The Tomahawk., 1916-12-21

points, and / trust the commence
repose will not be disregarded. Comet"
He had opened the door and was
holding out his hand for the key.
I gave it to him and followed out
mechanically. He left the door ajar
and followed to the bottom Of the
stairs.
"And now If you'll pardon me-" he
said, ''I'll say good-by to you here;
I've some packing to do and ought to
be at it."
"Why, you're not going to leave the
city," 1 asked.
"Well, no, not today; but the jig's
up with me here, and it's only ques-
ton of time-I can't hold out much
longer-as our rural friend remarks,
Money matters is mighty sceerce;' and
If don't put out shortly I'll have to
fold my tent like the Bedouin and ST.
lently plagiarize away!"
IF I could be of any assistance TO
you-" began, but he checked me
abruptly with, ooh, no, 1 don't require
it, I assure you; I've two dollars to
your one, doubtless. Thank you just
the same, and good-by. Here's my
card; it's not my name, however, but
it'll answer; I'll not see you again,
though you should live to be rs bald
as brickyard, for, my dear young
friend, I'm going away. Good-by, and
may all good things overtake you!"
He gripped my hand like a wise, and
turning quickly, went skipping up the
stairway two steps at time.
"Good-by!' I called to him, sorrow
fully; then turned reluctantly away,
examining the card he had given me,
which, to my establishment, was not
his card at all, but a railroad ticket
emitting the bearer to a ride from
Danvillc, Illinois, to York, Pennsyl-
vunia; this fact remember quite dis
tinctly, as / read it over and over, re-
volving in my mind the impression that
this was but another instance of his
eccentricity, or perhaps trick by
which l might be victimized in some
undreamed Of way. But upon second
thought concluded it to be simply u
mistake, and so turned back and called
him to the window above and ex-
planned.
He came down and begged my par
don for the trouble he had given me,
took the ticket, thanked me, and said
good-by again.
But" said I, "you haven't given me
your real card in exchange"
ooh, no matter!" he said smilingly.
"CaH me Smith, Jones or Robinson.
it's all the same; good-by, and don't
forget your old friend and well wisher,
the Adjustable Lunatic." And even
thus he vanished from my sight for
ever.
The remainder OF the day and half
Of the night spent in studlous con-
temptation Of the curious composition,
but without arriving ut any tangible
conclusion. I am still engaged with
my investigation. Sometimes the
meaning seems almost within my men
tai grasp; but, balancing, adjusting.
and comparing its many curious bear
ings, I find my Judgment persistently
at fault. 1t has puzzled and bewil-
dcred me for weeks. No line OF 1t
but canters through my brain like a
fractiOus nightmare; no syllable but
fastens on my fancy like leech, and
sucks away the life blood OF my c-erS
thought. l am troubled, worried, fret
ted, vexcd, and haunted; and / write
this now in the earnest hope that wis
or minds may have an opportunity OF
making it subject of investigation,
and because one week ago today my
eyes fell upon the following special
telegram to The indianapolis Journal:
Peru, Ind, April 12.-An unknown
man committed suicide in the east
ward-bound train on the Wabash Dad.
just below Waverly, at about eleven
o'clock this morning. He had III his
possession, besides the revolver with
which he shot himself, ticket from
DanvilIc, Illinois, to York, Pcnnsyl-
vunia, q gold watch, $40 in money, n
small valisc, and some letters and 9TH
err papcrs which Indicated his name to
be George s. Cloning.
He was shot twice in the region or
the heart, and his revolver showed that
between the first and last shots two
cartridges missed fire.