The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-04-23

behind in New York that he had got TO
Chicago ahead of me?
But the manikin. / had only to
produce him in proof of my assertion.
| looked around for the object of my
toe late. Both he and Mrs. johnson had
disappeared While / had been debat-
ing within myself the question OF my
own sanity the will-o'-the-wisp which
was undoubtedly working 10 unbalance
my reason. had made good its escape.
"Nevcr mind, my little man." | NUT
tered: "only wait till | catch you
again!"
About ten o'clock, after | had eaten
some breakfast, ! set out for Mr.. Peck
tits office.
There | was ushercd by a clerk into
an inner room. where. TO my utter con-
sternation, | found the diminutive fig
urc in black, with Mrs. johnson sitting
opposite 10 il.
"Mr. Peclsitt ?" said in a scarcely au-
dblc voice. for | had every reason to
believe Peckitt to be person of con-
sideration in the commercial! world
not a spook or wisp, by any
means, but man of substance.
"Yes, SIR" Mr. Pcckitt answered, in,
suppose. as pleasant a manner as he
could assume; but nevertheless in that
irritatingly piping voice of his. and
with that ineXpressibly careworn look,
which ! had noticed in Liverpool and
New York. YES. sir" ne repeated; II
90. al oil n r,aat Won | have re-
ccived letters from Liverpool concern
ing your business. and shall be most
happy to go into that matter with you
at any time. Allow me. sir, TO intro
duce you to my sister, Mrs. Johnson"
! went through the formality Of the
introduction without venturing any
remark upon the fact that ] had come
over from Liverpool 10 New York in the
same boat and travelled from New York
to Chicago in the same train as the
lady.
We talked on Indifferent subjects for
a few minutes; and then. when CONVEX
sation seemed to be tagging, l said,
tentatively:
Il observe that you are in mourning.
Mr.. Peckitt" Peckitt! How singularly
appropriate the cognomen TO his bird
like appearance.-"I trust you have
had no recent bereavement"
"Ah, my dear SIR" Mr.. Peckitt an
swered, 1.-THE loss of one near and dear
to us is always recent. There are some
losses the bitterness of which even
time cannot assuage."
He did not volunteer any further
statement as to tha nature of his loss;
so. after a moments silence, l said,
somewhat hesitatingly:
might | ask how long it is since you
were in England, Mr.. Peckitt"'
1.-TWO years. he replied.
Two years. And it was only eigh,
DAYS since / had seen him there. There
was, undoubtedly, some deep mystery
here. Had he sinister motives for wish
ing TO conceal his movements; or, was
II that he only wished to keep the meth
cd of his marvellous flight through space
secret for some not unworthy rea
son?
That is strange." / murmured. UNI
Intentionally giving vent to my
!. thoughts.
"Strange?" Mr.. Peckitt echoed in ar
; inquiring tone.
"Why, yes" / answered, desperately
for thought we might as well come tS
an understanding now as later. die
no, want to do business with mat
about whom hung such peculiar mys
/, terry. IL could have sworn that | saw
\ Al IN ~ x,fth fhil
lady, only eight days ago
"Ah, ah." Mr.. Peckitt exclaimed, re
laxing for an instant his habitual. op
pressing austeriiy of expression. "Tha
was my brother John"
80? Then you are twins"
mo, sir" he replied. mot twins. ex
, actly There were more than two o
, u.s."
, "Ah. Now l begin to understand
> You have, also. brother in New York !?
! .Ycs. sir" Mr. Pcckitt assented. M.
brother William
, "Oh. ON, Then you are triplets?'
e mo. sir" Mr.. Peckitt answered, in
sorrowful tone. There was another
: the best and brightest of all. my broth
n cr Henry. But hc-aias.-he IS deao
n Poor Henry is no more."
: "And il is for him you-and you
:. brothcrs-are in mourning"
"Ies, sir"
n "And he has been dead
$ Seventeen years." Mr.. Peckitt ar
I swercd. as he wiped away the tear
" with his black-bordered handkerchie
Detroit Free Press.
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