The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-13

his will to the effect that, IL I should
die during the IL months grace he
allowed me, his money would go to
the girl.
Il may have been half mad then,
but 1t seemed quite simple. All had
to do was to shift my identity on TO
the shoulders Of this poor fellow and
then | would be perfectly free to
choose fresh one for myself. There
was not soul In the wide world to
wear mourning for me, and could see
no reason whatsoever against the ex-
change.
so l set to work and did the thing
thoroughly. When I was through with
II. even you would have sworn from
the evidence that II was Stephen
Quaintance who presently went drift.
Ing downstream toward Yola. stone
dead
He carried with him every scrap
or identiiable property | possessed
except the drafts and the diamonds,
or oourse-and that was more than
sufhcient to satisfy any coroner's
! jury. | knew that he couldn't help
reaching Yola, and that | could trust
the Englishmen there to see every
thing shipshape, and send the news on.
Il spent the rest Of the day making
a will bequeathing all Stephen Quaint.
ance possessed TO A. Newman in
dorsed my drafts to that name, and
practiced my new signature"
! What does A. stand for?" inter
rupted O'Ferral.
"Oh. anything. Call It Ananias-I
don't care
so that now, you see, the girl will
get my uncle's money, to which she
was justly entitled, while I'm as we'll
of as ever, and-no ones the worse.
There are still a few weeks of the
year to run, but they'll surely have
proof OF my death before these are up.
and that will settle the whole thing
satisfactorily. Don't you think sc.
| O'Ferral?"
OFerral was silent for some time,
and then nodded gravely. And
Quaintance's face cleared.
Il think I'd have done much the
same In your place." said his friend.
III no unforeseen complication arises.
don't see why you should ever have
cause to regret what you've done"
Il think I've provided for every
eventually" Quaintance asserted II
think I've made everything safe for
the girl-and myself"
O'Ferral nodded again.
You've done what you could" he
said, briefly. mo man can do more
It's up to fate now, and-how did you
get homer"
after that, living Lord knows how, and
M Hfnn N vhar 10
dence preserved me I'm my folly. I
was picked up by an exploring party.
whom | told truthfully that had
been deserted by my carriers. With
them | worked TO the coast, and then
took ship for New York. would
have told no one but you my story.
and you will not forget that Stephen
Quaintance Is dead and buried"
OFerral had listened with the
closest attention to his friends
strange tale. and was wondering what
the sequel might be. But Quaintance,
having relieved his mind. was already
occupied with other and more urgent
ideas. and presently spoke again.
Did you notice girl who went. out
just as you must have entered" he
asked ingeniously. and the correspon.
dent. waking from visions OF the wide
world and Africa. OF sluggish. broad.
brown river. dead man afioat In a
frail canoe on its currents. came back
to a sudden consciousness that he was
In Martins, between Fifth-ave. and
Broadway, in New York.
What's that" he inquired. blink
ing. bewildered. and Quaintance re-
peated the question.
"A girl, eh2 oh. yes. I noticed
girl-and man-and you. all at
the same time, was much inclined