The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-17

seats. ana on these roughly i,1proviSnd
stands Ind boon located tho shrubS
Gay bunting nauntcd tho interior, al
about. banner, inscribed with tho
words "Nclcomo To ElnlSs {; Shan
sSono," hung conspicuously over tho
rudo prosccnirrl arch. Livery thin1
Letollcncd tbs festive nature Of tho
evening, when this oycntful dramatic
engagement began.
AS tho hour drow nigh for tho crowded
and packed auditorium 10 look for tho
appearance OF tho Two distinguished
guests. thoro was suppressed expectation
and ncrvou' excitement From miles
around tho patronage OF tho theatrical
entertainments had como.
Tho two violins and ono flfo had lust
begun tuno to quiet tho impatient
throng. for it WAS roally past ringing up
tine or nearly so, when group OF mon
standing ut the door parted suddenly
right and lcfe- Then came q buzyinr
amongst tho crowd about. and presently
somc ono down in tho boIy Of tho house
raised u chocr.
Elinks and Shanstono were com ing.
MIR. Blinks had brought certain East
crn notions Of style back with him. lilo
was arraycd In gorgeous. expansive
linen. limo black d'css-suit and whito
Kid gloves. In one eye he held an eye
glasa, through which no surveyed tho
audience. MIR. Shanstonc, like truo
politician. had dof-cd what Eastern ap-
parcl he E,ay have adopted whilc away,
aud appeared in heavy top boots, border
costume, with n hugo revolver i'll its hol.
stcr Ut his hip.
She's mighty putty" Mr.. Shanstoro
was 81 ing TO hi3 partner in wcalih, in
reference to one OF tho galaxy of b,au-
ty'' then about to exhibit In truth,
they wcro just coming from tho hotol
where tho galaxy hid Guartorcd, and
were just aftor paying tho galaxy u
social call. II wonder" pursued Mr..
SANDSTONE, "if sho'il DO az putty on tho
stage"
lilll made no reply to this speech. IIc
had his own views, az well, concerning
tho young lady in question. and felt
some twinSo or unaccustoclcd jealousy
OF his partner. They bo:h had boon
drinking. thcro was no mistake about
that
Come, now! Como, nowi" shouted
Shanstono, Ivy and by, in vigorous in
sistcncc on an encore to his laly-lovc,
the hand OF tho miner that was raised
high up opening and shower Of gold
coin ringing on the stage; .como now!
Another! En- core! En-crrc!"
500 here, parj," said ELL, Crasping
the wrist OF tho hand that had nunG tho
coin, you and mo hes shared right
through. hcy?"
light" said Sam. smiling at tho
stage, from whence his beauty, how
ever. had vanished. and unconscious OF
any latent meaning in hia co1nranions
speech.
"llcr. tho" persisted ELL; "wo can't
share her. can wc?"
Sam looked at his friend quickly.
mo. we c..n'tI'm bla.nol il we can"
well lots 70 outside, Sar,. and sat
tic il. said ELL putting his hand in
his breast pocket.
Sam caught merely tho electric CLINT
OF Ellis eye, AID got ~.
Outside tho theatcr, B.ll lrcw forth a
small dcrringcr.
You got one" he simply said to his
partner.
And sam drew n dcrrinrcr from his
pocket.
All Sar said Was:
III it's really as YOU say. Fill, we'd
bctttr lind the best man" and, tho
small distance being measured OF,
turned, il understanding. und fired.
There WAS but one report.
Tho other dcrringcr dropped from
Ellis ncrvclcss fingers, and tho man fell
dead. shot through tho heart.
l.ccovOrcd from tho drunken insanity
into which tho Passing events had so
awfuliy betrayed them, tho wrctchcd
Shanstonc sprang to tho corpse at lis
murdered friend.
Their absence attributed to other
causes. no one had followed tho two
Elcn and the curtain slowly descended
as they had made their exit from tho
thcatcr. Tho shot brought mon run
ming out. now. Sam roso, and waved
:acm off.
Stand of-stand on"
The rough crowd rauscd.
Sar, pointed to whore tho body OF his
friend lay in lilo shining moonlight,
and SAID. hoarscly:
u said BIZ WAS right. Wc Icp shared
right through. Drunk and sober
ri.ht through. We'll. haven't wc?"
The men standing by wcro dazcd,
silonccd.
We'll. it's so, ard wc'll share
through. get" Wish that he flung hs
dcrrin%cr away. reached down and took
up Bills, and, placing it at his head.
fred before any ono could Interfere. ard
dropped dead by.l;ill's side
ho camp preacher preached the scr
mon, the Jumping Run Times published
nm obituary. and tho littlo ,hcatcr, with
its stock Of rudo and CT clcss amusc-
mont, continued to ''show" it's nightly