Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-29

1t was given Manning saw that his
friend was not yet stirring, and went
back to bed with a parting emphasis
upon the dull ears Of the waiter that
he wanted breakfast served at ten
o'clock. At that hour the bell woke
him again; ne hobbled down, let in
the commissary, and went back to
rouse Godfrey. He raped on the door
but got no answer. Then he went in
to the darkened room, let up the
shades and saw that the bed was not
only empty but that it had been I'M
occupied during the night. He
searched the rooms and the closets
before he went downstairs, but there
was no sign of either Fairchild or his
he found Geoffrey's hat hanging just
where it's wearer had placed it the aft
ernoon before. This set him to think
ing that perhaps his friend was lolling
about, but half hours search yielded
no further trace Of the vanished
guest. The waiter was gone. There
was no help for it but to continue his
explorations Of the house alone. It
was nearly noon before he be gan to
feel faint for want of his breakfast.
He ate it, puzzled, worried and waited,
but no Fairchild appeared. The next
morning his mail brought him a letter
from Godfrey 1t was dated Beau
mont and said that the writer was
just starting for Chicago and would
drop in" The date line and post
mark both showed that the letter had
been written only the day before Geof-
frey had come, and how he had man.
aged to beat the fast mail from Texas
was almost as puzzling as his extra
ordinary behavior after arriving.
Manning suspected that Fairchild had
put up some sort Of trick on him,
but turn and twist the thing as he
might he couldn't guess where the
laugh was to come in if it was a joke.
While he was finishing his coffee a
telegram came which set Vincent's
heart to beating uneasily about his alb
sent wife and boy; but it, too, proved
to be from Fairchild, dated Texark
ana, thus: Delayed here two days.
Will see you Saturday night sure.
Jeff"
On Saturday night Manning was so
curious to find out what sort of plot
his friend had been putting upon him
that he went in a carriage to meet the
train. He was at the gate half hour
1,,1tx who tJo ty.oi n RI
in, Godfrey wasn't two minutes in
finding nim. Manning was put upon
his guard at once by Fairchild's too
enthusiastic greeting.
But what did you mean by stealing
out Of the house in the night like
that?" asked Manning.
Stealing out of what house?"
gaped Godfrey.
Manning looked at him a moment,
but Fairchild carried the joke bravely
without twitch Of eye or lip except
what denoted surprise, and Vincent
could only shake his head and say:
ooh, all right, Jeff. Have your
blamed jokes if you will, but by
George, you scared me. l thought
something had gone wrong" Fair
child laughed little foolishly as they
went slowly to the carriage, but Man
ming changed the subject with an out
spoken resolve to be on guard against
Geoffrey's funny" climax, whatever
it might prove to be. When they ar
rived at Manning's house Maggie was
there to greet them.
"But where is Maud?" said Geof-
frey, looking around.
"Ah, drop that joke of yours" said
Manning, half annoyed 81 told you
all about that the other day when you
were here"
''You know | wasn't here, Manning"
said Fairchild, dropping the familiar
Vince so markedly that Manning saw
it was not a joke after all. They ex-
planned, argued, almost quarreled
been near the house for a year, and
that, if Manning was in earnest, he
had either dreamed or imagined the
inexplicable visit. Vincent insisted
that he did not dream in the daytime,
that he used no alcoholic drinks or
drugs, and then-he thought Of the
hat. He rushed to the hall, and, sure
enough, there it hung beside the
others.
isn't that your hat?" he asked in
sneering triumph. ut has your mi
tails in it, hasn't it? Or am I dream
ing AGAIN."
Fairchild took it, smiled and looked
serious. eyes. it's an old hat of mine,
I suppose, but how
Here Maggie who had paused to
overhear the odd debate, said:
'Please, sorr, if you'll excuse me,
found that nat in a closet befure l
whit away last wake. l didn't know
whose twas, an so just hung it
there"
4 left it here last summer Fair
child said, hesitating, but sure. And
they never did unravel the mystery
John III Rafferty, in the Chicago Rec