davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

mo: she seemed sane enough then;
little shocked and troubled, but
quite sane"
"You knew that she had stolen
away from me-that sh. had resorted
to most unworthy subterfuge in or
der to hold this conversation with
you?
+ mo; had asked her to come, and
Oh that very afternoon if possible. but
never knew what means she took
for doing so; I didn't ask and she
didn't say"
But she talked of her marriage?
She must have said something about
an event which is usually considered
the greatest in woman's life"
Yes she spoke of it,
And Of me?''
Yes. she spoke of you"
"And in what terms? | cannot re.
frain from asking you, Mr.. Hazen, +
am in such ignorance as to her real
attitude towards me; her conduct is
so mysterious; the reasons she gives
for 1t is so puerile."
"She said nothing against you or
her marriage. She mentioned both,
but not in a manner that would add
to your or my knowledge of her inten-
tions. My sister disappointed me, sir.
She was much less open than / wish
ed. All that I could make out of her
manner and conversation was the
overpowering shock she felt at seeing
me again and seeing me so changed.
She didn't even tell me when and
where We might meet again. When
she left, she was as much lost to me
as she was to you, and am no less
interested in finding her than you are
yourself / had no idea she did not
mean to return to you when she went
away from this hotel"
Mr.. Ransom sprang upright in an
agitation the other may ha e shared,
but of which he gave no token.
DO you mean to say" he asked,
that you cannot tell me where the
woman you call your sister is now?"
mo more than you can give me the
same necessary Information in regard
to your wife. am waiting like your.
self to hear from her--and waiting
with as little hope"
But this is not like my wife," pro-
tested Ransom, hesitating to accuse
the other OF falsehood, yet evidently
doubling him from the bottom of his
heart why deceive us both? She
was never disingenuous woman"
II have candidly answered all your
questions, whether agreeable or other.
wise," observed Hazen, land the fact
that I am as much shocked as your.
self by these mad and totally incredi
BILE statements Of hers about a newly
recovered sister should prove to you
that she is not following any lead Of
mine In this dissemination of a bare.
faced falsehood."
There was truth in this which both
Mr.. Ransom and Gerridge felt obliged
to own. Yet they were not satisfied,
even after Mr. Hazen, almost against
Mr.. Ransom's will, had established his
claimsto the relationship he professed,
by various well-attested documents he
had at hand.
"The maze is at it's thickest," Ran.
som remarked as he left few minutes
later with the perplexed Gerridge.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
CHAPTER vi.
The LAWYER.

IA suggested Gerridge, "and see
|E*y@ what he can do for you. She
S~ cannot get along without
money; nor could that statement OF
hers have got into the papers without
somebody's assistance. Since she did
not get 1t from the fellow we have
Just left. SIZE must have had 1t from
the only othe: person she would dare
confide in"
Ransom answered by Immediately
hailing a downtown car.
The interview which followed was
certainly remarkable one. At first
Lawyer Harper would say nothing,
declaring that his relations with Mrs.
Ransom were Of purely business
and confidential nature. But by de.
grees, moved by the persuasive influ.
ence OF Mr.. RansOm's candor and his
indubitable right to consideration. he
allowed himself to admit that he had
seen Mrs. Ransom during the last three
days and that he had every reason to
believe that there was twin sister
in the case, and that all Mrs. RAN
SONS eccentric conduct was attributa-
Bile to this fact and the overpowcring
sense Of responsibility which it seem.
ed to have brought tc her-a result
which would not appear strange to
those who knew the 81 ~i''veness Of
her nature and the de..ca e balance
Of her mind.
Mr.. Ransom recalle. to tenor of
her strange letter on this bject, but
was not convinced. He i"quired Of
MIR. Harper If he had heard her say
anything about the equally astound-
ing fact Of a returned brother, and
when he found that this was mere
iargon to NJ. Harper he related
what be knew Of IIoZen and left the
lawyer 70 DIV his own differences.
The result was some show Of en-
barrassmeIt Ul the part Of Mr. Harp
e.. 1t Was evident that in her con-
svltaticns with him she had entirely
le't ont all a!lus;on to this brother.
vi Ter Tie nan had advanced a false
. ~ ':,'01 :" c'"" '''n Wo3 in en- i""oc OOnSi.
be cCudtiCn Of mind which made her
see sister where there was a broth
er.
Ransom made some remark indica-
tive Of his appreciation of the dilem-
ma in which they found themselves,
but was quickly slenced by the 9TH
! cr's emphatic assertions:
Il have seen the girl; she was with
Mrs. Ransom the day she came here
Che sat in the adjoining room while
we talked over her case in this one"
You saw her-saw her face?"
no, not her face; she was too
heavily yelled for that Mrs Ransom
explained why. They We're too alb.
surdly alike, she said. 1t awoke COM
ment ard it gave her the creeps. But
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

vinced that II you had not come into
her life she would have been at MY
side to-day. Now, who are you? She
told me you were relative"
"She told you the truth; I am. Her
nearest relative. The story in the
paper has a certain amount of truth
In 1t. Her brother. not her sister, has
come back from the grave. am that
brother. She was once devoted to
me-"
"You are"
"Yes. Oh, therell be no difficrlty
in my proving this relationship. I
have evidence upon evidence of the
fact right in this room with ne: evil
dence much more convincing and far
less disputable than this surrrisng
twin can bring f. rward if her identi.
ty is questioned. Georgian had a
twin sister, but she was buried years
ago. was never buried. l simply
did not return from a well-known and
dangerous voyage. The struggle I
had for life-you cannot want the de-
tails now--has left it's indelible i'm.
press in the scar which has turned me
from personable man into what
some people might call monstrosity.
And 1t is this scar which has kept me
SO long from home and country. It
has taken ne four years tt make up
my mind to face again my family
and friends. And now that l have. I
find that 1t would have been better for
us all II had stayed away. Georgian
saw me and her mind wavered. In no
other way can l account for her wild
behavior since that hour. That is all
have to say, sir. I think am almost
as much an object Of pity as Yourself"
And for a moment he appeared to
be so, not only to Gerridge, but to
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
tnelr hgures were identical though
their dresses were different"

their figures were identical though
their dresses were different"
$50! there is some one then: the
girl is not absolutely a myth"
Far from it. Nor is the will which
Mrs Ransom has asked me to draw
up for her a myth"
"Her will! she has asked you to
draw up her will"
Yes. That was the object of her
visit. She had entered the married
state, she said, and wished to make a
legal disposition of her property be-
fore she returned to you. She was
very nervous when she said this; very
nervous through all the interview
There was nothing else for me to do
but comply"
And you have drawn up this will?"
According to her instructions, yes"
But she has rot signed it?"
mot yet
But she intends to?"
Certainly"
Then you will see her again?"
Naturally"
"IS the time set?"
The lawyer rose to his feet. He
understood the hint implied and for
an instant appeared to waver. There
was something very winsome about
Roger Ransom; some attribute or ex-
preston which appealed especially to
men.
81 wish / might help you out OF
your difficulty" said he. "But a cli-
ents wishes are paramount. Mrs.
Ransom desired secrecy. She had
every right to demand it of me-"
Mr.. Ransom's face fell. Hope had
flashed upon him only to disappear
again. The lawyer eyed him out OF
the corner of his eye, his mouth
working slightly as he walked to and
FRO between his desk and the door.
Mrs. Ransom will not always feel
herself hampered by a sister, or, il
you prefer it. brother who has so
inconveniently come back from the
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

Say, mister, did you drop something7"
dead. You will have the pleasure Of
her society some day. There is no
doubt about her affection for you"
But that isn't it," exclaimed the
now thoroughly discouraged husband.
II am afraid for her reason, afraid
for her life. There is something de-
cidedly wrong somewhere. Don't you
see that must have an immediate in.
terview with her If only to satisfy my.
self that she aggravates her own dan.
ger? Why should she make q will
in this underhanded way? Does she
fear opposition from me? I have a
fortune equal to her own. It is some.
thing else she breads. What? feel
that ought to know II only to pro.
tect her against herself. I would
even promise 70: to show myself or
to speak"
II am sorry to have to say good
afternoon, Mr.. Ransom. Have you
any commands that | can execute for
your"
None but to give her my love. Tell
her there Is not more unhappy man
In New York; you may add that
trust her affection"
The lawyer bowed. Mr.. Ransom
and Gerridge withdrew. At the foot
Of the stairs they were stopped by
the shout of a small office boy behind
them.
Say, mister, did you drop some
thing?" he called down, coming mean
while as rapidly after them as the
steepness Of the flight allowed. "Mr.
Harper says he found this where you
gentlemen were sitting"
Mr.. Ransom, somewhat startled,
took the small paper offered him. 1t
was none Of his property but he held
to 1t just the same. In the middle
Of torn bit Of paper he had read
these words written in his own wife's
hand:
HUNTERS TAVERN,
Sitford Connecticut.
At 9 o'clock April the 18th.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed, mo one
will ever hear me say again that law
yers are devoid of hearth"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
II wanted money"

Mr.. Ransom himself. Then some.
thing Ia the man-his unnatural cold.
ness, the purpose which made itself
felt through all his self.restraint-re-
awakened Mr. Ransvm's distrust and
led him to say:
Your complaint is natural II you
are Mrs. Ransom's brother, there
should be sympathy between us and
not antag"nism. But feel bnly an.
tagonism. Why is this?"
A shrug, followed by an odd smile.
"You should be able to account for
that on very reasonable grounds" :"
said he. II do not expect much mercy
from strangers. It is hard to make
your good intentions felt through
such distorted medium as my ex.
preston has now become"
"Mrs Ransom has been here" Ran.
som suddenly launched forth. with.
IN two hours Ut vour encounter under
Mr.. Fulton's roof. she was talking
with you IN this hotel. have proof
positive Of that sir."
'- 40 wish to deny the fact"
>ne steady answer. "She did
co--e here and we had talk; it was
necessary; /; wanled money"
TIE last phrase was uttered with
such gr...l determination that the ex-
clamat.on which had risen to Mr..
Ranso.l's lips died in conflict Of feel.
ing which forbade any rejoinder that
savored OF sarcasm. Hazen, however,
must have noted his first look, for he
added with an air Of naughty apology:
Il repeat that we We're once very
fond Of each other"
Ransom felt his perpleXities grow.
ing with every moment he talked with
this man. He remembered the money
which both he and Gerridge had seen
In her bag.-an amount too large for
her to have retained very much on
her person,-and following the in
stinct Of the moment, he remarked: :
Mrs. Ransom Is not the woman to
hesitate when person she loves
makes an appeal for money She
handed you Immediately large sum,
! have no doubt"
She wrote me out a check" was
the simple but cold answer.
Mr.. Ransom felt the failure oe his
attempt and stole glance at Ger
ridge.
The doubtful smile he received was
not very encouraging. The same
thought had evidently struck both.
The money in the bag was blind
she had car 1 her check-book with
her and so could draw on her account
for whatever she wished. But under
what name? Her maiden one or his? 4?
Ransom determined to lind out.
Il Go not begrudge you the money"
said he, "but Mrs. RansOms signature
had changed few hours previous to
her making out this check. Did she
remember this?"
"She signed her married name.
promising to notify the bank at once"
And you cashed the check?"
mo, sir; | am not IN such imm III
ate need of money as that. ! haN ,
still, but | shall endeavor to cash it
to morrow. Some question may come
up as to her sanity, and | do not
choose to lose the only money she has
ever been in position to give me-"
"Mr. I1azen, you harp on the ire
spOnsible condition of her mind Did
you see any tokens OF this in the in.
terview you had together?'
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

*Chamberlain's Collie. Cholera ana
Diarrhoea Remedy is today the best
known medicine in use for the relief
and cure of bowel complaints. 1t
cures gripping. drarrhoea, oysentery,
and should be taken at the first UNI
natural looseness of the bowels. 1t is
equally valuable for children and
adults. 1t always cures. Sold by w.
w. Sibert.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

I R1RrsH quartorB OF an nOur lat
Or Mr.. Ransom and Gerridge
stood In close conference
before the last mentioned
Aetsl. The former was peremptory
- what he had to say.
Il haven't q particle Of confidence
- 0is nswspaper story" he declared.
~ haven't much confidence In her let.
-. Il 10 this man who is working
~ He has hold ON her and has
O1ven her this cock and bull story to
I'll a sister! A twin sister come TO
H9Af after fifteen years Of supposed
Surial! ! hnd the circumstance On.
-sRs'y too romantic. Nor does IN q.
Dlanation Of this nature At the con.
d1eious. She was happy before she
sav him In the church. She isn't her
twin sister. I tell you the game Ia
Aoep ono and she is the sufferer. Her
lottsrs betray more than q disturbed
0lnd; they betray disturbed brain.
fhat man 10 the cause and I mean to
wring his secret from hirn. You are
surp OF bis being still In the house?"
He Was early this morning. He
- lived q very quiet life these last
80 days. the life OF one waiting. He
- not even had visitors. after that
- interview he held with your wife.
Z have kept careful watch on him.
1Aough . suspected character. he has
esae nothing suspicious while I've
Aad him under my eye. II you want
- zee him In his room, you shall"
: But this time the detective counted
without his host Mr.. Porter was not
= his room but In one Of the halls.
tAey encountered him as they left
- elevator. He was standing read.
- . newspaper. The disfgured Jaw
esald not be mistaken. They stopped
UAere they were and looked at him.
He was intent. absorbed. Az they
Watched. they saw his hands close
eoavulsively on the sheet he was
neadins, while his lips muttered
osms words that made the detective
2ook hard at his companion.
did you hear?" he cautiously in.
1nired. as Mr.. Ransom stood hesitat-
~. not knowing whether to address
Ne man or not.
mo; what did he say? Do you
'ssopose he IL reading that para
graph?"
Il haven't doubt CT It: and his
words we're. Here's a damned lie!'-
very much like your own. SIR"
Mr.. Ransom drew the detective q
~ steps down the corridor.
~He said that?"
"Yes. heard him distinctly"
Then my theory Is all wrong. This
nan didn't provide her with this imag.
1nary twin sister"
Evidently net"
And Ia as surprised as we are"
And about as much put out. Look
at him! Nothing yellow there! We
shall have to go easy with him."
Mr.. Ransom looked and felt a recoil
of more than ordinary dislike for the
man. The latter had put the paper In
his pocket and was coming their way.
His face. once possibly handsome. for
his eyes and forehead were conspicu.
ously fine. showed a distortion quite
apart from that given by his physical
dhhgurement. He was not simply an.
gry but In mental and moral rage,
and Il made him more thar hideous;
Il made him appalling. Yet he said
nothing and moved along very quietly,
making. to all appearance. for his
room. Would he notice them as he
went by? II did not seem likely. In
stinctiyely they had stepped to one
side. and Mr.. Ransom's face was in
ehe shadow. To both II had seemed
better not to acost him while he was
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

Rutgers street, New York City waS
so named because it was laid ont
through the land of the old Rut-
gers homestead, and Catherine street
was named after Catherine Rutgers.
who lived there.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

Don't waste your money buying
plasters when you can get bottle of
Chamberlain's Liniment for twenty
hve cents. A piece of flannel damp
ened with this liniment is superior to
any plaster for lame back. pains in
the side and chest, and much cheaper.
Sold by w. w. Sibert.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

*Your complexion as we'll AS vour
temper is rendered miserable bv q
disordered liver. BY taking Chamber
lain's Stomach and Liver Tablets Won
can improve both. Sold by w. w.
Sibert
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
Death of Child at SummertOu

Summerton, Sept. 5.-Summerton
was sadedned today by the death OF
little Annie Rogan, the 3-year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas s.
Rogan. She was loving, sweet little
girl. Her death is made sadder by
the absence Of her father, who is sick
at mountain resort.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

mot a minute should be lost when
child shows symptoms of croup.
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy given
as soon as the child becomes hoarse.
or even after the croupy cough ap-
pears, will prevent the attack. Sold
by w. w. Sibert.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

1t is stated that the veins on the
back of the hand are every bit as
useful for the Identification of GRIM
inals AS thumb prints.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
(TO Be COntinued.)

%"Can be depended upon is an ex-
preston we all like to hear, and when
1T is used in connection with Cham
berlain's s Collie, Cholera and Diarrhoea
Remedy it means that il never fails
10 cure diarrhoea, dysentery or bow
Cl complaints. 1t is pleasant to take
and equally valuable for children and
adults. Sold by w. w. Sibert
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11

You have seen what has happen
Cd to me. but you cannot under
stand how I feel. She looks ex-
actly like me. II Is that which
makes the world eddy about me.
cannot get used to 1t. 1t Is like
seeing my own reflected image
step from the mirror and walk
about doing things. Two of us,
Roger. two! II you saw her you
would call her Georgian. And
she says that she knows you, ad-
mires you! and she says II In my
voice! ! try to saut my ears. but
hear her saying II even when her
UPS do not move. She IL as ignor-
ant 90 she is afflicted and can
not leave her. She canvc hear a
sound. though she can talk well
enough about what is going on In
her own mind. and she is SO way
ward and uncertain of temper,
owing tn her ignorance and her
Gimculty In understanding me.
that ! don't know what she would
do IL once let out of my sight. I
love you'll love you-but I must
stay right here.
"Your afRectionate and most un-
happy GEORGIAN.
The signature was his wife's with
,1t doubt. He caught up the tele
none receiver and called out Ger
1dge's number. When the detectiv,
Anawsred. he shouted back:
Have you read the evening papers
. you haven't, do so at once: the,
'ome directly to me. It's business
now and no mistake; and our frs
stsit shall be on the fellow at tn,
y Denis."
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
CHAPTER ".
In Corridor and in Room.

HREE quarters Of an hour lat
or Mr.. Ransom and Gerridge
stood In close conference
hAfOra the last nanxlo~.A
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
BY ANNA KATHERINE GREEN.

zee. ..vs..,s> 49,.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-11
HUNTERS TAVERN,
Sitford. Connecticut.
At 9 o'clock April the 18th.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed, mo one
will ever hear me say again that law.
yers are devoid of hearth"
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-06-05
Hadn't Seen One Before.

Many, many, many years ago Lot
Lee was a telegraph operator in the
old Union station Office, saws the
Indianapolis News. Lee was a hot
operator and had the reputation Of
getting messages off in quick time.
One night woman came in with
a rush message for ConnersyiIle
Ind. She wrote it out and handed
it to Lee. The latter checked it up
received the money, called Corners
VILE sent the message and placed
it in drawer with the Sent bust
ness.
The woman hung around, eyed
Lee as if she thought he was shirk-
ing his duty. not suspecting that her
message had gone, and finally said
Would you mind looking in the
drawer there to see if the nessare
has gone? It's very important"
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-06-05
liz SURPRISE PARTY.
An Al hievement Of Which an Enera,
MIGHT Well 30 Proud.

| Thdre is little doubt that a sur
prise party given for person OF
mature years is one Of the highest
forms of civilized cruelty. It is Il
custom of long standing and one
that people still indulge in and do
it blithely, with enthusiasm and a
blind belief that they are pleasing,
while all the time the poor victim
is almost in tears at what he feels
to be the tragedy of the thing.
It is no %small matter to have
your wife, the woman who above
all others you feel sure understands
you and agrees with you on all
important matters, suddenly dis
close a distorted sense of what is
amusing, mixing Of what is kind
and what is cruel, which results in
one of the most maddening even
lngs you have ever spent, says the
New York Evening Sun. To have
at ! word from her a life sized party
explode in your drawing room and
then, as the anger rises in your
heart mandates your speech-while
this ia going on inside you-to see
her spnding in the midst Of that
crowd of guests rocking with laugh
terxell it is man Of supernat-
ufal Sxeetness and balance who can
stand It
A party is not thing that one
wants to stumble upon unexpected
", particularly a party in your own
house, the one place where you
hope to find quiet; above all, a party
Of which you are the unwilling CEN
ter. No; ohe should be allowed to-
prepare forIthese things, to grapple
With the IDEA of them, digest it, re-
cover from it, SO that when the
hight for lit finally arrives the
thought Of The party will be "a thing
'ou are vel used tos almost part
+ your daily life, not a binding
lght turned on with such sudden
less that it leaves you blinking for Il
he rest of the evening. That is e
OF the sort of thing a friend al b
ows to happen to you-naturally b
OF. It is thing an enemy might
e proud of.