The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-28
XIII The Midnr /,

Gutchley was at its Wits end. says tn
New York News Who could the mys-
FERROUS stranger be- No one had ever be-
fore been month in the place without
having a complete inventory taken OF al
his antecedenrs and belongings.
And yet for more than double that
beyond MS name. which might be an
alias. everything connected with him re-
NAMED in profound oloseurity.
Exceedingly suspicious" commented
Squire Gulllwum, with shake OF the
head.
Mr.. Ray boarded with the widow Peeke.
who failed not 20 put IN practice every
widowly art 10 break the Ice Of his re-
serve.
No true woman ever yet gave up the
pursuit OF a secret; Foilea in the use Of
fair means. Mrs. Peeke deternined-we
will not say to resort 10 foul. but to any
that promised success.
PERSEVERANCE, is apt 10 Be rewarded n
the end. One morning the widow found
a freshly opened letter on Mr.. Rays
dressing table With that thirst for knOWl-
edge born the frat woman. and which
VIII die only with the last. she caught
the miss-ve W and ran her eye over its
contents.
With a frightened scream shssank into
a chair. and remained for time mo-
tionless and terToF-stricken. Then spring
ing up. she FASTENED to her chamber, hur-
ried on her bonnet, and rushed from the
house, olasping in her hand the terrible
In the course Of an hour Mr.. Ray re-
turned from his morning walk. and had
barely seated himself al his desk, when
a knock came 10 the door It was opened
before he had time to answer, and in
staiked a rough-looking party" And
in the background stood another of The
May I inquire your business. gen
temen?' asked Ray vis.bly surprised.
Yes, yer may. replied. the foremost
man, we, We got acapus for yer"
a. capus-a dockyment ter fetch yer,
deadfr live" -sa
What for?"
We'll, tar'n't for no good. don't
reckon, but Of you ant done. AKIN ques-
tins, I'm done answer.n' of 'em. Jim
helm the gen leman ter make his tilet.
Ray was taken straight before Squire
GulliWum, whom he found waiting for
him, exhaling an atmosphere Of dignity
that was positively expressing.
Il demand an explanation Of this out
rager exclaimed the prisoner
Have care yourfg man. admonished
the squire. lest to your other crimes you
add the still more heiRous one of con-
II may at least know Of what am
accused persisted Ray mastering his
You'll have an examination to-mor-
row, replied his honor. In the mean
time it is my duty to commit YOU"
At the hour fixed for the examina-
ton a crowd had assembled, the like of
which had never been seen in Gutchley
since that memorable Fourth OF July
lustrious by delivering an Grafton on
horseback, in fun uniform, in the CEN
ter OF a hollow square formed Of the
Cory Grays" standing at present"
With some difficulty the prisoner was
fushered through the crowd into the
magisterial presence, and confronted with
his accuser-no other than his fair land
lady. whom the very sight of him seemed
to give a turn
did you find that paper in the pris-
oner's apartment" Intercepted the
squire, producing the letter before re-
'IZI-I-di-di-dldr' sobbihg.
Paper marked and read.
Dear Ray-Your idea of killing the
widow is capital. Carry it out at once.
VIII see you in day or two, c."
A loud laugh in the rear of the crowd
interrupted the proceedings.
who's that contemning the court?''
mo offense intended" said a Jolly.
good-looking gentleman, pushing his way
forward; but this Is too good"'
scrape that COMPOUNDED letter of yours
DO / understand you to be the author
Of that epistle?" inquired Gulliwum of
beg pardon" interrupted Mr.. Meek.
the village pastor; but happen to know
this gentleman. This is Mr.. Quarto, the
publisher. There must be some mistake
here"
''Let him explain II. then" said the
squire.
Ray was an author who was writing a
novel for him, the heroine of which was
a young widow, whom 1t had been deem
ed advisable to kill off in the concluding
And the bloody business" referred to
in the publishers note had that extent
no more"
laughter in which everybody Joined but
the widow and the squire.