Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-12-06
on the market, and I write sometimes" ="
That was as easy as anything.

" Cdll on tne CIlie1 OF ponce. 1elt
chagrined. They chattered at fearful
rate, and then one said:
'IIe has been calling himself George
Marsh" My heart leaped.
Il am George Marsh, gentlemen" I
cried, for it seemed to come back to me
| then, and | am lawyer by profession,
! though given to literature. | live in the
city Of Boston, at the Winterset hotel"
The young man who spoke little but
looked at me hard said:
And how lorg have you lived in Bos
ton, Mr. Marsh ~
"Oh" I answered, "not--not so long,
you know-not so long" Really, it
| seemed to me that the time was of no
Importance just then. They spoke III
low tones, until my quiet acquaintance
said:
"Mr. Marsh, we are in very difficult
situation. We cannot get out of it with
out your aid | beg you will not insist
on our at present informing you of the
details. | want to ask you if, as very
special favor, to help persons in deep
distress, you are willing to join our
party and accompany us to Philadelphia,
free Of expense, and at reasonable COM
pensation for loss of time"
How long?" asked, wondering what
was coming next.
Two or three days-perhaps," he re-
Piled
YES I agreed; 81 will go if it will
do you a service-because you seem to
be agitated to an extraordinary degree"
We started for Philadelphia with no
delay, and | found myself in company
whose agreeable manners were tenn
pered with respectful reticence. On
nearing Our carriage at Camden station
| halted and said:
| insist that before going further | be
Gentlemen. you must excuse me if
I insist that before going further | be
admitted to a knowledge of our errand."
The slender youth seemed fit for re-
monstrance; but the other, whom | had
begun to like, interrupted:
"To be sure Well, then, | am Doctor
Wranglc-this Mr.. Harold Martin, son
of Mr.. Gerald Martini"
"My double, | suppose?" | said
"Yes," replied the doctor, and | won
dered what about his face reminded me
of that policeman
"As to Our errand," he continued, "Mr.
Martin most mysteriously disappeared
three weeks ago. We are searching for
him, and we want you-a practical law
yer with plenty of leisure, to take up
the hunt as an entirely unprecedented per-
son. The best detectives have failed.
We have been seeking man exactly
yes, may say exactly like you"
"You display astounding confidence IN
a stranger" / suggested
1--WE are desperate" replied he. Mrs.
Martin is frantic with grief and appre-
hension. Will you allow us to put you
in entire charge of the search for suf-
fcicnt period to make study OF the
case?"
| got into the carriage.
At the door voting Martin led the way
past pretty maid into house set with
obvious elegance 1t occurred to me that
the missing Martin lived we'll when he
was at home. The doctor and waited.
Harold ran upstairs. | heard door uil-
latch, ard woman's voice cried some
thing indefinite. Then Harold broke in:
Eyes, mother" lie said; we've found
him."
The door closed. found the doctor
regarding ME intently.
"Well, sir" he remarked, as if expect
ing me to say something of Importance.
"NIrs Martin was expecting me,
them" | inquired
Expecting you?"
"Yes-or some one i'll my capacity"
dyes" The doctor led the way to-
ward what looked like library. eve
needed you desperately"
ITS very flattering to be in such de-
mand," replied.
You'll be better than Jolworthy, the
police detective who has been bunglng
the case" returned the doctor. He has
been outrageously careless of Mrs. Mar
tins feelings. This is Mr.. Martins
library"
Martin lived well, anyway" l said.
"a booliman. wasn't he"
mo, lawyer
"a good one, then"
"Yes; good to all but himself
"How%
"Overwork His last murder trial fin
ished him"
Surveyed the room in detail. 1t over
flowed with elegance.
1--WE discovered a clew, DOCTOR" /
cried as | stood before a ripping col
lection OF byzantine tedpotS' IlS was
by my side instantly, all alive.
Don't start" said 1. I've only dis
covered that Martin was out of his
mind No sane man could stay out of
this library three successive weeks and
live"
Don't triAe, please" said the doctor,
looking panied.
But my opinion of Martin was fixed.
mo sane man could quit these teapots
three weeks" | repeated. mo proper
mind could be lured from these Mon
golian worries, or these amazing brasses.
or this luxurious Thackeray; hence, the
poor devil is mentally askew Clew one
for me- has Jolworthy so much?"
The doctor only pointed to the library
table. Look over his papers" he said
"his diary is there, too, at the top of the
pile. He was hot over the trial, you
,,t;u eaaU