Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-06-24

ms relatives and friends, that no sane
man could mistake me for him. In
height there is a difference of two
inches; in weight of Is pounds. He
has black hair and eyes, while mine are
light, and if fortune depended on it
no one could trace the slightest family
resemblance, and yet, strange as il
may seem, our identities got mixed up
once upon time in way very I'M
pleasant for me.
i was in a London concert hall one
evening when man of middle age and
good address took occasion TO speak to
me and bring about conversation. He
did not seem to regard me as stranger
to London, yet mentioned several
places of interest which he thought
might wish to visit. We both left the
hall at once, talking as we went, and
eral blocks in company. We had halt
ed and were about to separate when
my friend was addressed by man in
a cab which had been rolling along
at an easy pace and stopped at the
curb. i moved off after goodnight"
and had gone half block when / was
overtaken by both men. My friend of
the evening had given his name as
Saunders and he introduced the other
as Albright. l was asked if | did not
wish to visit an opium den near by,
much patronized by the aristocracy;
and as the hour was still early and |
hadn't the least fear of my two ac-
quaintances, we set off arm in arm.
The walk extended over five blocks,
and as we mounted the steps Of what
looked like private house in a semi
respectable street, made inquiry as
TO the location. One of the men an
swered that it was Ransom street, and
just then the door opened and we en-
tered dimly lighted hall. The at
tendant waved his hand for us to pass
upstairs, and we went up two flights,
down a long passage and entered
back room. This room was plainly
furnished and lighted by single lamp.
1t was occupied by mddle-aged,
well-dressed man, who was reading
book as we entered. He laid his book
down and looked up, but did not rise.
AS we stood before him Mr.. Saunders
said:
"Mr. Wakeman, | have brought a
gentleman who wishes to have little
chat with you on business affairs. You
will find him a very pleasant man to
talk to, and when the business is con-
cluded we will return to escort him to
his lodgings"
The two men were gone before
fairly realized what had been said;
and after a few seconds the man at
the table motioned me to chair and
calmly said:
"Mr. Fisher, it gives me great pleas
ure to meet you, and If you are the
man / take you for we shall conclude
our business in a satisfactory manner.
Owing to circumstances over which
have no control / am compelled to ask
for a loan of f2,c00. As soon as your
check has been honored, which will be
as soon as the bank opens tomorrow,
you will be at liberty to depart. There
is sherry in that decanter, Mr.. Fisher,
and here are some excellent cigars.
Make yourself comfortable while we
talk"
stared at him for awhile, wonder
ing if ] had been led into trap; then
| asked him why he called me Mr.
Fisher and what he meant by a loan.
He smiled in reply, and lighted cigar
and made himself comfortable in his
chair as he said:
Explanations are always in order,
Mr.. Fisher. We have made no mistake
in bringing you here. You are young
man of means. We want some of your
money 1000. You will be kept a
prisoner in this room until you sign a
check and that check is cashod. We
rented this house with that object in
view, and we .can wait a year if neces-
sary. We have been planning for two
months, and as we have been to con-
siderable expense and trouble, and the
money is to be divided between three
of lis, YOU will realize that our demand
is moderate one. Light a cigar, Mr..
Fisher. You take matters coolly, and |
am glad of it."
] helped myself to cigar and began
to feel easier in my mind. They had
trapped the wrong man, and had but
to identify myself TO be told to walk
out. | told them that my name was
Gibson, not Fisher. If he was under
the impression that ! YsS an English
man he was Mistaken WAS an 5mer-
lean, and had been in london only a
month. | was lodging in Red Prince
square, and people there would corrob-
crate my statements. If the idea was
TO extort money from me we could very
soon reach a figure, as | had only few
hundred dollars to turn over.
"There is no bed here, but the lounge
Is quite comfortable" said the man as
he rose up. you don't know yourself
tonight, but memory may return with
the sun. III come in after breakfast
and see how you feel. Good night, Mr.
Fisher"
lie was out of the room before
knew he was going, leaving by door
at the side. Tpounded on the door and
called for. him TO return ana aiter
waiting two or three minutes / began
n closer inspection of the room. There
was but one window, and that was
boarded up from the outside, while
stout wooden bars had been screwed tc
tbe castings from the inside. The two
doors were of solid oak, and it woulc
have needed crow-ba- 20 open one o.