The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-02-24
THIBODAUX, la. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY a. 1888

1t TIL some better opportunity offers. The
man hurried rp the staircase at such a rate
tat he tripped himself upon the threshold
g The door ard fell healllons into the room
l think he must have knocked Lis head
against the angle Of The bureau, for he seems
10 Lave stunned himself. l have done ell I
can to bring him round, but could not find
Ianv water in the room. You had better
IGena some cne to him."
Mf. falton's manner was SO thoroughly
natural rs to deceive any person, and the
servant was quite say isfed- especially
as, while speaking, NJ. Dalton took out his
poc,-et-book and looked for tie bank note
he had promised him.
''.ie1e is what ! promised for your
tForhla, he said, handing The crisp new
note to tho servant. "Ana now be so kind
as to show LEO the way back to the main
stairway"
Tho man bowed and led the way to the
foot Of the broad staircase.
""il .ou return 10 the drawing-roor1,
sir, or shall 7 call your carriago?" ilg asked.
mo, answered James Dalton; 81 walked
here, and shall .alh back. Be so good as
to fetch my coc-t from tie ante-roo.n."
The servant obeyed, and assisted him to
PIT On the loose coat which covered his even
iEg costume.
Is IT.. Dalton descended The steps before
the mansion, he stepped to listen to tho
sound Of silvory peal Of laughter which
Heated through 4 pacly-opened window il
the dfaWlng-room.
Laugh on, Eurderess!' he muttered:
"lauga While you can. The day may come
when it viii not he easy to assume the mirth
which you do not feel! All. wonder if she
too Is SO false. So Bah! What am talk
ing about thinking Of aer il the saI1e
oral- Ia with that womao?'
When William Go,ton awoke from the
isWooi into which he had been thrown by
the bio" from James Dalton's clanched fist,
ae found himself lying on the bed in his
bedchalnoer, with Jones. the servant who
h@a receiTed tie ten-dolla1 note from Mr.
Dalton, at his side
William Gor:on's hair WAS dripping with
the water which had been thrown over him
by his follow-servant.
lie opened his eyes and looked wonder
lngly about him. A lamp was burning
diraly on the little table, shedding a faint
elinl,aer upon the face Of Jones, and leaving
the corners Of the apartment in obscurity.
"Where an IT. asked Gorton, putting his
hand to lis head, which still acLel from the
blow that had stunned him.
''ln your own room, Bill, to be sure" a.
sTered jones. why, where should YOU
be?"
/ One Of the effects Of such blow IS vii
liam aoftoa had received is the to.al oblit-
cratIon from the memory Of all events
which have occurred Immediately before the
loss ct consciousness. The coachman lad
quite forgotten tic fact That the gentleman
lad desired to see him il his own room, and
he had also forgotten the striking Of the
blow.
It must be rcmembered that tho lantern
had been darfened as William entered TIE
room, and that he had not seen James Dali
tons face.
''How did I come here?' he asked, lock-
ing scrutiniZingly at the face of jones.
"How did yoa come here? Why, of your
own free will, I suppose" answered the
man, who guessed that Mr. Dalton would
scarcely like TO lave his name raent;oned il,
the business.
'But don't remember coming" said Viii
Liam.
II dare soy. old fellow" ropliod bis CON-
parion
''Tavo fa;ntcd, then3"
S'Why, not exactly. You must have tun-
bled down, striking your head against the
corner Of the bureau, for fonnd you lying
all your length On the floor when t came in.
l suppose you've been having o drop too
much tonight, Bill"
Drinking" exclaimed Gorton; mot l."
He paused for some moments, as if try
ing u collect his thoughts, then, turning to
his fellow servant, he said, abruptly:
"Go down stairs and fetch me drop of
brandy, will you, Jones? I feel faint and
queer after my fall"
Jones asseated good-naturedly and left the
room.
as soon rs he was ont of hearing, William
Gorton sprang from the bed, darted across
to the iooc Of the apartment, locked it, and
then searched in the pocket from which
James Dalton had taken the letter.
''Gone" he exclaimed, with an cath
'sgore! No, no; it cannot bel"
Io fit eageIlyin al his pockets, one after
the other.
| "HVho can have taken it-who?''
! Ee reflected FOX {. few moments, frowning
l'ark,y and biting lis under lip.
sit must have been Jones'" he routtered
''No one else has been with NE since this
concouadaI fall, ana know had the letter
I'D to the time Of my losing consciousness
Prying fool! What she'll I Go? Tax him
with having stolen the letter ana insist on
lis returning it to nc? No! tllat would BE
TO betray its Importance. He is too stupid
to make any awkward discovery from its
contents. Aly safety lies in saying nothing
There is nothing in the letter which, taken
j ly i.self, can iniure me, or any one else
(, IL hastily unlocked the door, and thyew
. himself ,ie5a.2 upon t1.s bed. lie was only
just II time, ior, as Le did so, Jcnes ro-ln-
tered the room, carrying q decanter of
brand. acl ? couple Of glasses.
| "T.aNs drink 10 the health Of The br;fla
piil, he said laughing, and the happiness
of tie bridegroom"