Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-05-20

>MHo' nave made sucn dis
~ 'In the dusk, he
:: " looked exactly like
y',u. Of course, the moment he spoke
my horrible blunder flashed upon me
and I fed"
''No nonsense, Ray. 1 will see him
and explain the matter. II 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 at certain hotel in
well-known seaside resort. To this
hotel I came in search of health to re-
store nervous system which had been
feiling lately, and, indeed, had never
quite recovered from q shock caused
by horrible accident which had hap
psned to me several years ago.
had been lured by madman into
his house under pretence of playing
game of billiards, to find myself q
prisoner with an armed lunaiic, who
forced me to play the game for the
highest possible stake--life itself.
Fortunately I won; but my opponent,
although he fulfilled the conditions oi
our game by shooting himself, with re,
faernent OF cruelty tied me in faint;
ing condition to the billiard table &c
that ! might witness his death. In,
deed, his vindictiveness went further
than. this, for he branded my leg with
u hot iron and wrote paper in which
hs accused me of taking his life.
was charged with the murder, but
acquitted, as the fact of my being dis
covered bound and the strange appear.
anee Of toe body attired in the cos
tune of Mephistopheles-a character
the Inadman endeavored to assume
was sufficient 60 prove my side of the
story. Even the astuteness OF Scotland
Yard proved powerless, for all the po'
lice could discover, after long search
into the artecedents of the unfortun
ate man, was the fact that he had beer
confined in lunatic asylum. -.
I needed no proof to convince me
that the man was mad. But there wa:
q method in his madness. Until 1 met
him in public billiard saloon, whence
he took me to his house, I had never
SGT eyes on him before. Then what
was the reason fog the cruel hatred he
evidently felt toward meP Two clewl
possessed, but as each had proved
useless to the detectives, it was moi
likely. that they would lead me toa
solution Of the affair.
First I discovered that in branding
my leg the wretch had traced the let
ters RACHE. That these letters rep.
resented the German word Revenge
/ was perfectly aware; but what was J
to learn from that? That the mar
was q Germsn2 ] think not. His ac
cent plainly told me he was English.
No doubt revenge was his object, but
the meaning of those letters remained
a mystery.
My other cleW was note which
found during q subsequent visit to the
fatal room, hidden under carpet
Although it bore no address, I suppose
it was meant for me, as it spoke of the
wsiter being avenged at last after {
clase half round the world of one who
had stolen his money, murdered hi
intended wife and attempted to MUIR
der him. This appeared to be nothing
more than the ranting Of mind dis
eased, and I soon gave up all hope o.
ever getting TO the bottom OF the mys
terry OF my terrible game OF billiards.
On reaching the hotel, on the day
m7 story opens, another shock awaited
me, though Of @ somewhat different
kind. AS I entered the hall charm
ing girl ran up to me, flung her arms
around my neck, kissed me and mur
mureds
"You darling, Pm so glad you've
comel"
In my embarrassment I said some
thing, but the fair damsel had flown
like startled bird.
"A little thing like that makes one
fell at home Directly I said to my.
self with smile, for, as single man.
knew the value of pretty girl'l
kiuses, and would have liked q more
extended interview. Hooked forward
to dinner that night with much eager
ness and longed to see the lady wht
distributed her kisses 80 rashly. ~
In the drawing room, before tht
gong sounded, my wish was gratifed
a man of about my own age. who bore
q striking resemblance to myself,
came toward me with the charming
girl blushing a. his side. he explained
that the kiss was intended for himself,
and introduced his sister, who apollo
gized for her mistake in the sweetest
manner. sat next Miss Carstairs a
dinner, and in the course of converse
tion remarked that once before hat
been mistaken for another man with
nearly fatal result to myself.
sob, do tell me- about it, she said
I was about to do SO when she
added:
"Bus, no, please wait until after
dinner; then Max can hear tho story;
too"
I am afraid my eyes were scarcely
lifted from my beautiful companion
during dinner. Already love had con
quered. You see. at the outset, be
fore there had been time to 80 much q
deolare war. the position had beer
stormed, the citadel Crushed" by tina
delightful kissI And now it was suf
fcient happiness for me- TO watch the
changing lights in pair OF eappmr'
eyes, whose dusky lashes curled up
ward as though in wanton contras
with the tendrils of the auburn tresse
above.
We three took our coffee in the gar
den that warm September night.
.:Now," exclaimed Carstairs, cray
is dying to near your story, 30 g
ahead !"
"Well, said ], thinking what ,
til