The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-08-31
CHAPTER xxx.
DEATH AT TEE oYINGToN MANSION.

The cold gray dawn was glimmering upon
! the lealless tree-tops when Mrs. CRANKY
/ DumOnt returned from the masquerade at
! Morrisania.
! She threw aside her domino and mask
! her beautiful race was OF a gnasLly ana
/ corpse-like pallor-of marble rigidity.
1.-THE deadP' she muttered-''ths dead!
Even my courage failed before that white,
accusing face, and William Gorton, my I'M
I scrupulous tool, who could commit murder
for golden price, even he shrank from that
CHASTITY sight, and could no longer help me.
| put the Spaniard, LevintO, upon the track.
Surely he will not fail-surely not! Oh,
that L could see George, and get his advice!"
Ten minutes after, the outer door was
cautiously opened, and Levinto entered the
room.
'Speak, LevintoP' she cried-'speak, I
implore--I command you'll Have. you sue
ceeded?"
Unfortunately, no, madam" answered
the Spaniard. '|He had disappearedr'
ooh, horror!' cried Maud Ovington, de-
spairingly. bah! fool!' coward! why did
you come away with your work undone? I
would have paid You as have never paid
you yet. 1 would have sacrificed tho last
penny have. every jewel possess!"
The Spaniard smiled with strangely sin
lister expression.
SAY, madam" he said, 81 doubt not that
you would pay me well, but am rich al
ready, and have no great fancy for risking
my life, even in your service. The laws of
this country are hard against the murderer.
have escaped once, but might fail to es-
cape q second time. / have failed in doing
this, and therefore, lady, shall do wisely,
perhaps, in wishing you farewell"
FAREWELL exclaimed Maud DumOnt,
with an air of stupefaction. ''You would
not surely desert me2'
at is no desertion, madam l would re-
turn TO my own country. / am rich, and
there 1 may be nobleman. Here my life
is IN danger; so farewell"
'sYou are determinedY
cay, madam; Levinto does not easily
change his mind"
$50, then!" cried Maud Dumont ''Your
crimes have made you rich, and your cow
ardly spirit would take you from all peril!
But, before you go, it is in your power TO
grant me favor. My wealth has helped to
make you rich, so you eanLot well refuse to
do what ask. Your countrymen are skilled
in the use OF the stiletto?"
ave are madam"
''Do you know of stiIetto SO fine at the
point that one puncture would go directly
to the heart and yet leave upon the skin no
trace of its course. for prying eyes to dis
covert"
Levinto smiled.
'I do know of such On instrument, mad
am, he said, quietly.
''And can you procure one for meT'
81 can give you one" replied tho man,
He took from his pocket small morocco
case, which resembled a cigarette holder
HI opened this case and took from it slen-
der piece ofsteel, to which was attacheda tiny
pearl handle.
ION the blade of this stiletto, madam"
said LeVinto, ''is o substance which will
heal the puncture made, and also aid the
steel in its deadly work. One stab, and a
painless death results. ANY one finding tho
stiletto could scarcely guess the purpose for
which il is used !"
And you will give me this2"
81 will, said Levinto, handing her the
delicate instrument. "The person who
possesses it, need not long dread sleeping
snemy, nor fear the hangman. shall start
his morning for my native country. Fare
we'll, madam"
81 am glad he has gomez muttered Mrs.
Oumont; ''and yet-and yet he might have
been useful to meI'
The gentle daylight crept in through the
ose-colored Innings of the white lace cur
aims, and made the pale face of the Gen.
rails wife even more CHASTITY than 1t had
'een before