The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-07-27
rHE aENERAL rs AaArN wARNRp.

IL was an hour after midnight when Gen.
sral CRANKY Dumont left Miss Ovington on
the night of the dinner He had fingered long
or than the other guests, and it seemed as If
he could scarcely tear himself away from the
society of the lovely being who was so soon
10 be his wife.
Tomorrow, Maudr' he said, as he kissed
her alabaster forehead. Tomorrow, my
beloved, we shall be wed. Thereu be no
more parting, no more doubts-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 Of
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 0vington mansion.
His carriage was waiting for him, but he
dismissed the coachman and walked slowly
homeward. The streets were deserted, and
the lamps glimmered family through fast
rising fog. --.t.
AS General Dumont turned out of Madi-
son Avenue he was startled by hand being
laid suddenly upon his shoulder. He turned
round and found himself face to face with q
man who wore q SLOUGH hat and thick,
wooden muf1er, which entirely concealed
the lower portion of his face.
''What do you want with me2" asked the
General haughtly. tF
'You are General CRANKY Dumontr
eyes"
'And you are TO be married tomorrow"
81 am" answered the General, with in
creased hauteur. 'May ask by what right
you alluds 20 my private aftairsr
II merely asked a question" replied the
man. ar have letter for you"
From whOm?"
81 cannot tell you"
'sStayr' 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 to me of my in
tended marriage, which is known only to
myself and the circle of my intimate friends.
An idea strikes me that you are one of those
who have plotted conspiracy against the
most innocent of women. Your accomplices
escaped by their clever juggling, but you
shall not escape me so easil w. You shall
come with me to the nearest police-station,
and will discover there who and what you
are"
The man gave a shrill whistle, which was
evidently ., signal, and, Yrenching himself
by violent jerk, from the powerful grasp of
the General, he ran down the street.
CRANKY Dumont pursued him, but, two
blocks distant from the spot where the pur-
suit began, the man was met by coach,
which had been, no doubt, lurking close st
hand, and which approached in answer TO
his signal. ssst# as-
The stranger sprang into the coach. For
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 we'll not to attack those
who are your truest friends!' he exclaimed
as he did so.
The driver cracked the whip, and the
horses tore of at gallop.
Inc General picked up the letter, and |
looked about him for moment, heSitatin9 !
what to do. He was not far from home, but |
hs-E
70 wait until he reached there before ascer- |
tanning the contents of the letter which he /
had received IN such an extraordinary man.
ner. He could not see to read it by the /
light of O street lamp on account of the /
fog. He walked for block or so and turned /
into one of the small side streets. A little
way on he saw tho slanting rays of light,
which emanated from chink in a doorway.
On approaching more closely, he perceived
that it was the doorway of 4 small liquor
saloon. The General knocked on the wood
en- shutters placed over the glass, as the
placD was supposed to be closed in conform
ity TO the excise law. The knock was re-
peated before the door was cautiously
opened and rather hard specimen of hui
mainly peered forth.
81 am sorry to disturb you at so late an
hour, said the General, entering through
the hnk-Opened door; ''but, seeing the light
under your door, imagined that you had
not yet gone to bed. Viii you oblige NE
with bottle of saltwater, and allow me to
read q letter by the gaslight on your barr"
Certainly, sir, replied the man, politely.
While he unfastened the wire about the
neck of the saltwater bottle, the General
tore open the mysterious letter with hand
which trembled in spite of himself.
The letter was worded thus:
General CRANKY Dumont has been
warned once but has refused to listen
Will he hear second warming, or will he
rush headlOng to the abyss of ruin that lies
before him? Tomorrow will be too hate
If he would listen, he must listen tonight
One whom he has met before will be in
- Church two hours after midnight" Il
This was all. There was neither sigma.
ture nor date. The hand was cramped and
formal, and was evidently disguised
1.-TWO hours after midnight repeated the
Almost involuntarily his eyes glanced at
the clock against the opposite wall
, "a quarter to tWoP he said, aloud.
- ''Yes, sir" answered the bartender ''and
we're pretty near right A minute or two
slow, if anything, but pretty near right"
be Was pouring ont the soda-water as he
"Never mind that, my good friend" said
The General, hastily; II can't stop to drink
It."
HaAune silver nrlartsr- dollar imam the
counJer ana ran out o. 80 mouse without
waiting for the change.
ait would be wiser, perhaps, to treat this
Ele scrRwl with contempt" he thought, as
be hurried along; ''but 1 must and viii
'athom the mystery, and, in order to do so,
must see this person who claims acquaint-
lnceship."
He eoaldnot repfess fshudder as he re-
the spirit like form which he bad
leheld in the Obseurity of the garrett in that /
.mpty house Powerful as his intellect was,
hat shadowy figure had made lasting inn {
,ression upon his imagination. '
The clock struck tWo as he approached
he church. All was dark at the front en- j
rance. There was no living creature upon
he bread stone steps or within the shadow {
4 the porch. ttBs 5fIH 81
"'Bah" he exclaimed, scornfully; ''the 6
onspirators could not go so far as to make '
his holy edifiee tine scene of their abOmina- '
lie follyl / have been fool to come upon I
o mad an errandI" g E@f- 81 -
He was descending tho steps, and about to s
ave the church, when he remembered {
mall side-door communicating with the O
ody of the building. He pushed toward c
his door, and perceived, as he approached Z
!, the faint glimmer of a light upon the
avement. Z
The door was ajar, and q light was burn :
az within the church. s
''The conspiEatoFs are more daring than +
noughtI" muttered the General. a
He pressed the door open and entered the
Office. Two men were standing within the Z
oOrway-one was the sexton who had
barge of the church, the other was the man 4
-ho had given the General the letter. The
sxton had a lantern in his hand, which
ned q dim and uncertain light upon the OBJ h
,cts near, leaving the body of the church in G
,tal darkness, except in the space before
ne large window, through which streamed
le struggling moonbeams, which glim-
lered family through the clearing fog.
seThis is the gentleman whom expected"
lid the man. whose face was quite cons