The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-06-01
A Mysterious Visitor


IOriginall
Mr. Kelsey Opdyke went home from
the opera late. Opening the front door
with his night key, he entered the hall,
dimly lighted by gas jet, and was
passing the drawing room door when
he caught sight of man in evening
dress also passing to the rear. There
was not sufficient light to sec what the
man looked like, and what there was
was turned off the moment Mr.. Opdyke
CAUGHT sight of the intruder. Then
came Il sound as of some one scamper-
ing through the back room and a crash
dCnoting the falling Of table mingled
with the breaking of glass. Mr.. Op-
dyke knew that the fugitive had upset
Il small stand covered with bric.a-b rac.
Mr.. Opdyke hurried after the man to
the rear rooms and finally the kitchen.
No one was to b. found. The doors
ana windows were all locked except
one window, and Mr.. Opdyke cOnclud-
ed that tie fugitive had escaped
through this window After thorough
search Mr.. Opdykc made up his mind
that the Intruder had gone, and then
for the first time it occurred to him
that sneak thieves or burglars do not
90 about in evening dress. He dropped
into IL chair, with terrible sinking at
the heart. His wife must be unfaith-
full to him.
He arose and went upstairs, when
for the first time he noticed that the
light from above had not been COM
pletcly shut off There was plenty of
light in his wfes bedroom, the door of
which was open. She came out to meet
him and asked what accident had oc-
Cured downstairs.
And who" he asked sternly, twas
your vlsltorT
What vlsltorg"
"Thc gentleman found when came
in making for the rear of the house, the
man you turned out the hall gas to
screen"
"My dear, what do you mean? |
turned out the hall gas since you so
often forget it, l opened my door to
light YOU"
Mr., Opdyke had too much self con-
troll to give vent to the fire burning in
his breast. He simply stated the facts
as they had occurred. Mrs. Opdyke sug-
gestcd that perhaps burglar had put
on evening dress the better to escape
detection. This sounded reasonable,
and they agreed to look over their val
20 bnt ,,,,ht l,n ,,,te
ing. After an examination everything
was found in its place.
Mr.. Opdyke would not accuse his
wife without more definite proof. New
ertheless 1t was plain that he had
strong suspicious. Both passed an I'M
comfortable night, and when day
dawned neither had slept.
The next morning Mr. Opdyke discov.
cred his wife bandaging the foot Of
her poodle that had evidently been cut
by the broken glass on the floor He
was mentally occupied with the man
who had upset the table, she with the
wound, and they did not discuss either.
For n long period they lived together
as strangers-worse than strangers,
who do not necessarily wear on each
other, while Mr.. and Mrs. Opdyke illus
trated the words of the poet:
To be wroth with one we love
Doth work like madness on the brain.
Mr.. Opdyke spent his evenings at the
club and carried n revolver in case he
should again meet tho man he had found
in his drawing room. One night he drag
ged himself up the steps of his house,
entered and, passing the parlor door,
saw the dim figure of the intruder.
For Mr.. Opdyke to draw his weapon
and fire was the work Of moment.
He was no quicker than the other, who
fired simultaneously with him. Mr..
Opdyke felt something warm trickling
down his cheek and, putting up his
hand, felt warm blood. He was sur
prised to see his enemy do the same.
There was a quick step In the hall
above, the gas was turned up, and Mrs.
Opdyke came hurrylng downstairs.
Seeing her husband wiping blood from
his face, she cried:
"Oh, heavens! Are you killed."
mo, my dear; am not. The fool
killer has not yet taken me in"
"And what's the matter with the mir.
ror? Who broke IT,"
II did. I was trying to kill your
lover. l saw his reflection there and
fired at him. a bit Of glass few at me
and caused slight wound"
Mrs. Opdyke saw 1t all. Her husband
had twice mistaken his own reelection
for visitor during his absence and
had literally tried to kill his own i'm
age.