The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28

the dark. eff anybody's got a right to
know Mortimer Davenhill 1 have. You
boys go into the next room, and leave me
the candle. He can see me IL he wants to-"
II don't want to see you.'' said Davenhill.
''You are" he named his name. 81 have
rather an ear for voices. Do you happen
to have noticed that you made use Of an
exclamation? On the last day Of the au-
tumn sittings at the Old Bailey. five years
ago. heard a man say Holy Moses! when
a verdict of Not guilty. was returned in
his favor in a coinage case. If remember
rightly the tainted in the dock.
think that I defended him..
That's right, Mr.. Davenhill." said the
third man whose voice had broken the
silence Of the darkened room. We've
made a mistake" the voice added, land
we'd better own to it. What do you say?"
We've got ourselves to look after" said a
new voice, and said Davenhill: why, dear
me, Jones, are you there? This is quite
meeting of old friends Its Davenhill
right enough" said the fastest speaker.
There's a blunder somewhere" There
was a moments silence. and then the
American spoke What are we going to
do with him?" Gentlemen said Daven-
HILL 'it is quite evident to me that you
are not going to carry a mere everyday
blunder of this kind into a crime. 1 under
stand your standpoint perfectly. You are
asking whether it is safe thing to let me
go. Believe me, that is the only safe thing
to do. You have my word as gentleman
and a Christian that 1 shall take no ad-
vantage of your trust. 1 hope you will
xtat,
have the honor to preside. for l should re-
greet to disturb the good feelings with which
We shall part on this occasion"
The hands had ceased to hold him, and
he permitted to find his feet. The
American broke out: "Are We going to be
such blamed set of FOOLS LAS to COM
nit MURDER asked Davenhill. Surely
not And what other choice have you, ex-
cept to let me go?" Pocketbook, signet
ring, purse and card case were thrust back
upon him, the hands which had seized them
cropping to restore them to his pockets.
Here's your hat, Mr.. Davenhill," said the
only man who had not yet spoken. Were
treating you like a gentleman, and we
expect you to treat us like a gentleman"
Really" cried Davenhill, this is a most
extraordinary gathering. 1 defended you
in 1879, but 1 had no luck with you"
Honor bright, Mr.. Davenhill?" said one,
and the rest echoed the question. Honor
bright" he answered, and so, being re-
leased, he went home and escaped to his
hotel bedroom without observation, though
his dress was considerably disordered.
Davenhill considered it his duty never to
hint at this adventure, but he was set free
by circumstance no less curious than his
adventure itself. The four gentlemen who
had mistaken him for the millionaire hunt
ed their prey together with varying for
tunes in many countries. and at last they
were swept into the judicial net together,
and it fell to their sometime captive to
send them for trial. They were all ulti-
mately sent to penal servitude for life, and
then the tale was told. But after their
committal from the Police Court one of the
prisoners, on leaving the dock, made a very
cryptic observation to the magistrate. 1--WE
should never have made that little mistake
in Calais, Mr.. Davenhill," he said, but
the truth is we had none of us ever seen
| you without your barrister's wig, SIR
| Next Sunday: 1.-THE Private Enquirer"
| copyright in the United States of America
by d. T. Pierce. All rights reserved.]