Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-11-04
ABAKER'S DOZEN
By William Walter Cook.


K
I HAD long been pet theory of
mine that if traveller could get
out of that mysterious country from
whose bourne he is supposed never to
return, and could come back in the
flesh and circulate among his friends
as in life. he would experience great
many surprises, more or less apper-
tanning to him and to his affairs.
little thought it would ever come
within my experience TO test this novel
theory, but it SO happened, and the at
tendant results were simply appalling.
Being blessed with an extremely
large fortune, l was able to ride a
number of very expensive hobbies,
among them that of mountain climb
ing. was passionately fond of this
dangerous sport and would endure
hardships inpumerable in order that
might indulge in it.
Beginning with Mt Blanc, l had
worked my way up to the Jungfrau
and the Matterhorn, and it was during
the latter climb that q couple of
guides and myself dropped over
precipicc and were supposedly lost.
Consciousness left me at the time of
the accident. had sustained injuries
so severe that my mind was affected
for weeks, and when at last awoke
to a realization that l still lived
found myself in little Swiss chalet
and experienced the unique sensation
of reading full account of my death
in Paris newspaper.
1t was a grim joke, but decided Y
enter actively into the spirit of it. Ii
few days | departed, incog, fon
France, and shortly afterward toof<s
ship for America.
Somewhat in doubt as to how IL
extensive fortune of supposedly dNr
ceased bachelor might fare, resolvS
to acquaint my solicitors with the ia
that had not, as was commonly Z
lieved, gone over to the great MAORI =
and so head of any premeditated
tack on my heaped up dollars.
Mcssrs. Tort and Trapleigh weA
greatly amazed, Of course, and VIII
their astonishment had worn off
little | noticed coolness-not veta.,
pronounced, indeed, but thoroughly
patent to my sensitive self-in theiSs
treatment of me. | was nonplusseN
for the moment, but my wonder was
soon set at rest by Mr.. Tort, who con-
ductcd me to n private room and then
put the astounding question:
'Mr Baker, are you related in any
way to Brigham Young?"
"Related to Brigham Young?" i
gasped. "Mr Tort, you're cra2y!"
AT least you're Mormon? Please
assure me that you're Mormon, and
that you did it purely out of religious
conviction and nothing else"
"Did what?" asked in a bewildered
way.
us 1t possible you don't know that
YOU have been married 10 times, and
that a bakers dozen of women are
wearing mourning for you this blessed
minute, and have each filed individual
claims for your large estate?"
Observation-Disclosures" | echoed.
exactly; and each one of these
widows seems to have proven a clear
case against you"
laughed loudly and reached for my
hat.
"Where are you going?" asked Tort.
"I,m going back to the Matterhorn
md foil over another cliff" replied;
"better death in some foreign land
than annihillation at the hands of 10
widows. finland me, Tort"
"Be quiet, them" warned the solic-
tor. "Sit down. BE a man. Re
member you cannot possibly be hus-
band to al of them. Wen weed 'em
out. Efes'succeed in narrowing them
down t60ne, you can placate her by"
"Never! Give me liberty, Tort, or
rive me death. Those are my senti-
ments."
"IIush, not so loud! There's one of
them lust come into the outer office.
They drift in all day long, by ones and
tvos. We keep clerk specially to at
tend to them. Would you like to talk
with this ono? She is No. 0. Shall
send her inT a no.
eyes" / returned desperately; 81
would like to have her give me some
information. Send her in"
And in she came. 1t was Miss dc
sret. fat, fair and forty. | knew her
we'll. She gave scream when she
saw me, and began to futter her
hands.
"Don't faint" requested, in voice
- forced calmness. I'VE are old
friends. Miss de Smet, but had no
idoa that we had entered the holy
honds OF matrimony. | cannot recol-
Lot ever having married you. Still, |
nav have done so in moment of tenn
norary alteration. Will you please
st,te where it was, and when, and why
vou have struggled along all these
lars MS Miss de Smet rather than az
Mrs. Baker,"