Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-05-20

of desperation. / went to my room and
dressed myself. leaving not the slight
est trace of my presence there. Assur-
ing myself that not card or a slip of
paper was left as clew to my identity,
/ took my boots in my hand and crept
noiselessly down the stairway.
"When I reached the door beyond
the court shrank back in dismay. I
had forgotten it would be locked and
barred. entered the apartment where
had been entertained the night before,
hoping to find window unbolted.
To my surprise heard voices and per-
ceived light emanating from the
room adjoining. The door between
was slightly ajar. 1 walked breath
lessly across the room and peeped
through the crevice.
Horrors of horrors! What did 1 see
there? The fine, courtly old gentle
man of the night before seated at a
faro table, surrounded by a motley
crowd, and my fine young lady. the
brilliant, sweet-voiced enchantress of
the dinner table, dealing out faro
blanks opposite!
1T was enough. turned away,
realizing that was in New Orleans. 1
had gotten into one of the worst dens
of the French city, and the beautiful
creole was probably one of the motor
ious characters l had so often read of.
mo wonder my blood ran cold.
What if 1 could not escape? These
were desperate characters, with whom
l could not cope. The outlook was
terrifying.
Il tried each window cautiously.
They all resisted my efforts to raise
them; all but the last-that yielded a
little. l struggled nightly, with the
strength of despair. In doing so my
hand touched spring which l had not
perceived before. In an instant the
window was pushed up nOiselessly and
with a stealthy bound L leaped
through, landing unhurt on the ground
q few feet below.
"But what to do next? There was
that wall, surrounded by its rows of
sharp nails. 1t would have been mad
ness to have attempted to scale it. The
gate was barred and fastened with a
heavy chain. l could not cry out for
assistance; that would have meant cer-
tain death from those desperate, dark
browed men at the faro table. What
should do? Again the cold drops Of
moisture dampened my temple. Twas
frantic. What should l dO?'
John stopped in his narrative and lit
the cigarette Eugene had handed him a
little while before.
What did you do?" Eugene was
impatient of the delay. He leaned for
ward anxiously. His own cigarette
had gone out. He had forgotten it in
his absorbing interest.
eyes, what did you do?' Nell re-
peated the question with a terrible
anxiety in her brown eyes. Her Ken
sington lay UNDECIDED on the floor, her
elbows rested on her knees, one hand
supporting her dimpled, eager face.
Her breath came short and fast. She
awaited the sequel with sympathizing,
anxious eyes.
"Why''-John gave an energetic
puff at his cigarette-.'I dWOke."
Eugene sank back in his chair and
Nell collapsed physically and mentally.
picking up her work with a Disguised
air.
"Sold, by Jove!" exclaimed Eugene,
after pause, looking admiringly at
his friend. lit is the best sell of the
season."
'.Oh. you horrible wretch!' cried
Nell, when she recovered her breath;
and so it was all dream?"
Yes" answered John, coldly. II
awOke in room 1O5, at the st. Charles,
with Smith asking me if mistook him
for brick wall or lamppost, that [
was pounding him so vigorously
Nell did not seem to care much for
the sell so long as the beautiful creole
had proved myth. The story had
awakened her consciousness little,
and she seemed little shyer of John
for several days afterwards. But am
happy to say that she was sensible
girl, and when John asked her if she
only loved him for 'Eugene's sake
she answered, candidly '.No." Thus
came the sequel to :'John's Story. y
NcU Orleans Times Democrat.