The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-16

hind in Liverpool had got to New York
before me; and then after leaving him
behind in New York hat he had got to
Chicago ahead of me?
But the manikin! 1 had only to
produce him in proof of my assertion.
[ looked around for the object of my
thoughts; and then l found that l YES
toe late. Both he and Mrs. Johnson had
disappeared. While l had been debat-
ing within myself the question of my
own sanity the will-O'-the-wisp, which
was undoubtedly working to unbalance
my reason, had made good its escape.
"Never mind, my little man." l NUT
tered; only wait till l catch you
again."
About ten o'clock, after l had eaten
some breakfast, 1 set out for Mr.. Peck
tits office.
There l was ushered by a clerk into
an inner room. where. to my utter cor
sternation. | found the diminutive fig
urc in black. with Mrs. johnson sitting
opposite to it.
mfr. Peckitt?" I said in Il scarcely au-
dible voice. for I had every reason to
believe Peckitt to be a person of con
sidcratiOn in the commercial world
not a spook or wilI-o'the-wisP, by any
means, but a man of substance.
Eyes. sir" Mr.. Peckitt answered, in,
| suppose, as pleasant a name 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; Il
am delighted 10 meet you. l 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 v]enturing any
remark upon the fact hat ! had come
over from Liverpool to 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.!s"I trust you have
had no recent bereavement"
".Ah. my dear sir" Mr.. Peckitt an
swered. 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 l ask how long it is since you
were in England, Mr.. Peckitt?"
Two years" he replied.
Two years! And it was only eight
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
it that he only wished TO keep the meth
cd ofhis marvellous flight through space
a secret for some not unworthy rea-
son?
That is strange!" l murmured, I'M
Intentionally giving vent to my
thoughts.
Stranger" Mr.. Peckitt echoed in an
inquiring tone.
why, yes."I answered, desperately;
for l thought we might as well come to
an understanding now as later. l did
rot want to do business with a man
about whom hung such peculiar mys-
terry. 81 could nave sworn that l saw
you in Liverpool, in company with this
lady, only eight days ago"
"Ah, ah." Mr.. Peckitt exclaimed, re-
Taxing for an instant his habitual, OPP
pressingausterity of expression. That
was my brother John"
so? Then you are twins?"
NO, sir" he replied. mot twins. ex.
actly. There were more than two OF
u.s."
"Ah. Now l begin to understand
Youhave. also, a brotherin New York;"
YES. sir" MIR. Peckitt ~assented. My
brother William"
"Oh, oh. Then you are triplets?"
"No, sir" Mr.. Peckitt answered, in a
sorrowfui tone. There was another
the best and brightest of all, my BROTH
or Henry. But he-alas!-he is dead.
Poor Henry is no more!"
And it is for him you-and your
brothers-are in mourning?"
YES. sir"
And he has been dead"
Seventeen years." Mr.. Peckitt an
swered. as he wiped away the tears
with his black-bordered handkerchief.
Detroit Free Press.