The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-24
CHAPTER XVI.
TIE GENERAL Is AGAIN WARNED.

II wns an hour after midnight when Gen.
erai CRANKY Dumont left Miss Ovington on
the night of the dinner. He had inger d long
er than the other guests, md II seemed as Il
he could scarcely tear himself away from the
society of the lovely being who was SO soon
to be his wife.
"To-morrow, Maud" he said, as he kissed
her alabaster forehead. "To-morrOw nv
beloved, we shall he we'd J'here'il be nc
more parting, no more doubts. s.-nothing
henceforward, but happiness and Lowell"
Ii the dark veil of the future could have
been lifted as the General uttered these en-.
thusiastic words, surely the noble heart ol
CRANKY Dumont would have been crushed
by the iron hand of despair.
The clock struck one as the General de.
scended the steps of the Ovington mansion.
His carriage was waiting for him, but he
dismissed the coachman aud walked SLOWLY
homeward. The streets were deserted, and
the lamps glimmered family through fast.
rising fog.
AS General Dumont turned out of Madi.
Bon Avenue he was startled by hand beng
laidsuddenly upon his shoulder. He turned
round and found himself face to face with a
man who wore slouch hat and thick,
woolen muller, which entirely con called
the lower portion Of his face.
''What do you want with me2" asked the
General haughtily.
''You are General CRANKY Dumont2"
"Yes."
"And you are to be married tomorrow"
81 am" answered the General, with in
creased hauteur. "May ask by what right
You allude to my private affairsl"
Il merely asked question: replied the
tnNr ho~ lokt. -
"From whom2'
"a cannot tell you"
"Stay! exclaimed the General, laying his
hand suddenly upon the shoulder of the
stranger. "You arrest me at this hour Of
the night. and you speak 10 me of my in.
tended marriage, which is known only tc
myself and the cir, lie of my intimate friends
An idea strikes me that you are one of those
who have plotted q conspiracy again, the
most innocent of women. Your accomplices
escaped by their clever juggling, but yor
shall not escape me so easily. You shall
come with me TO the nearest police-station
and will discover there who and what yor
are"
The man gave shrill whistle which wa,
evidently signal, and, wrenching himself
by n violent jerk, from the powerful grasp O.
the General, he ran down the street.
CRANKY Dumont pursued him, but, two
blocks distant from the spot where the pnr
suit began, the man was met by coach
which had been, no doubt, lurking close o
hand, md which approached in answer tc
his signal.
The stranger spranc into thp coocb Fo,
one moment he paused before seating him
self in the vehicle, and flung letter on the
pavement at the feet of the General.
''You would do well not to attack thos,
who are your truest friends!" he exclaimed
es he did 80.
The driver cracked the whip, md tn,
horses tore off at gall0p.
The General picked IN the letter. md
looked about him for a moment. hesitatino
what to do. He was not far from home lni
his feverish impa ience would not allow him
to wait until he reached there before ascer.
tainihg the contents oil tile letter which nc
nau reGel'eo ~ suen an ex'faofainhry man
nel. ne coulu not see 10 read ~ Dy Tue
Ieu' III S.rees Minr on account oi 'he
loe' he "Hiheo ior q DOCK or 30 ana turned
lnto oho ol we Small sue streets. ittie
WY oh no saw ,ne siah'ng rays Oh nSn''
Hah Hn'on eilial,h.eo rom Gll.lh IN uoorWnN;
Ehat it was the doorway of small liquor
aloon. The G.,ner,l knocl,od on tbe wool.
On shntters placed over the closs "a tbe
pIacs was supnosed to he closed in conform.
F,y io tLa axciso law Tha Lnock w,s ro.
neated before The door was cautiously
pneued aud n rather hard snecimen of bn.
n,onitv neerad forth
~ am soryy 10 disturb Won ot ao late nm
bour." said ibs General enterinc throunb
Lhe ho,f"onanaS dno, lint sseine the I%it
nnder WON'T door o T nsd tbnt von haJ
not We, - on w., ~ haI ''n"S W;, ron a9,ina ms
with bditla Sno os ~ so'a osu ,r "ni ,lIow me ~
sead letter NV the e,sieh, au' on vons i,ar?"
l,rA .ot'oi oy 'ne s"siiSht OH your
wh;,a u,y, hn nt, iepuea .ne man po,.'I H.,
,oh nf ~ onia ,,l.aa M" .ne VIZ a., ~. G1 ,n
t"an voA , VI 'ne u 'ou".mntei op.e sHe ueieia,
nl,;,I tra"hIoa s sn;," '1.;ei h;eW VIZ ""Au
WIZ mba ia..nn Iaou" ,,,o IL spi'e . % n,niSen'
'n0 ''''oi was "otu'u 'hus'
General CRANKY Dumont has been
warned once, but has refused to listen.
viii he hear o second warning, or will he
rush headlong to the abyss of ruin that lies
before him2 Tomorrow will be too late
If he would listen, he must listen tonight
One whom he has met before will be in
- Church two hours after midnight"