The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-26


ed. who to? When? Where? Are you
sick? Food goodness sake, tell a body
what the matter 10, and don't sit there
like you had seen a ghost"
That's what it is, I'm afraid, dear"
he answered her, and quite as incoherent-
ly as she had spoken. AT least, 1 don't
know what it is"
We'll. tell me, and maybe I can help
you some" she insisted, although it might
have occurred to her that if her hus-
band did not know he could scarcely tell
her.
rs breakfast ready?" he asked with a
violent effort
Yes. what there is of it. Why didn't
you bring the other things?"
That's what's the matter Jane; there
isn't any other things; there isn't anybody
or anything. The whole town is asleep or
dead, and the air in the streets is clammy
as the breath of a ghost. ] don't know
what it is, but something has happened.
and time alone can tell what it is. The
janitor isn't here, nor the elevator boy,
and there are no newsboys on the streets,
nor cars. and no stores open, nor wagons
running or policemen. nor people moving
about; there isn't soul in the market
and it seems more like a haunted house
than anything else"
Surrounded by a combination Of such
strange circumstances. Mr.. Tankerman
had quite forgotten his recent accumula-
ton of wealth but Mrs. Tankerman's mind
was yet active on the subject.
well" she said resignedly. "let come
what will come, John, we are provided
for. and now let us eat our breakfasts
and go out together to learn what all the
trouble is about"
1t was a task for Mrs. Tankerman to
get down stairs after breakfast, for il
must be confessed that she was no longer
sylph-like but she succeeded after much
effort, meeting tenants on two of the floors
who were as annoyed as she was by the
absence of the elevator boy and the JAM
tor, but they speedily retired to their
apartments and. OF course. Mrs. Tanker
man said nothing to them about the good
luck that had befallen her, and which she
had at that very moment in an uncomfort-
able belt around her waist, where thieves
could not break in and steal The only per-
son to whom she intended to mention that
precious money was her cousin, who was
a clerk in the bank where she sometimes
cashed a small check. She had thought
to go there first and get rid of the money,
but when she reached the street her heart
almost failed her. for there were no cars
in sight and the distance to the bank was
at least a mile Her husband suggested
that she might be able 10 hire a cab, and
with a laugh that sounded as if she had
been guilty of some faux pas or other she
hurried him to the corner TO cab stand,
only to find that 1t was vacant. This was
strange at that hour, but no one was near
who could explain their absence, and they
started to walk to the bank wondering as
they went along what could be the matter
with everything. Occasionally they met
people, but they were strangers who ap-
rlnarn
and now and then an oath might be heard
as some urgent man wanted TO know why
there were no cabs or some thirsty one
failed to find a saloon open The' air was
stagnant in its stiffness, and Mr.. and Mrs
Tankerman began to feel that something
equivalent to an earthquake had occurred
or was on the eve of doing so. They hoped
to find an explanation al the bank, but
when they reached that institution 1t was
closed
or rather 1t was partly so, a s the presi-
dent was there and he had opened dt as
far as he was able. He was in tenn
per and could give the inquirers no sat
isfaction. There were two or three peo-
pie asking numerous questions, and a
dozen or more standing around myster-
iously cycling each other with suspicion
and apparently each awaiting for the
other to get away so he could have a
private consultation with the President
or cashier or some one in authority
sTn tell you what I'll do" said Mrs.
Tankerman to her husband, something
is wrong lust as sure as little apples,
and we'll go round to cousin Jimmie's
and see what it is. Maybe he's sick;
the goodness knows everything seems
to be sick or wrong, or something this
morning and I'm going to find out what
it is
1t was Just around the corner on the
second block beyond and when the call
ers rang the bell it was answered by
cousin Jimmie himself.
"Our servant seems to have disappeared
this morning." he explained, land as my
wife isn't very well I'm doing the house ,
work myself. But come right in; Kate
isn't so sick that she can't see you, even
II 1t is rather early for a call"
He laughed and was extremely CHEEKY
for a man in Nike circumstances, but
said nothing about his being at home
at that hour instead of at the bank Mrs.
Tankerman couldn't wait for Mrs. Kate
to appear, but at once plunged into the
object of her visit.
Have you been out this morning.
she inquired abruptly
well, no cousin Jane, l haven't" he
hesitated.
on. Something is wrong; terribly wrong
and I want to know what it is. 1 came
to the bank to ask YOU and" she added
to see you about a business matter"
lie coughed and seemed 90 be con-
strained.
DO you know anything?" she asked,
taking a quick suspicion from his man
ner
Know WHAT" he replied.
With a womans intuition Mrs. Tanker
man knew that her cousin James had a
secret also, though she could not imagine
what It was, so she approached him on an
equal footing.
do you know anything about what John
and received this morning from some
body goodness knows where?' she asked
with studied calm. I'm sure you do for
you look guilty"
1T assure you l know nothing whatever
Of what you and your husband have re-
ceived," he said, seriously, but he looked
none the less guilty in her eye.
She had not sat down until now, but
now she sat down firmly.
IT might as well tell you now as any
time" she said, "for that's what I came
TO the bank for. and IL you will excuse
me while 1 slip out into the hall moment