The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-05-12
Stranger
A Story Illustrating How Persons
VIII Hang on to a
Theory
By William L. Chew
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation 1911
By William [. Chew
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

citation. 1911.
E>~~>~~~~
In the central part of the Crow val
ley was one of those villages that
spring up mushroom-like upon the dis
covery of gold. Newcomers were ar
irving from the east and from the
west. Among those from the west was
a man who seemed to have stamped
on his countenance II have expert
enced grief" He had no sooner en-
tered the town than he walked through
the street-there was only one street.
looking at every one he met as though
he We're searching for some one. He
kept this up until he seemed to be sat
isfied that be had seen every one In
the town, then discontinued 1t.
He was very communicative
man and made no friends. His name
was not forthcoming, so he soon ac-
quired the soubriquet of Stranger. He
entered claim and went to work with
pick and shovel like the rest of the
men i'll the town. When the daily
coach arrived from the east he was al
ways on hand. He scrutinized every
person who alighted. and when the
coach had been emptied walked away.
Who is he and who's he lookin'
for?'' asked one of knot of men one
evening us Stranger walked away from
the coach with his usual look of disap.
pointment.
Want I know who he is and who
he's lookin' for. do W" said Bill
Stubbs. Well I'll tell y. He's one
o them felIers who's life has been
wrecked by II woman and another man.
Hes been married and another Teller
has taken his wife from him. It's nv
opinion that Strangers expectin' the
Teller that robbed him of his wife, and
when he eonres you'll see shootin'
match"
Il don't think much of that expla.
nation, put IN Andy Jones. Il reckon
Strangers been dom somep'n to gi,
himself wanted somewheres. When
he fust come yerc | TUX notice he salts,
fed himself atore he settled down that
there wasn't no one yere as knowed
him; then he entered his claim an
went 10 work He amt tellin' nothin
about himself. He amt a-goin' to fur
niSh nobody who's huntin' him with
information abont where he is."
These are but II few of the reasons
coninred up tor Strangers presence in
the town and his singular actions. The
only person who was not interested
in them MAS Stranger himself, but he
was the ONLY person who didn't hear
amy Of them He pursued the even
tenor OF ms way. digging IN his hole
In he ground and going every evening
to the coach to inspect the incoming
passengers
One day Stranger was missing from
his hole His absence at once set ev-
cry tongue wagging with accelerated
vigor. Every one wondered where he
had gone aud II he would ever come
back
Where has he gonep' exclaimed Bill
Stubs why. he's got wind of the
fcher he's i"okin' for. As to his com
IN back. thai depends which man git
the drop ON tother one. IL Stranger
giis it-and hope he will-he'll come
back. reckon. and hell feel better
satisfied with himself Like enough
he may take another holt on matrimo
ny
"Oh. rats. Bill Stubbsm exclaimed
Andy ZONES When you git q notion
into your head you make everything
fit II Stranger has got wind of an
enemy. shore enough. but not the enc
my Won mean. He's heered that sher.
In has got wind of him, and Strangers
the most reasonable view to take of 1t. "
Seems to me-" suggested Enoch
Nudge. that both you fellers is tlttin'
Strangers goin' away to your explana-
tons. I've allus TUX notice that when
man gifts an idee into his head he
makes all his other idees run that
way. Did you ever hear of a out and
out Demmyrrat turnin' into Repub-
lican or opposite way?"
The remark did not change the views
vi oibpOo VI sAhoJ UObtos VIM
both declared that they were ready to
listen to any other reasonable theory
concerning Strangers abuse than their
own. but when Nudge advanced one
they both attacked 1t vigorously. He
skunk away. leaving the two men ar
guing with each other.
Then came information that added
volume to the fame of conjecture.
Stranger returned looking happy.
what did | tell your said Stubs.
Hes met his man and got the drop
on him"
Hes lodged the sheriff" Andy
Jones claimed.
At this point small boy spoke up.
~ seen Stranger go into his cabin
when he came back. The fust thing
he done was to take a piece o. paper
from between two logs and tear 1t
into little bits"
How you goin' to account for that.
Bill Stubbs?" asked Andy Jones.
"How you goin' to account for itT
Since both needed time to make the
incident accord with their pet theories
no explanation was brought forth.
But the mystery Of the bit Of paper
put quietus upon most of the theo-
ries held by Strangers fellow citizens
and was the only event that had oc-
Cured during his residence among
them that tended to check the forma-
ton of new ones.
One day after the distribution Of the
mail the postmaster gave out that a