes. met him all right, and we
put in a pleasant two hours to-
gether."
Drink anything?"
Two glasses of lemonade, and it
was very weak stuff at that About
half-past eleven started for home. 1t
was a beautiful starlight night, and in
walking mile l saw as many as a
dozen falling stars. One of them
struck in the street not ten feet
away"
We'll, you got home?"
Yes, l got home. Ny wife had
gone to bed and left the hall light
burning for me. took of my hat and
overcoat and was about 10 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 a very bad scalp
wound. You can feel the scar right
here under my fingers The doctor
couldn't make il out, nor has any one
else been able to. No burglar had en-
te red the house, nor did have an en-
envy. am inclined to believe that /
was struck by falling star. and yet,
how could it enter the house? There
was no lightning to strike me down,
nor could / have been overcome with
vertigo and fallen and hurt myself
1t vexes and annoys me, and l wsoh the
mystery could be cleared up"
I'm clear it up for you," replied the
drummer. Precisely such 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 hail. and 'hat she
struck you down with a club?"
mercy, nor
THAT'S what happened TO you and
me, and will happen to thousands of
others. Your wife cracked your cocoa
nut"
us 1t possible" gasped the victim
Now that l think of TT
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 sol"
A no ABOUT the nrst words sne spok6
TO you was that il served you right,
and next time you'd come home sober
and at a reasonable hour"
"Exactly-just her words! And
wasn't struck by talling-stsr?"
Not all, sir
but by my own wifep"
"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-gumi Drummer, I thank
Heaven that 1 met you! You have rem
dered me favor to win my everlsst-
ing gratitudel Give me your card.
that may always cherish your cogno-
men, and also come and take a drink
with me. So it was my wife who
whacked me2 Yes, it must have been
must have been-but / never sus-
pected it-neveri Drummer, follow
me to the convivial bar and nominate
your brandr'-Detroit Free Press.