Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-05

slightest movement or sound. Yet my
blood ran cold with the premonition Of
evil. could feel . cold sweat break.
ing out all over me-the chill crept tc
the very roots of my hair.
with sudden bound / leaped from
the bed. The matches were on table
near. Istruck one and looked around,
half expecting to see some uncanny
shape leap out of the gloom and attack
me; but the room was empty. lit the
lamp and examined the apartment
carefully, but all was as secure as when
retired.
with an impatient condemnation OF
my weakness / went to bed again,
leaving the lamp burning low. As ]
am no believer in haunted houses and
my digestion is unusually good, soon
sank into deep slumber.
"About two hours later, however,
was again awakened BY that mysteriou:
sensation. Again the cold chills, be-
tokening some evil unknown presence,
crept over me. A terrible presentimeni
took possession of me. I dared no,
move for second. My knees trem.
bled, the cold drops of moisture stood
on my brow. What could it be-this
awful presence that seemed to lay cold
fingers upon me in the darkness and
wake me from my sleep? I lay there
shiyering as though chilled by some
actual, icy touch for q moment, then
my healthy, vigorous physique reas-
serted itself. was no coward even to
myself. I rose stealthily and crept to
the light, turning the full blaze on sud-
denly.
ga change in the room startled me.
The heavy portiere was thrown aside.
the folding-doors stood wide open.
Resolved to penetrate this mystery,
stepped into the other room.
IA cry of horror escaped me as
did SO. l stood in the middle of the
floor, petritied, the very blood freezing
in my veins. There on the bed lay a
man with his throat gashed from eaI
to ear, the red blood oozing slowly
upon the white Counterpart and the
rich carpet beneath. His wide eyes
were upturned to the ceiling. his white
face transfixed with the death agony.
For a second I stood there as il
frozen to the spot, my senses reeling,
my hands clinched in a sudden agony
of mortal terror; then like q flash OF
lightning the truth swept over me. A
terrible crime had been committed.
The responsibility was to be laid on
me. In the morning the police would
come to arrest me. What vestige Of
power would 1 have to disprove it?
''With sudden. quick energy born
of desperation, l went to my room and
dressed myself. leaving not the slight
est trace of my presence there. Assur-
ing myself that not card or slip OF
paper was left as a clcw to my identity.
took my boots in my hand and crept
noiselessly down the stairway.
when | reached the door beyond
the court | shrank back in dismay. l
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 l heard voices and per-
ceived a light emanating from the
room adjoining. The door between
was slightly ajar. / walked breath
lessly across the room and peeped
through the crevice.
Horrors of horrors! What did l 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-yoiced enchantress Of
the dinner table, dealing out faro
blanks opposite!
at was enough. l 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 had SO often read of.
'No wonder my blood ran cold.
What if 1 could not escape? These
were desperate characters. with whom
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 stealthy bound l leaped
through. landing unhurt on the ground
a 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 GER
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 doP"
John stopped in his narrative and Lit
the cigarette Eugene had handed him q
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
"Yes, 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 aUoke. "
Eugene sank back in his chair and
Nell collapsed physically and mentally,
picking up her work with a disguised
air.
..Sold, by Jover' exclaimed Eugene.
after pause. looking admiringiy at
his friend. 1T is the best sell of the
season"
..Oh. you horrible wretchr' cried
Nell, when she recovered her breath;
and so it was all dream?"
Yes" answered John, coldly. 81
awoke in room l05, 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 a myth. The story had
awakened her consciousness little,
and she seemed little shyer of John
for several days afterwards. But l am
happy to say that she was 4 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 Johns Story. =
NetC Orleans Times Democrat
PiTH AND POINT.
Some women swallow fiattery A.