The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-03-08
Mr.. Sunderland
BY WALTER PARKINSON
Copyright, 1910 by American Press
Association.

Miss Councilman dotted ON the nov
els of Clarence sunderland. He had
faculty for taking motif from the
realm of sin ami treating 1t so In
geniously that 1t held the reader spell
bound and so deity that the horrible
features were kept in the background.
Mr.. Sunderland received many letters
from readers Of his works asking
questions about some point OF espe-
cial interest to the writer. Among !
those who wrote him was Miss Coun-
Gilman, wishing to know If he Intend
ed Abel Maxey, one of his characters.
for a good or bad man. Mr.. sun
derland replied that, although MaSey |
had poisoned three different people. |
he intended him for a good man. The
story had been written with pur-
pose. that purpose being to work out
a theory.
Miss Councilnan's admiration for
the author was in proportion to her
want of understanding of his nean-
ing. There must be great depth to
an intellect that could see good in a
triple murder. and she knew there was
profundity in the theory worked out
in the novel. for she did not under
stand a word of it, She wrote again
TO Mr.. Sunderland. and his reply. In
which the word "gangia" occurred
several times-a word SIZE had never
heard before increased her admira-
ton for him tenfold.
The correspondence went on till a
meeting was arranged between the
correspondents. They were to meet at
the office Of Mr.. Sunderland's publish
ers. Miss Councilman did not live In
the city She was a denizeu of the
country. SO on the appointed day she
took train to keep the appointment.
In seats adjoining hers were two men
who from their rough costume looked
as If they belonged rather In the bag
gage car.
"Spudgeon." said one Of these men
to the other. what are you going to
do with Harberg?"
The man addressed looked furtively
about him. then replied in low tone;
"IIill him"
Miss Councilman started. She Glanc-
ed at the speaker. and, whether he
bore the marks of n villain or whether
her Imagination pictured him as such,
he certainly looked murderous.
How you going to do it?'
81 tell you. Krinkle." said Spudgeon
1.-THE trouble In the way
Here the door was opened. and the
rattle of the train prevented the lis
tener from hearing any more of the
reply The next bit Of the Conversa-
ton she heard was from Krinkle.
"I've only been obliged to kill three
persons"
"rhats nothing. I've killed twelve.
When you've killed that many you're
up stump for new way of doing
the job"
"I've no business to do that kind OF
work. 1t gets on my nerves. What
do takes an awful hold OF me. l can't
sleep nights. ! see the ghosts of those
I've murdered, and they make me
: crawl"
"Humph! Mine don't trouble me-"
Then they fell to speaking of some
thing else. A diver had gone to the
bottom of reservoir full Of water,
been caught In the mouth of an escape
pipe and sucked In. The conversation
alists had gone to the spot for the pur
pose evidently of enjoying the agony
o OF those who were interested in the
poor creature below. for they talked
over every terrible feature as though
they enjoyed 1t.
All this was too much for Miss
Il Councilman's nerves. She arose and
: went to the other end of the car. She
Z wondered II she had not better speat
y to the conductor. Could he know tha
u he had two such ogres aboard his
s train? Certainly the police should b'
; informed. Nevertheless she dared no
i have anything to do with the matter
The man Spudgeon before confessni
: that he was going to put Harberg ou
Q of the way had given her look ~
though he feared she might hear him
+ He would discover sooner or later tha
IL she had given him away and woult
" probably kill her. This last considera
tion decided her to hold her tongue
IL In novels she had admired those VIII,
rlsked death for Justices sake. bu
IL when It came to giving her own If
ioi INC 'huSe Sho was hoS " pe Souh'
- cd on. SO she sat shivering In cor
g ner till the train rolled into the termi
y nal and waited till the two ogres hat
got out before she dared leave the cal
IL Miss Councilman took cab and wa
% driven to the publishers. Sending II
u her card to the senior partner, she wa
- ushcred into his private office.
"Ah, Miss Councilman! Miss Coun
Gilman, this is Mr.. Sunderland"
Mr.. Sunderland advanced, with
IN smile. Miss Councilman shrank away
n "Spudgeonw she gasped.
or "That's my real name," replied tn
rs gentleman. "It's so fearfully homel
e. that write under another"
ne But the people, She could nc