The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-08


turn. At parting supper with hisc
rades he got into quarrel with one of
them, ending in a scuffle in which blows
were exchanged. The quarrel was
patched up and the two antagonists
shook hands and drank together, but
Horace secretly bore a grudge and was
determined to "get even" At the end
of the evening, his late antagonist being
somewhat the worse for liquor, Horace
volunteered to see him home. They
walked off together, Horace revolving in
his mind the scheme of some practical
joke.
That night Horace's companion was
found insensible on his doorstep with the
mark of blow from slungshot behind
his ear. He never entirely recovered
consciousness, and died the next day
after uttering the name of Horace Dupee.
Horace was arrested on charge of
murder, and in default of bail was
thrown into prison. After long series
of delays extending over year, he was
brought to trial and acquitted. The evil
dence, though amounting to a strong
probability, was not conclusive, and the
jury gave him the benefit of the doubt.
He went forth nominally free man, but
his social and professional career were
blasted ere they had fairly begun. The
shadow Of the mark of Cain, if not the
mark itself, was upon him.
He might have changed his name and
and achieved success in another country
But half from sullen obstinacy, half
from lack of business energy, he did not
do this. Instead, he drifted into bad So
ciety and soon found himself in harmony
withit. The class of society in which he
had formerly moved ceased to know him.
The police began to take an interest in
him, but he was shrewd and cautious
enough to avoid falling into their hands.
Some of his escapes were very narrow,
but up the present time his photograph
had not appeared In the rogue's gallery.
In such case, however, detection is sure
to come sooner or later. Some oversight
is committed, some pal" turns states
evidence, or some fatality occurs.
Since the time of his downfall Horace
Dupee had wandered from place to place
and lived in most states of the Union.
But again and again he returned to New
York, though he knew that he ran greater
risks there than elsewhere. At the time
we come up with him he had been absent
from the city for nearly year. 1t was
on the day after his arrival that his COM
panion, Crush, had called his attention
to Mrs. Ketelle.
She was the sister of the man of whose
murder he had been accused. This fact
was sufficient to inspire him with ami
mostly against her. He had never seen
her before. The only member of the
family with whom he had ever come in
personal contact was Jerrold Nolen. But
he owed them all grudge. If it had
not been for them he might have had a
successful career. He was prepared,
therefore, to do her whatever ill turn
came in his way. 1t was an additional
motive that the i'll turn to her could be
made of advantage to himself. Crush
had suggested this, and though he had
turned aside the suggestion he considered
it none the less. There was no need of
citing Crush into the affair. In secret
councils was safety. Besides Crush had
no claims upon him-quite the contrary;
he, too, was associated with whatever
was disastrous in his life. He made up
his mind to carry out his purpose with
out saying anything to Crush about it.
Several days passed. One afternoon
Mrs. Ketelle left her house and took a
Fourth avenue car uptown. She left it
in the neighborhood of Harlem, walked
across town a couple Of blocks and en-
tered the door of small fiat that formed
part of an unfinished block on a side
street, She remained there for upwards
of an hour. Twilight was beginning to
fall when she came out.
She had not walked far when she
heard a step behind her, and a voice
said, "Good evening, Mrs. Ketelle How
is the judge todayP
She turned and saw at her side well
dressed man of dark complexion, who
fixed his eyes upon her in a manner she
did not like. But his knowledge of her
name and of her husband led her to sup
pose that she must have met him some
where and forgotten him. "You must
excuse me. SIR" she said, "but you have
the advantage of me-"
Indeed, believe you are right" he
answered, with short laugh. 1.-THE adj
vantage is all on my side But tell me-
Mrs. Ketelle, how does married life suit
you? Does the judge come up to your
expectations? For my part l should
think twice before marrying woman SO
much younger than myself. BY the time
you are coming into full bloom the judge
will be in the sere and yellow leaf.
But suppose you know how to manage
him. He hasn't betrayed any symptoms
of the green eyed monster yet, has her"
This speech produced such astonish-
ment in Pauline that she could not find
words to interrupt it. But when the
speaker paused she stood still and looked
him curiously in the face.
"You don't seem to be intoxicated, "
she said at length. "You maj be crazy.
Whatever you are, l advise you to go.
do not want you"
mo, suppose not" he replied, re-
turning her glance insolently. II am
not the lucky man. The judge has nc
cause to he Jealous of me. But. on the