Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-05-01

| princely coat and sit down? lam at
work, you see, but still"
81 have been the victim Of most
diabolical experienced" Mordaunt in
terrupted. impetuously. Nothing
will induce me to 20 back 70 my rooms
tonight! You must give me a shake
down here; the sofa will do very well.
But listen. Curtis" And with a
breathless and nervous volubility, he
proceeded to narrate to the other in
a graphic outline the incident that
had bcfallcn him.
Curtis listened patiently.
80" he said, quietly, as Mordaunt
paused an instant, what then? You
opened the door of your room, and
you saw"
"The man in the fur coat-the man
/ had left in the street outside the col
lege walls-sitting calmly there in my
armchair" continued Mordaunt.
And. great heavens, Curtis, the man
was
Well" asked Curtis, "who was
the MANI"
Mordaunt leaned back and regard
ed his friend with wide eyes Of hor-
ror.
Myself" he calculated. in a frozen
tone.
Curtis looked upquickly.
YOURSELF"
"No otherl | saw before me, with
the lamplight full upon it. my own
face gazing at me across the table;
my own figure reclining in the arm
chair-aye. and clad. too. in the very
coat that | was wearing myself!
There sat before my own eyes in
flesh and blood, a living counterpart
Of what You see me now!'
"A singular optical illusionw
smiled Curtis; but in spite of the
smile. his tone sounded uneasy. "And |
YOU don't care to return"
Mordaunt shuddered by yom
leave, my dear Curtis, will sleep on
the sofa here" he replied
Il am not sure" said Curtis, that
altogether blame you. Ishould also
EEL indisposed to encounter a second
lime my own double in my own room.
Tomorrow morning, perhaps"
Mordaunt nodded.
When the following morning Nor.
.aunts scout went at the usual hour
o wake him, he was surprised to dis
over the bedroom empty; he was sur
'rised also at another discovery.
which sent him hurrying downstairs.
Al the foot Of the staircase he met
Mordaunt himself.
"Why, Mr.. Mordaunt, sir, ! IA
wondering what had become Of You"
began the servant. Il seed YOU hadn't /
slept in your bed last night, sir; and
just as well, Mr.. Mordaunt, for you
as YOU didn't!' added the scout sig
why so, Manton?" inquired Nor
iaunt, preparing to ascend the
stairs.
"Why so, sir? Because half the
ceiling has fallen down in the night
On the top Of your pillow, sir; and,
sure enough if you'd been lying there,
Mr.. Mordaunt, yourself. you'd have
been crushed to death, sir-smoth-
cred, for certain-that's whyr
Mordaunt made no answer, but
pushed past him. The sight that met
MIN as he entered his bedroom a mo
ment later bore out the servants
statement. A solid fragment Of ma
'onry, becoming detached in some
way from the wood supports Of the
ceiling, had fallen, dragging with it
mass of mortar and woodwork, d.
-ectly upon the spot where, under or
linary circumstances, Mordaunts .
lead would have lain. lie gazed at
he debris on the pillow before him
With a strange tremor at his heart.
His pulse beat quicker. He realized
Of the sensation Of a sud.
len and miraculous escape from iney-
table destruction-as a man whose
GOT has been arrested on the edge ,
# precipice.
And it may be that in thatmomen I
lie breathed a prayer Of gratitude to ,
he Sender of Apparitions.-London /;
answers.
Flees Are "Wild Animals"
A customhouse decision on feas /