The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-10


| from behind-calls out to him-shoots-he
falls into the gutter. He is coming out of
| the front door of the house-some one calls
| to hint Is Basil Redstock-a shot-he
| falls forward on his face on the steps. He
| is at his desk in the office-a noise of some
one speaking-he looks up-it is Basil Red
stock-a report-fash of light-smoke-he
drops out of the chair in a heap on the
foor-blood on the carpet. Now the pict-
ures began to follow one another more
rapidly. He was whirled along through
the various places where business or pleas
ure might take him in the course OF the
day: always it was the samoa sudden cry
Basil Redstock-a shot-Mostyn falls
blood. AS they came faster the details
grew DINNER until at last the whole
seemed an indistinct haze, in the midst of
which he could see only Basil Redstock,
with arm appraised, and he himself falling
falling
He was nearing sleep. One moment
more and he would have been free from
the torment of consciousness.
But in that instant he heard a cry from
the street, loud and clear, the voice Of Basil
Redstock.
"Mostyn. Coward! Come out and be
shotr
He sprang up in bed-stunned into ter
ror. After tine last word was spoken
there was stillness-stillness in the house
and in the street-stillness so complete
that it roared in his ears
There was no chance to think it dream,
for on hearing his name called. Mostyn
had instantly shaken off his drowsiness,
and was thoroughly awake TO what fol-
lowed. There could be no questies either
about the origin of the CRY: Basil Red
stock-crazed, perhaps-stood in the street
in the middle of the street-before the
house, and was calling to him to come out.
Evidently be was armed, and the instant
Mostyn should appear would begin to
shoot.
Mostyn climbed slowly and noiselessly
out of bed, and CROPPED his way into the
front room. He had no distinct plan OF
action, but when, by the moonlight that
struggled throug the chinks of the blinds,
he saw the revolver lying on the desk, he
took it out of it's sheath and went toward
the window that overlooked the street
Here he could see plainly, yet not be seen.
There was no one IN the street. II was
empty and silent, as when Mostyn had
looked down upon it few hours before.
Where was RedstOck? Had he gone
away or was he hiding in the dark shad-
ows? Mostyn strained his eyes, but could
see no sign of him.
Suddenly he remembered that the cry
must have been heard by others in the
house, and for that matter in ali the neigh
torhood about, for it had Tung out loud
and shrill in the quiet night. He listened,
expecting 10 hear the sound of people NOV
ing about. But silence continued. Min
utes passed-two or three-five-ten-bu
no sight of Basil Redstock in the street
no sound in the house
So he turned and put the revolver on
the desk and went back to bed. Now he
began to think it all over anew.
The weakness and folly of Eva Redstock
had been surprise, but. in the name of
heaven, what possessed Basil? Was he in
sane--or drunk-or had he actually
thought that Mostyn would respond 10
such challenge and come out and be
shot?" Really, it was quite Incompetent
sible. But it was none the less a disgrace
disgusting, damnable-
And sounded from the clock.
-Four in the morning, and not a wink of
sleep yet! Three must have struck when [
was only half conscious. In an hour more
and it viii be daylight. must get to sleep
or l shall be a wreck tomorrow-a wreck
"a wreck
"Mostynl Coward Come out and be
shotr
The words struck into the man, half
doing in his warm bed, with q sudden and
icy chill. They sounded very loud, as if
Redstock were within few feet OF the
hOuse-on the sidewalk or the steps. There
was no longer question but the cry must
have been heard, at least by those who oc-
cupied rooms in the front part of the dwell
ing; and Mostyn waited Dreathlessly for
something to happen. But the stiffness
which followed the cry remained unbroken.
At last he sprang from the bed, shiverng
like a man with the ague, and peeped again
through the blinds of the front windows.
There was no one to be seen. The moon
light had given way to the first streaks OF
dawn, and as he stood looking out the
clock below struck the hour of 5.
To attempt sleep now was idle, and he
slowly began to dress. The cry was not
heard again.
When Mostyn was ready to leave the
room he put the sheathed revolver into his
pocket He stood for A moment in the
front doorway and looked searchingly
across and along the street, before he vent
u-ed out upon the steps. On his way down
town, he slackened his pace at every cor
ner and glanced about, right and left and
behind, in the stealthy manner of man
who is afraid of his own fears. Several
times be imagined that he saw Redstock
coming. and he stepped into doorway and
waited with his hand on his hip pocket,
unit, the suspected person came near
enough 10 show that be was not the man.
/ did not know that / was such a cow
ard ne said; Il am not a coward. A night
without sleep has made me nervous. Be
sides, if / am not always on my guard, l
may be taken unawares."
He went TO his Office, and lighting a FIRE
began 20 turn over the work which he had
planned for the day. The place was de-
serted and still A sudden rapid step ap-
preaching his door brought him 70 his feet
with his hand behind him. IL was only the
newsboy, who, as he tossed the paper
through the half open door, caught
glimpse of the white face and staring eyes
OF Mostyn. and thought that the man must
be struggling with the latter end of de-
Dauch.
Ms viii uUi w. ootu -sAD-t1 u Anetl4'fil-
ically taxing up the paper; Il must control
myself better or people Will begin 70 sus-
pect'-
He unfolded the sheet and began 70 read,
his eyes running hastily across the ROW Of
headlines. Suddenly he cried out with a
word that was between an oath and a
prayer. and then grew so still that one
might have thought him changed 70 stone.
Basil Redstock was dead. lie had snot
himself - accidentally the paper said
through the heart.
woman's Superiority.
- 1870 rrar.<rsn1 aI-a1