Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-27

over him. Clutching at straws like a drown-
ing man the thought occurred to him that if
the city was to be destroyed there might in
the confusion be a chance of escape for
him. In the tremendous wreck and ruin of
that night and the day which was to follow
what would one more or less human wreck
amount tos If Chicago was to go Town in a
whirlwind Of flames, wiping out fortunes,
records, landmarks, business and probably
many individuals, could there not be some
escape for hims Filled with these refiec-
tions, but hardly knowing what to do OF how
his deliverance was to come, he almost ran
to the South Division, hastened through It's
already smoking streets, and, joining the
mad throng of terror-stricken people, pushed
rapidly on toward his home in North Dear
born street. There, at least, he could gain a
few minutes for reflection and decision.
"There were lights in many houses, but in
his own all was dark. Some people were al
ready moving their valuables, but there were
no signs of activity about his own premises.
Almost distracted with fear and with a hand
SO nor-vus mat he could hardly hold the key
he opened the front door and entered. A
lamp burning low stood Oil the back parlor
table, but no one appeared, and when he
called out there was no answer. Bounding
up the stairs he quickly searched every room
in vain, and then, returning to the lower
floor, he saw on the table, for the first time, u
note from his wife, in which she informed
him that she had left him, and that it would
do him no good to search for her. It was
dated at up. m. and must have been written
soon after his departure in the evening.
"For a moment the mar was dazed and he
SQf o1,1tchinn tho nonor ,,ppo;~Je,,1 - A.. -
glare that was now Frightening everything
in the room and even Illuminating his sorrow
burdened face. He had thought Of escape,
of a ruse Of some kind, and of a chance in a
new field Of redeeming himself, but all his
hopes had been associated with her who was
now lost to him. Walking quickly to the
window, he looked out on the blazing city,
In the presence of such devastation his own :
wreck seemed at first Insignificant, and he
smiled grimly at the thought that thousands
were going down that night into ruin in one /
form and another that might be as hopeless
as that which overshadowed him. Then came
and sorrow, renorse and self-con- !
Why live in q world in which I
he was to be doubly disgraced? Why not |
leave it now in this storm of fire, and, in the l
wrath Of the night, go out into the |
unknown, making no sign and leaving no |
H raised a window, and, as the angry |
roars came up from the streets. now lined
with rushing people, new courage took.pos-
session of him. He felt equal to any emer-
sency. He could face death in any form if
need be, but he would not add to his other
'rlmes n shortcomings the sin of SELF
murder. The revolver which he had held in
lis hands flashed in the light from the lurid
and, as he laid it down, he felt such
elef as one experiences on waking from q
lldeous dream. The resolution to live had
AIKEN possession of him, and he was on the
'oint of gathering up the few things which
could carry with him in his fight when he
leard the front door open and close and the
u OF voices coming up from the hall. A
ceiling OF alarm took control of him. The
stood out on his brow, and as he
rept on tptoe to the balustrade and peered
yer he clutched the discarded revolver and
Stoned with bated breath to determine. If
who his visitors were. A minute
tier his worst fears were realized. His wife. {
rlven from her refuge, and in the
vldentiy, OF the man who had ALWAYS exer- 1
lsed an evil influence over her, had re- !
arned, perhaps in the hope that her husband
ad not yet received the note and with the I
.pectatlon OF postponing her flight to 9
mother time. =
III was while Everett was listening in this 4
Etltude and with these thoughts coursine
trough his mind that be heard the woman
y tnat the note was gone; heard Selter, the q
lnlor member Of the firm to which he was q -
!lnquenG, laugh meeringly and say some :.
ing intended to be humorous; heard both =
'Dsuit as to the a~dvisability of REMAINING I
temporarily, and heard his own wife .
lggest that 1t would be well first to search IL
70 mouse. The revolver was still in his hand II
10 oy a grip that was as hard and cold as st
- s5eel itself. The old feeling came bach q.
LII. mere was an opportunity to add =
norror to the dreadful drama which
- Delng enacted all around him. Three "a
LIS al tne weapon which he held in bic sl
sna ano inc pillows of fire fast rolling on te
ouia In an hour at most wipe ont the Gin I
shame and the sorrow forever. al
"At hat instant Salter, followed bv +ho ch
began the ascent of the stairs Tho
'g suspense had told on Everett. and :, ~ isl
rVousness, when he came to raise b;rso1e af
order to shoot in his tracks the man 49, le,
IN a light and jaunty air was TELLING nv "a
1er mans wife what he would do with ho. in
soand II ne caught him, he made a no;sa b
llcn was fatal to his plans. In a fash Sa11
nao drawn a pistol and fired, Everett,s
apon going off but once, and that 90 100 I
the mark that no damage was lone Tn,o RI,
20 ana 1our Times Salter fired at the darh the
"n'cn In the glare he could family d;s poi
euisn IN tne upper hall, and as no resnonso ella
No ne ana the woman hastily descended ~ the
paIior TO make ready for flight. NJ the
ere1t was IN Mysteries and would not 1aane mo
place until her companion made an ,neo" for
auon toF inc purpose Of Determining ~. an,
os.y o. % victim and making sure th b,st sue
va dsad .Tha aamas .Yers NOW ro,stn"