Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-01-28

Which / had seen. 1t had come too
late, and he had tried to find his way
home afoot and across lots because Of
the increasing rain, which suggested
hurry. He had gone astray in the two
paths that ran through the field.
/ offered my best apologies to Mr..
Kelvin, but he refused to be satisfied.
He berated us all, and the last words
that / heard from him as he burst out
of the door were these, addressed to
the unfortunate Reedy:
'I'll teach you to call me an old Jail
birdv'
'I'll be hanged if he doesn't look like
one said the detective after Kelvin
had gone, "and as for false arrest, for
get it. He was trespassing on your
property, and | had right to ask him
what he was up to-
may add that this view of the case
seemed to be sustained by Kelvin's
lawyers. whom he consulted on the fol-
lowing day.
But meanwhile what had become of
Donald's burglar? 1t was mystery
which did not solve itself that night,
and have rarely seen human crea-
ture so distressed as my poor boy was.
He derived no comfort from the
thought that all the mistakes, so far as
we might venture to decide, were
Reedy's. Mr.. Kelvin really did not an
swer fully to Donald's description.
Certainly he was not Scotch Davy,
with whom, according to our detective,
the description tailed exactly.
ANY other man in my place would
have done the same thing" said Reedy.
THAT Teller looks enough like Scotch
Davy to be ringer for him anywhere"
He was perfectly satisfied with him
self, and he had the true detectives
power of being satisfied with his en-
ployer and undisturbed by any error or
sin of the latter. 1t was Reedy's hon.
est boast that he never forgot whose
money he was taking and that he was
strictly on the level.
Don't you worry" said he to Don
aid. This man Kelvin can't do any
thing. If we all tell the same story,
where'll he be? He's got no witnesses.
Besides know him, now that come
to think of it. He's old Sam Kelvin,
the trust magnatc. He'd be all right
in civil suit for million dollars, but
in little case like this that would
have to be tried before jury of farm
ers that sort of Teller wouldn't stand
as much show as one chicken among
twelve colored gentlemen"
1--WE met his daughter socially" said
Donald in a weak voice. She's been
visiting some people in Cambridge.
She's very nice girl"
1t was obvious that the hand of ca
lamity had arranged the pieces on our
little chessboard. However, there was
nothing that could be done about it.
Donald and Went home, where we
had considerable trouble in evading
questions, and Reedy remained on
guard, being still convinced that real
robber was coming. He did not appear
that night, however, nor the next,
which was Friday, but on Saturday
about noon Reedy came swiftly into
my office and tapped me on the Shout
der.
"Our mans in town for sure" he
whispered. There's no mistake this
time. He amt Scotch Davy, though.
l don't know him."
l sent Il man running after Donald,
who had been with me few minutes
before. The boy came back ahead Of
the messenger, however, and he looked
very much excited.
1--WE seen him." said he. "You know
whom l mean. He's down by the sta
ton"
what shall we do?" said I.
Reedy expressed a general conviction
that everything was all right. 1t was
somewhat long winded opinion, and
While he was in the midst of it the
door was pushed open, and n pale,
hard featured, smooth shayen man en-
tered the room. He was clothed in Il
reddish brown suit, with an "invisible
check" He produced upon us very
much the effect of ghost. For my
own part l found myself with my
shoulders planted squarely against the
farthest wall.
Good morning, Mr.. Harrington"
said the intruder "What seems to be
the matter!"
"You:" cried. "You? Why, what's
happened? Where = where's your
beardT'
Mr. William Hackett grinned in
melancholy fashion and passed his
hand over his chin and then stroked
the hair which had grown gray over
his ears in the few months since had
seen him.
1--WE been very SICK" said he. ~
wrote you about it."
Put you didn't say you'd shaved"
"Well," he cried, flushing angrily,
"what if have shaved? Whose whisk-
ers were they, I'd like to know? Do
have to ask you every time l use a
razor?"
II beg you pardon, William" said /.
eve have had an extraordinary expe-
rience which l will describe to you
presently"
He heard the story with interest and
wonder, and as told it began to see
the full value of the psychic phenome-
non involved. Every item Of Donald's
information had been absolutely cor
rect. 1t was only through error in the
Interpretation that any difficulty had
arisen. No additional explanation
could be extorted from Donald. AL.
most his only contribution to the con.
yersation was the gloomy and oft re-
peated prayer:
PLEASE don't say anything about it,
Mr.. Hackett."
Finally we veered around to the SUBJ
ject of business, and Hackett produced
the documents necessary to the trans
fer. Donaldson and Archer were sum-
moned, and l opened the safe, produc-
ing the two packages and my check
book. Then came the real surprise of
this most strange affair. The pack
ages when opened proved to contain
sheets of thin brown paper cut to the
size Of bank notes. The $4,000 had