The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-09

~hS have made such n mis-
90 sin tho dusk he
1T looked exactly like
you. OF course, tho moment he spoke
my horrible blunder flashed upon me
and | fed"
mo nonsense, Ray. ] will see him
and explain the matter If he is SO
much like me no doubt he is very
decent fellow"
This conversation took place be-
tween a charming girl and her brother,
who were staying Mt n certain hotel in
n well-known seaside resort. To this
hotel | came in search of health to re-
store nervous system which had been
failing lately, and, indeed, had never
quite recovered from shock caused
by horrible accident which hal hap
pened to me several years ago.
L had been lured by mudmau into
his house under pretence of playing II
game OF billiards, to find myself
prisoner with au armed lunaiic, who
forced me to play the game for the
highest possible stakc-lifc itself.
FortunateIy | won; but my opponent,
although he fulfilled the conditions of
our game by shooting himself, with re-
finemeut OF cruelty tel me in faint
ing condition to the billiard table so
that l might witness his death. In
deed, his vindictiveness went further
than, this, for he branded my leg with
hot iron and wrote paper in which
he accused me OF taking his life.
l was charged with the murder, but
acquitted, rs the fnct of my being dis
covered bound and the strange appear
anco of the body attired in the cos
tune of MephistOpheles- character
the mailman endeavored to assume
was sufficient to prove my side of the
story. Even the astutcness of Scotland
Yard proved powerless, for nil tho po-
lice could discover, after long search
into the nhtccedents of the uufortun-
ate man, was the fact that he had been
confined in luuntic asylum.
l needed no proof to convince me
that the man was mad. But there was
method in his madness. Until met
him in n public billiard saloon, whence
he took ine to his house, | had never
set eyes on him before. Then what
was the reason for the cruel hatred he
evidently felt toward me? Two clcws
L possessed, but as each had proved
useless to the detectives, it was not
likely that they would lead me TO
solution OF the affair.
First | discovered that in bran ling
my leg the wretch had traced the let
tiers RACHE. That these letters rep
resented tue German word Revenge"
| was perfectly aware; but what was |
to learn from that? That the man
was German? think not His ac-
cent plainly told me he was English.
No doubt revenge was his object, but
the meaning OF those letters remained
mystery.
My other clcw was note which |
found during Il subsequent visit to the
fatal room, hidden under n carpet.
Although 1T bore no address, suppose
1T was meant for me- rs it spoke of the
writer being avenged Mt last after n
chase half round the world Of one who
had stolen his money, murdered his
intended wife ard attempted to muir
der him. This appeared to be nothing
more than the rantlng of mind dis.
eased, and / soon gave up all hope of
ever getting to the bottom Of the mvs.
terry of my terrible game of billiards.
On reaching the hotel, on the day
my story opeus, another shock awaited
me, though Of n somewhat different
kind. As I entered the hall charm.
ing girl ran mp to me, flung her arms
around my neck, kissed INC and muir
INJURED
"You darling, I'm 60 glad you've
GOMEZ"
In my embarrassment ! said some.
thing, but the fair damscl had flown
like q startled bird.
"a little thing like that makes one
feel at home directly / said TO my
self with q smile, for, as % single man.
knew the value OF pretty girls
kisses and would have liked more
extended interview. / looked forward
TO dinner that night with much eager.
ness and lOngcd to see the lady who
distributed her kisses o rashly.
I'm tho drawing rOym,y before the
gong sounded, my wish was gralfed.
a man OF about my own ngc, who boro
70 striking resemblance TO myself
cnmo toward mo with the charming
girl bI1shing 80 his side. lie explained
That tho kiss was intended for himself
and introduced his sister, who apollo.
g.zcd for her mistake in the sweetest
manner. I sat next Miss Carstairs at
dinner, and 100 the course of couvcrsn.
ton remarked That once before ] had
been mistaken Tor another man with
nearly a fatal result 10 myself
'Oh, do tell me about it, she said.
ryua uhguf a., GA. .rl... Il.