The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-09-11
Madnan's Island
Cooyiaht 1907 NEA Service. Inc.

great deal Of time Tor study. He
developed many ideas which, no
doubt. the outside world thought
mad. And this was his crown
ing achievement---he developed a
new religion
The man paused again, allow
ing this information 70 settle in
the minds Of mis- listeners. After
all. there Is nothing so strange
about that. Why should we al
ways accept the religions of the
past? Why wasn't Dewitt Mont
gomery inspired as well as many
another? Don't you agree?"
"He must certainly have been a
remarkable fellow answered
Harpcr with well simulated seri-
business. What were the tenets
~ this religion"
The narrator sighed. at would
take a long while 10 explain them.
r. IL a religion not 20 be taken
lightly not 20 be learned swiftly.
az children learn in Sunday
school Suffice it 10 say that De-
Wit Montgomery was chosen TO
disseminate it's good upon this
earth.
"uc had a well defined plan for
doing this. His idea vas TO teach
;, 20 women who would IN turn
a, on, and spread it's gospel. he
chose women for their amenaole
nature. lie chose widows because
tho we're more likely 10 have
Jo,e With the ways Of the outside
ynrId And he made an effort 10
,btain widows Of wealth so that
tho you'd be IN a position. inde-
ncndcntly. 70 spread the word.
Tho man rose slowly, went back
n tho roaring fire at the hearth
and stood silently: .,,,
"And vas his plan successfuI'
asked Harper quietly. a..
The other shook his head. mo
! " no said. "You see, the wo-
men all fell 49, Perhaps " was
,bc riyorous winters of the island.
pcrbans some faint IN the water,
% Wb,ch Dewitt Montgomery mad
became immune. ~ any rate, a'i
,ied Ono by one they came IN
answer 10 his advertisements IN
The English and Australian news
names - and never left the ~
land" ,.,.. .Lo
Kay palcd. Involuntarily shc
VaspCd out, you mean In"' '"''
all"
''All except one" the man IN
tcrruptcd with strange sWiitneaS'
Cone returned 20 England. I'm,
/ fortunately she had not grasped
/ tho meaning Of Dewitt Montgom-
ery's teachings. She brought
/ charges against him. claiming that
| nc had invcigIcd the women into
settlements as 10 their money
then murdered them"
"Do you believe she was
right" asked Harper quietly,
PREACHING for a cigaret from the
little table.
The man shrugged. "Who are
we 10 say? After so long time
liz would be futile to argue that
little point. would it not? Never
ltheless the law came TO the island
10 take Dewitt Montgomery into
custody. There was terrific bat
Tile. for naturally he had no desire
10 leave the place he loved so
well. But at last he was captured
and taken aboard ship.
"Thc officers did not find ms
hidden apartment. They foolishly
believed that ne had destroyed IT
and they were Interested pri-
marily in his capture. ANYHOW
dewitt Montgomery was taken
back TO England and put into
prison. Perhaps you both were
too Young mt the time TO- rcmcm-
her the newspaper articles. AZ
are all great religious leaders,
Montgomery was misunderstood.
pcoplc insisted in believing that
Inc had tried TO operate a love
cult. They called him a murderer
and a rake and his trial was
mick. Yet he escaped death be-
c,use 90 little could he proved.
and he was committed TO life i'm
prisonmcnt. -.
"You see. happened to know
this story-and in more recent
wears. when this government put
Tho island I'M for sale. | bought
n Then made the improvements
which you enjoy, and which you
have been so kind To admire"
might ask your namc?' sug-
tested Harpcr.
"Ccrtainly. | am Dewitt Mont