Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-01-02
4 MYSTERY EXCLAIMED.
The Experienced Gentleman From Cincin-
natl Knew All About 1t.


the man with the red nose as a trou-
bled expression clouded his face,
something happened to me when !
was living III South Bend which has
bothered me not little. Ihave told
the story to perhaps 200 different
people, but none of them was 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.
We'll, / went down town one
evening to see man. My wife coax
ed me to stay at home, but / had
business of Importance to transact.
promised her TO be at home at
sharp 10 0 clock, however, and to be
sober. AS went out she intimated
that if / didn't show up till mid
night, and was booty at that, some
thing might happen to me, but of
course ] took that as a joke
Did you meet your MANI" asked
the drummer.
Yes, l met him all right, and we
put in a pleasant TWO hours to-
gether =
Drink anything?"
1.-Two glasses of lemonade, and it
was very weak stuff at that. About
half past II started for home. 1t
was beautiful starlight night, and
in walking a mile | saw as many as
dozen falling stars. One of them
struck in the street not ten feet
away
We'll, you got home?'
Yes, l got home. My 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 a drink
of water when suddenly lost con.
seriousness. 1t was noon of the next
day when l came to. y
Any wounds?' queried the
drummer.
Yes. had been struck on the
head and received a 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 entered the house nor did have
an enemy. | 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 wish the mys-
terry could be cleared up"
I'll clear it up for you, :" replied
the drummer. Precisely such a
thing happened to me once-precise-
ly-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 a club?"
Mercy, no!'
That's what happened to you
and me and will happen to thou
sands of others. Your wife cracked
your cocoanut.
. Is it possible?" gasped the vic
tim. Now that / 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 eyer"
Just so-just so.
And about the first words she
spoke to you were that it served you
right, and next time you'd come
home sober and at a reasonable
hour "
"Exactly-just her words. And
WASH t struck by falling starr"
Not at 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.
We'll, by gumi Drummer. l
thank heaven that / met you! You
have rendered me favor to win my
everlasting gratitude. Give me your
card that I may always cherish your
cognomen and also come and take q
drink with me. So it was my wife
who whacked mef Yes, it must have
been-must have been-but / never
suspected it-neverl Drummer. fol-
low me to the convivial bar and
nominate your brand. - Detroit