Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-07-25
The Strange Detective.


[Original.]
had married q wife and found that
1 had been mistaken in her. Marriage
to me had meant perfect accord. Perfect
accord had not been the result in my
case, and l resolved to cut the knot
that bound me to Della by going away
from her. l had no intention of leav-
ing her to support herself. 1 would
give her the lions share of my income
and supply any need for which this
share was inadequate. 1t was near
midnight after a quarrel that I came
to this decision.
Opening my front door, 1 went out.
1t was dark and uninviting. Here and
there a street lamp flickered, and an
occasional vehicle rumbled on the
pavement. Few were abroad, and to
avoid even these I turned down an
unfrequented street. Ny cheeks We're
burning, and the night air could not
cool them. 1 took no thought as to
where 1 would go. Indeed. I had no
desire to 90 anywhere. 1 wished only
to walk and be alone.
heard footsteps beside me and turn
ed nv head to discover who had thus
taken it upon himself to intrude upon
me. l saw no one.
"Ah, 1 see," I muttered. cts the
echo" ...-~e
| I was walking by q high brick wall
and attributed what I had heard to the
sound of my own footsteps sent back
from it. But when 1 passed beyond it
to an opening between the houses l
still heard it. Again / turned to see
If any one was beside. he. SMsSss*sssss
fhls time I was surprlsed-indeed,
80 much surprised that my attention
was drawn momentarily from my trou-
BILE. 1 saw a figure the counterpart Of
myself. He was myself in every re-
spect except that he wore q very dis
agreeable expression. l stopped and
stood still. He did the same. I moved
on. He moved on too. I concluded
to speak to him.
"Where IRE you goingY I asked.
"Where are you going?' he replied.
II? don't care where 1 60"
"so long as you get your revenge,
supposeY
"Revenge! Revenge on whom|
"Your wife"
1 thought a moment. Could it be
possible that what l did vas Influenced
by a desire to hurt Della.
MY wife will not trouble herself
about my leaving her SO long as she is
provided for"
"Better than that she won't sleep q
wink all night"
do you think so?"
IL know SO. 1t will serve her right
She has treated you shamefully."
I had considered that Della. had
treated me shamefully, but preferred
to be the only one to accuse her. Now
that this disagreeable counterpart OF
myself did so 1 revolted.
"Can you name any n thing" ]
. asked, irritated, Sin which she has
treated me shamefullyT
"Yes; she married you for one thing
and found you another. This caused
her to treat you badly In everything"
"She disappointed in me? Why, It's
!, l who am disappointed in her" =.
sand you have q right to be. You
were looking for a woma with a dis
. position that nothing can ruff1e. You
knew that you were quick spoken an6
often unjust. You wanted some ont
to bear with you. You didn't get it."
mo, 1 didn't get it; you're righ'
there. But was l justified in expect
$ $ ing all that?'
"You married for 1t, and since 70,
have been disappointed you are RICH
In resuming your former status"
0 "But l don't like the idea of Delft
lying awake"
"You have to expect that"
\ "That doesn't help the matter"
5 "Better go back and comfort her"
"Who are YOU anyway? You have
5 been telling me that l should be sat
3 isfied with what I've got. Now vol
s turn about and tell me to 20 and com
3 fort her"
"It wouldn't do any good for me t.
3 tell you who l am. You wouldn't rec
ognize me any better for the telling
But, if you wish to know. I'm your con
science"
"Now 1 know you're lying. Con
5 science doesn't go about telling peopl
z who have done wrong that they'v
5 done right. 1t tells them that they'v
z done wrong from first to last"
My other self chuckled. "Con
SCIENCE" he said. "isn't always Xix
that. Conscience uses all sorts o
. means to right people. Often he is
. detective, hunting for a clew whereof
we are to be convinced of our wrong
5 doing. In these cases he plays parts
wears disguises, just like a real dc
tective. If he went at a wrongdoe
& fair and square. he would accomplis
nothing"
ri "What would you advise me to do?
81 "Stop making a fool of yourself"
g "That means?"
81 go home. You'll find your wife i
. tears. Tell her you're sorry and al