The Washington times., 1910-03-23
by WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE
sVS' oy the Frank A Munsey Company.

on. He told me TO stay. He thought
l would suit He opened the door OF
another room and ushered me in.
I have never seen NJ uadigan from
that day to this. 1 never expect 10 see
| him l believe him also TO be an inno-
cent man, an unSuspeCtins instrument
in the hands of great villain"
The court room was still as death. The
I witness glanced around upol the crowd
and then resumed his narrative.
he was seated at a table, and as I
entered he arose. He seemed startled
at my appearance. ] certainly was at
his-the likeness was so striking
He invited me 20 take a seat and
then told me first that ne was not an
actor. lie said that he was a man of
wealth, and admitted tlat ne was a man
several times; seemed 10 force II upon
my mind the fact that he was a queer
fellOW-a very queer one.
He told me OF some peculiar no
tlons he had-they were ridiculous.
laugned at them. He seemed anxious
that ! should laugh az them His pecu-
Her notions were not aimed at the i'm
Portant things Of life, but rather at
things immateriaL
80 cleyerly did ne irnpue me with
the idea OF his cleverness that I was
quite prepared for the proposition which
ne n rally made 70 me II was this.
He said that he was a man well
knows in society and In the town. and
mat l. was necessary for him 20 keep
his END up that he was a snrs OF social
lion, and had great pri;.r n keepinR
social engagements and maklng him
self generally agreeable: bur hat II
Tired him 10 death. He said that IL was
very wearisome necessity for him 10
attend formal receptions aB6 din dinneT
parties, functions and clubs blt then o
were many demands upon him. and hn
Was often forced TO meet peopIe and 10
De seen at places when he was literally
He explained that he was 4 sort Of
bohemian in HIS wav; fond Of life and
pleasure. that he had a circle Of par
ticular friends with whom he preferred
20 devote most OF his time. And this.
he explained. was just where I came in.
he stated that ne had evolved the
peculiar and unheard-Of idea for the
eccentricity Of which he apoiOgized pro
Lusely' OF employing some gentleman Of
refinement and graCe-and here he was
very suave and fiatteriug-to take his
place at the un pleasant, unCOnRenfal af-
fairs that took up so much Of his time.
This would lea, him free to enjoy him
self as he would.
He confessed frankly that he cot
the idea from one Of the local dramas.
At aay rate. he wanted 10 try the eXper-
iment and wished TO know what could
be termed merely a harmless deception
ne SAID mat II could not possibly hurt
me-he was man OF hrst-class reputa-
tiOn and had no entanRliug alliances
and he put IL TO me straight whether /
would materially increase his endowment
Of life by helping him play his part I'm
the world of fashion.
It was a queer proposition, gentle
men," continr-d the witness. and at
first Il stagge.ed me. / thought 10 over
a long while before accepting but two
things decided me. One thing was my
love OF adventure and harmless prac-
teal Jokes; and the other was my des-
perate strait.
1t may be. too. that my will was ma
terially weakened by the privations 1
had suffered it undoubtedly was At
any rate. ! heard what he had TO say,
and his argument was convincing
thought II over a long while But after
all, / considered that there was no
harm IN it. and that # it did Involve
embarrassment 7 could drop the thing
az any time. There was adventure and
excitement in the sche-le-aud more
than all II might, and probably would.
lead 10 something better
You must remember. gentlemen. that
had reached the end Of my tether-
that notwithstanding the fact that was
a gOod business man, ] could not com
mand employment. and there was
nothing before me but absolute starva-
ton I determined TO accept his pro-
position
When he told me his name I recoR-
nized II at once as the name OF a man
well known in the town and IN every