San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-12

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picked up the fragments and threw them,
diamond and all, out of the window, into
the garden below.
Then for another hour he sat alone in
the darkness Of his room, watchful aud
patient He drew up the curtain toward
Alma's room. There was a light there,
and he sat gazing at her white curtain till
the light was eXtinguished. The other
lights were all put ont one after the other,
and then ii became very still.
The clock struck TO- The gathering
storm climbed higher up the western
sky. The lightning flashed brighter and
brighter There was sigh IN the tree
tops rs if the air stirred uneasily.
Suddenly there was another light.
Mr.. Belford's curtain was brightly il
Illuminated by his candle. Elmer
moved his chair so that he could
watch the window, and waited patiently
till the light was put out. Then he saw
the curtain raised and the window drawn
down.
"All right, my boyi That's just what
/ wanted. Nemesis has clear road, and
her shadowy sword shall reach you Now
for the closed circuit alarm
He silently pulled off his shoes, and
then with he tread Of a cat, he felt about
his room ill h found on the table two
delicate coils Of fine insulated WIRE and a
couple Uf tacks. Carefully opening the
door, he crept down stairs and through
the hall TO the door Of the library. The
door was closed, and kneeling down on
the mat he pushed tack into the door
near the jamb and stuck the other in the
door post. From one TO another he
stretched bit of insulated wire. Then,
aided by the glare of the flashes of light.
ming, that had now grown bright and
frequent. he laid the wires under
the mat and along the floor to
the foot Of the stairs. Then in his
stockinged feet he crept upward, dropping
the wires over into the well of the stair
way as he went In moment or two the
wires were traced along the floor of the
upper entry and under the door into his
room. Here they were secured to q small
battery, and connected with tiny electric
bell that stood on the mantle shelf. To
stifie its sound in case it rang he threw
his straw hat over the bell, and then he
felt sure that at least one part Of his work
was done.
Louder and louder rolled the thunder
The lightning flashed brightly and lit up
the bare, mean little room, where the
wretch covered and shivered in the bed,
sleepless and fearful he knew not why
He feared the storm and the night. He
feared everything. His guilty heart made
terrors out Of the night and natures
healthtul workings. The very storm,
blessed harbinger of clearer days and
sweeter airs, terrified him.
There was Il sound Of rushing wind
in the air A more vivid flash blinded
Ia Il l,,l IL,
coward ears to drown the splendid roll of
thunder Another flash seemed to fill the
room.
All! What was that? His eyes seemed to
start from their sockets in terror.
There, written in gigantic letters of fire
upon the wall, glowed and burned single
word:
FRAUD!
He stared at it and rubbed his eyes 1t
would not be winled out There was a
lond crash Of thunder and furious dash
of rain against the window; then another
binding stroke of lightning. He drew the
clothing over his head in abject terror.
Again the thunder rolled as if in savage
comment on the writing on the wall
1t was a mistake, Il delusion. He would
face the horrid accusation.
1t was gone, and in its place was pict-
ure. 1t seemed the top Of
All, it was that chimney. Already the
false stuCCo had fallen off, and there,
pictured upon his wall in lines of fire,
were the evidences of his fraud and
crime.
He sprang from the bed with an oath
and looked out of the window Darkness
everywhere. The beating rain on the
lets. A vivid flash of lightning illumin-
ated the garden and the house. Not
living thing was stirring. He turned to-
ward the bed The terrible picture had
gone. With a muttered curse upon his
weak, disordered nerves he crept into bed
and tried to sleep.
Suddenly the terrible writing glowed
upon the wall again, and he fairly
screamed with fright and horror:
MURDER!
He writhed and turned upon the bed
in mortal agony He stared at the
letters of the awful word with ashen
lips and chattcring teeth. What hide
Gus dream was this? Had his rea-
son reeled? Could it play him phantom
tricks like this? Or was it an avenging
angel from heaven writing his crimes upon
the black night?
"Great God! What was that?'
The writing disappeared, and in its place
stood n picture Of his wretched victim and
himself Her fair, innocent face looked
down upon him from the darkness, and he
saw his own form beside her.
He raved with real madness now. Great
drops of perspiraton gathered on his face
He dared not face those beautiful eyes so
calmly gazing at him. Where had high
heaven gained such knowledge Of him.
How could God punish him with such aw-
full cruelty
Hell aud damnation have come" he
screamed in frantic terror. The thunder
rolled in deep majesty, and none heard
him. The wind and rain beat upon the
house, and his rawlings disturbed no one
Take it away! Take it away he
cried in sheer madness and agony.
1t would not move The lightning only
made the picture more startling and
awful. The sweet and beautiful face of
Alice Green lived before him in frightful
distinctness, and his very soul seemed to
burn TO cinder before her serene, I'M
earthly presence.
1t was her ghost revisiting the earth.
Was it to always thus torment him?
"Thauk God! II has gone"
The room became pitch dark, and he
fell back upon the pillow in what seemed
20 him a bloody sweat. He could not
sleep, and for some time he lay trembling
on the bed and trying to collect his senses
and decide whether he was in possession
of his reason or not.
Suddenly there was fash of light and
a new vision sprang into existence before
him.
An angel in long white robes seemed to
be flying through the air toward him, and