The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-10
SLEEP NO MORE.

trust.
Nothing could be urged in the defense of
Edgar Mostyn; not youth, not lack of ex-
perience, not hastiness of action, not
temptation from others, and-as far as one
might judge-not passion. No man stand
ing between good and evil ever had better
reasons than he for following the right
path, and experience would not suffer him
to go wrong by mistake. Yet he sinned-
and the sin was at once great and con-
temptible.
When Basil Redstock had been married
about year business made it necessary
that he should leave his wife and home for
several months. There were some mines
to be looked after in a wild district where
he could not take Eva. A maiden aunt,
old, deaf, stupid, came to the house to
stay, and several Of Eva's companions
| were expected. But there ought to he a
man about TO scare away burglars Basil's
best friend was Edgar Mostyn, bachelor
and a man of the world, yet one whose re-
served speech and upright conduct had al
ways repealed the breath of scandal.
"He is a man" said Basil-and Mostyn
knew that he had said ito whom
would, without hesitation, intrust every
dollar l had in the world-my own good
name-everything."
! So Mostyn came to live in the house Of
! his friend on his friends request that he
should guard and protect his wife
! At first Eva was never without the COM
| pany of girl friends Presently they ceased
/ to come; perhaps it was accidental, per-
/ haps she was less urgent in her invita-
/ TONS During the last month, she and the
old aunt and Edgar Mostyn were alone
much of the time The aunt would grow
| sleepy in the evenings; besides she was
deaf.
| When Basil Redstock returned, Mostyn,
/ who was man of perfect self control, wei
coined him with cordial smiles and hearty
speech But the weak woman, sick with
terror, scarcely knew what she said and did.
Basil was not suspicious by nature-yet
he was not fool.
On the evening of the third day after the
husbands return, as Mostyn sat alone in
his bachelor quarters, a note was brought
to him. 1t had been left at the door by a
woman. In the trembling, illegible scrawl,
he with difficulty recognized the handwrit-
ing of Eva Redstock. The note read thus:
What have done! l cannot tell how it
has happened but he knows all. He said
he would Kill me if did not confess, and
was almost crazy. He means to shoot you,
know, for he took his revolver and went
away wish ne had killed mel wish |
were dead"
Mostyn stared blankly at the paper for
some moments after he had finished read
ing its message. Here was catastrophe in
a form that he had not foreseen; for such
weakness was quite out of the pale of his
understanding. At last he tore the note
to fragments and tossed it into the fire.
well" he said with a savage scowl, cit
is a scrape-a bad one. ohe means
to shoot, eh?"
Presently MOstyn arose and opened a
drawer in his desk. He took out a revolver
not toy article, but one of the sort that
can be made TO shoot straight and to kill
and began to turn it over in his hands. A
touch on a half concealed spring, aud the
chambers rolled out. From the same drawer
he brought piece of cloth, small bottle
of oil and some cartridges.
IL took a little time to clean, oil and load
the weapon. While he was thus engaged,
Mostyn thought the situation over after
this wise:
He does not know how to shoot, and if
meet him on the street and be draws |
can safely risk his first fire. ! know that
revolver of his; before he is ready for a sec
ond can-h'm, it would be bad business
if should've whole thing is going TO
come out anyway, if he tries the shooting
business Ruin me, of course; but don't
care TO give my life Just because a woman
is a fool Cod what a fool she wasl II
she had only denied it that would have
been something-but TO confess all, Yet
how If he should come on me from behind,
Well that is not like Basil Redstock. He
is a chivalrous fellow, and | imagine will
not shoot without warning"
When the pistol was loaded and in per-
feet order Mostyn slipped it into leather
sheath and left it upon the desk. Then ne
sat down by the fire and thought-nOt Of
the immediate danger-fOr be was ready
now 70 meet that-but Of the man and the
woman who had that day lived a tragedy
on his account. Such thoughts were surely
not pleasant: vet he remained an hour be-
yond the time when he usually retired,
staring into the flames.
The living apartments Of Mr. Edgar
Mostyn were two rooms N the second story
OF a large residence building. The parlor
was in front and looked out over the street.
The eighborhood was quiet. although not
far distant from populous thOroughfare.
When he was ready 10 go TO bed, Mostyn,
a. was his custom. threw wide open one Of
the front windows He stood for a moment
gazing upon the street, which was brightly
lighted by the moon and empty Of people.
Then he closed the blinds and went into
the inner room.
There was in the lower hall OF the house
a large clock which struck the hours.
Shortly after Mostyn stepped into bed mid
night sounded. He lay very still for
time and thought Of Eva Then he turned
over into another part Of the bed and
thought about Basil And presently he
heard the clock strike l.
Then he became restless and tossed about
Il was a bad scrspe and il worried him
Even II he saved MS life ne must expect 70
art with his reputation for the affair
would make q horrible uproar What =
fool that woman was-whsr an unspeaE-
able fool,
Two o'clock
The bed had become dissgreeably warm.
and BE- raised himself on his elbow that
the cool air might come under The clothes
The attitude made him think Of the way
actors die on the stage. Would man
who was shot take this position He won
iered how it would - with himself II that
first bullet from Bzsil Red-tock's weapon
should take ELECT Pooh, i was toy a.
fair. incapable OF hitting marx ten feet