Evening journal., 1907-06-03
Observation-Disclosures
The Strange Detective.
S99191@199983E30e@890H4ee
torginaI1


that bound me to Della by going away |
from her. had no intention Of lcav.
ing her TO support herself. would |
give her the lions share OF my income
and supply any need for which this
share was inadequate. Il was near
midnight after a quarrel that / came
to this decision.
Opening my front door, went out.
It was dark and uninviting Here aud
there a street lamp flckered. and an
occasional vehicle rumbled on the
pavement. Few were abroad, and to
avoid even these / turned down an
unfrequented street My checks were
burning, and the night air could not
cool them. took no thought as 70
where I would go. Indeed, l had no
desire TO go anywhere. / wished only
20 walk and be alone.
heard footsteps beside me and turn
ed my head to discover who had thus
taken It upon himself to intrude upon
me. / saw no one.
"Ah, sec" / muttered. "Its the
echo"
was walking by high brick wall
and attributed what I had heard TO the
sound Of my own footsteps sent back
| from lt. But when | passed beyond II
to an opening between the houses |
stll heard It. Again I turned to see
II any one was beside me.
FIIH. r4IaIN.I q IH4.In n..1
80 much surprised that my attention
was drawn momentarly from my trou-
bic. / saw a figure the counterpart OF
myself He was myself In every re-
spect except that he wore n very dis
agreeable expression. l stopped and
stood still He did the same. I moved
on. He moved on too. / concluded
to speak 70 him.
"where are you goingT asked.
"where are you golngT he replied.
"I2 / don't care where ] go."
$50 long as you get your revenge,
supposeT
'Revengel Revenge on whomT
"Your wife"
I thought moment. Could II be
possible that what did was Influenced
by n desire TO hurt Della.
''NIy wife will not trouble herself
about my lenvlng her so long AZ she is
provided for"
"Better than that, she won't sleep n
wink all night"
do you think sol"
IL know so. II Will serve her right
She has treated you shnmefuliy."
had considered that Della had
treated me shamefully, but preferred
to be the only one to accuse her Now
that this disngreeable counterpart OF
myself did 80 / revolted.
"Can you name any one thing"
asked. irrltated, "in which she has
treated me shamefullyw
ayes; 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
/ who am disappointed IN her"
"And you have a right to be. You
we're looking for a woman with dis
position that nothing can rufie. You
knew that you were quick spoken and
often unjust. You wanted some one
to bear with you. You didn't get It."
mo / didn't get Il; you're right
there. But was I justified IN expect
Ing all thatr
"You married for II, and since yon
have been disappointed you are right
IN resuming your former status"
"But / don't like the idea Of Della
lying awake"
"You have 70 expect that"
"That doesn't help the matter"
'Better go back and comfort her"
"Who are you anyway You have
been telling me that / should be sat
isfed with what I've got Now you
turn about and tell me to 60 and com
fort her"
ut wouldn't do any good Tor me 10
tell you who I am. You wouldn't rec
ognize me any better for the telling
But, n you wish to know, I'm your con
science"
"Now I know you're lying. Con
science doesn't go about telling people
who have done wrong that they've
done right. It tells them that they've
done wrong from first TO last"
Nv other self chuckled. "Con-
science" he said, "isn't always like
that. Conscience uses all sorts Of
means to right people Often he Is q
detective, hunting for a clew whereby
we are to be convinced OF our wrong.
doing. In these cases he plays parts
wears DISCUSSES, Just like n real de.
tective. If he went at n wrongdoer
fair and square, he would accomplish
nothing"
what would you advise me to dor
"Stop making a fool Of yourself"
"That meansT
"Go home. You'll find your wife IN
tears. Tell her you're sorry and all
that"
"Wili she tell me she's sorryT
"You won't care whether she does
or not"
turned and began 10 walk home
slowly. forgot all about my other
self and neither heard nor saw any
thing more Of him. As proceeded
went faster TIL / ran. When got
to the house, went up the stairs three
at time. Della was lying on lounge,
her face buried In the cushions. / was
sure ! had killed her
Sweetheart" l said, "forgive me-"
put my arms about her, and she
answered with sob.
True enough. / didn't care whether
] ~