The Elbert County tribune., 1902-08-14

why Wnat mas ne oOnel"
HE is n bold. bad mani"
Charlie was inclined TO say "Amen,"
10 that. but he kent his own counsel
as yet, seeking mUe light.
See herei You have known this
wonderful modern Baron Munchausen
at some past dRte?'' he said.
Artemus nodded.
1T would be impossible that two
such men could ever exist. Yes, /
knew him."
"Where?'
In New York"
"when?'
Let me see." scratching his head,
as a comedian must always do when
deslrous OF arousing memory. "Ah,
yes. just little more than two years
ago."
But at that time he swears he was
in the heart of Africa. prisoner at
Dahomey."
'Well-he lies." coolly.
Charlie liked that.
1t was SO fresh and original at the
same time so very emphatic.
Who was he when you knew him?"
the facts now.
"A fourth-rate actor, on his uppers
half OF the time. One of these howl
ing transformers. a heavy villain OF
the piece. at home in Uncle Toms
Cabin or Ten Nights In a Barroom.'
He was the joke of the season on the
Rialto. in Gotham. even thought Sc
riously of utilizing him in my great
play as the seedy actor who carries
the mysterious secret with him
through five acts. but when he found
there was a chance OF him being i'm
mortalized. his price for sittings went
away up. and l discovered something
better than Hamfatter."
Good Heavensl was that his
name?"
Certainly not. That's what they
call all heavy tragedians OF the barn
storming variety. Let me see." plac-
Ing finger alongside his nose. a la
Irving. now have it-bend your
head lower, for that fellow has keen
ears-it was Frederick Davenport Ma
cauley."
Indeed Very suggestive. consider
ing his occupation in life. What
man he is. to be sure; capable of hav-
ing SO many names, and filling such
various stations in life. Why, when /
knew him, four or five years ago. he
was called Captain Nathaniel Hedge"
What! you knew him, them"
Il saw him-that is, | am almost
dead certain 1t is the same man; and
| expect to prove 1t presently"
Where was this?"
IN South America"
In Valparaiso?"
Come, what makes you ask that?"
in surprise.
Il remember him talking of being
concerned in little war scare that oc-
Cured down there-he has always
been the same boaster. you know"
well. that seems to prove the iden-
tity. ! never in all my life heard of
SO stupendous a rascal"
Say what was he doing down in
Santiago. or was 1t Valparaiso?"i
THE latter. on the coast. the most
enterprising city along the Pacific,
south OF San Francisco. What was he
doing? Well. about the last I saw of
him, ne was dancing Scottish horn
pipe"
yes, he has his merry moments
when the liquor is in
But this was unique affair-before
an audience that must have numbered
thousands"
"Godl that would spur even so
poor an actor to do his best
And Captain Nathaniel did his very
best. II. as you say. he has been an
actor as well as miner, sea captain.
coffee planter. speculator. and Heaven
knows what not. he certainly had the
chance of his life to bring out braves.
However. l don't think he took half
as much interest in the affair as some
of the rest OF us did"
"He didn't, en-? l never knew he
was acquainted with modesty. How
was that?" asked Artemus. eagerly.
WELL" said Charlie. dryly. you see.
he was being hung!"
(To be continued)