Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-09-11
The Lunacy of Simon Lane
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

I don't believe you. You are all In
some plot to ruin mel" and Simon,
instead OF trying TO be cool and ration.
al, grew more excited, more confused
and more violent in his resistance. At
last he was forced down a corridor
and placed in a solitary cell, whe-s he
passed sleepless night
On the afternoon of the next day
DIR. Cheslea, head of the Cheslea SAINT.
tarium, sat reading in his private of.
flee. AS his eye moved over the front
page of the Herald 1t was attracted
by the following item:
Faithful Clerk Absconds from thr
Marburg Store. Simon Lane, for
ten years a trusted employer OF Mar
burg and Company disappeared from
the city yesterday taking with him a
check for $1.100 dollars paid him by
wealthy customer. No news OF his
whereabount has been obtained"
Dr. Cheslea re-read the item with
puzzled expression. then sat fI
several moments staring before him
in silence. AS If on sudden thought
he then picked up directory from
his desk and looked through it hur.
riedly. Then taking down the receiv.
er of his desk telephone he called the
number of Marburg's private office.
Hello" a little eXcitedly, II want
to talk with Mr.. Marburg at once"
This is Marburg right here re
turned a gruff voice, what can / DC
for you?"
This is DR.. Cheslea of the Chelsea
Sanitarium. l read of the disappear.
ance of your clerk Simon Lane, and
wish to say that he is here at the
sanitarium. He was placed here yes.
terday at the request of his wife and
at the advice of his physician"
His wife? Simon Lane, my clerk
had no wife! You must be mistaken"
DR.. Cheslea saw in a flash the depth
OF his deception. He dropped the tele
phone and pressed a button on his
desk
Co" he said calmly to the attend.
ant who appeared, and show Nj
Lane to my office-Mr. Lane. the geu.
tleman in number 81"
AS Simon Lane detected and woe
begone, appeared in the doorway OF
the office DR.. Cheslea arose to meet
him and shook him warmly by the
hand
Mr.. Lane" he said, this institu
ton has done you a great wrong. As
head of this institution | am responsi.
Bile for it and | offer most humble apol
ogy. 1t is plain that we both have
been much deceived
The two talked earnestly together
for ten minutes. In the midst of the
discussion a cab drove hurriedly UP
| the drive. Old Marburg alighted and
hastily mounted the steps and entered
the office.
"Simon!" he cried, hating between
his old time confidence in his clerk
and his new, suddenly grounded sus
picion.
Mr.. Marburg," said DR.. Cheslea.
be seated | am afraid, all uncon-
sciously, we have been parties to one
or the cleverest swindling tricks of
which | have ever heard. A woman
called here at my office the day before
yesterday with two gentlemen, one
of whom she introduced as her broth
er. the other of whom bore the card
OF a prominent north side doctor. a
gentleman for whom / have the great
est esteem professionally, but whom
unfortunately, | had never met This
woman stated that her husband was
insane, to which fact the two gentle
men testified. She declared that his
insane hobby was selling furs. and
that he imagined himself a clerk i'm
the employ of Marburg and Company.
She spoke Of him in terms of great
I affection and seemed much moved
| expressed the hope that we might
be able to benefit him by a few
months treatment She then explain.
| ed that he was very suspicious and
wary, also that he was very violent
when crossed in his wishes or other
wise disturbed in temper but that
she would try, under some pretence.
to bring him quietly,to the Office here
where we might take him I'm charge
Well as you see. she brought Mr.
Lane. who answered exactly TO her
description and who, you will pardon
me. sir. certainly did exhibit the
symptoms she mentioned"
Where is this woman now?" cried
old Marburg. very red and excited
starting from his seat
But even the best city detectives
failed TO answer his question.