The National tribune., 1901-04-18

but just now, it does not seem to me
that she is in fit state, mentally or phys
icaly, my dear Mrs. Keep, to have such
| thing suggested"
The lady sighed and was silent.
One day Margare+ sat in a big chair in
her darkened room, her Ianguid hands
crossed on ler lap and her eyes half
closed. Mrs. Ashbel had tucked the pill
lows under her head and thrown the rug
over her knees and left her with a CHEEKY
,, kiss. The little lady had scarcely gone
before a servant knocked and brought in
letter. Margaret took it eagerly. Her
| face fell as she noted the unfamiliar
handwriting of the address, then she
flushed as she read the name, so dear yet
so strange. under which it had reached
| her.
| taking, though powerful, script, and ran
as follows:
my Dear Mrs. Sears: / have read
all that has appeared in the Reaper touch
| ing yourself and your husband, and beg
you to accept my sympathy at his sudden
and unexplained disappearance.
Il have known Gil. Sears ever since
he came to this town, q stubby youngster
| OF IL. Being constable most of that time,
L have had TO keep close watch on the
| boys, and | say now there aint ever been
| squarer young fellow, nor a better
young man (of course, don't mean i'll
any milk-soppy way, in the County of
Taunton, and it was my duty to know it,
ma'am.
Il take great interest in baseball. Gil
| BERT even as a kid, was the best twirler
| and almost the best all-around player,
| we've had in town. His delivery, batting
| and base-running were the neatest you
| ever saw. l always said he would be
on honor to his college if he didn't get
switched off onto this dirty football bust
ness, though it never occurred to me he
would be the man TO lift our New Eng.
land nine TO third place after it had been
50 long at the tail as to be almost out of
| sight. But he has done it, ma'am, and
| l say he's an honor to the nation.
ITS this way. The day he left Sum,
merdale after old Miss Lucys funeral, he
was waiting at the depot for No. 8, and
was sympathizing with him about o
good many. things. you know, and we
got to talking about the national game
L happened to ask him if he knew any.
thing about Harry Hosmer, the new BOs,
ten pitcher, but just about then the train
came along and it was not until No. 3
had whistled way up the valley some.
thing about the way he answered, OF
didn't answer, came to my mind. II
struck me almost silly, then. / say that
Harry uosmer is the name Gilbert Sears
has been going under, PROFESSIONALS
since these vinegar bloOded profs sus,
pended him from the University. q know
Der his trunk had on the end Of it H
H and 'B. b. c., No. 49, Twas plain
enough to read if you are on to it. L also
| recoliected that about two weeks before
| Hosmer was reported laid up with q
sprained shoulder-his left-at st. Louis
| Can you patch that together!
| Well, Miss Margaret, if old Nose
wasn't tickled! I didn't say anything, but
jest lay low for him when he should come
back at the end of the season.
Now, Mrs. Sears, Hosmer has disap,
peared. Being absorbed in your own
troubles, l. don't suppose you've noticed
| His last big play was on the 4th of july
special game in Chicago about a month
ago. He didn't show up, and nobody has
heard of him since. His trunk, which. ac.
cording to description, is the exact dupli.
cate OF the one / handled for Gilbert
Sears, Is lying unclaimed In the ALE,
| gheny baggage-room at Pittsburg And
say, when you find Harry Hosmer
you'll find your husband.
! Don't be worried by any Of these re.
ports about his selling out the game. It's
blamed rot. i don't myself quite see why
he has disappeared, but he hainr hid moi
My opinion is he's alive all right. People
like him don't knock off SO easy. / see
by the paper today that the fBean-eaters'
have offered big reward for Hosmer
dead or alive: That is, for anyone who
will produce him alive or give a straight
tip that he's dead. suppose to clear
themselves they must prove that the
Orioles or somebody else has bought him
off
'The Reaper says Bettson has the
Sears matter in charge. He's a smart
man, and no doubt has employed the best
talent, but as nobody but me seems 10
have found out that Sears and Hosmer
are one and the same man, somehow /
| can't feel that the last thing possible
has been done. Maybe, IL it's agreeable