Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-06-23
WARNINGS PERIL.
By Capt. Chas. King, Of the q. s. Army.
Copyright by Lippincott.

The story had been wrung from her
piecemeal, but was finally told in full,
and in the presence of the officers and
civilians indicated. She had married
in April, '65, to the scorn of her people,
a young Yankee officer attached to the
commissary department. She had
| starved all through the war. She
longed for life, luxury, comforts. She
had nothing but her beauty, he moth
ing but his pay. The extravagances
of a month swamped him; the drink
and desperation for the next ruined
him. He maintained her in luxury at
the best hotel only few weeks, then
| all of his own and much of Uncle Sans
money was gone. Inspection proved
| him q thief and embezzler. He fed,
and she was abandoned to her own re-
sources. She had none but her beauty
and gift of penmanship which COW
| cred the many sins of her photography.
She was given cler<ship, but wanted
more money, and took it, blackmailing
a quartermaster. She imposed on
Warning, but he quickly found her out
and absolutely refused afterwards to
see her at all. She was piqued and
/ angered, "a woman scorned," but not
until he Joined Battery "X" did oppor-
tunity present itself for revenge. She
had secured a room under Mrs. Doyle's
reputable roof, to be near the barracks,
where she could support herself by
writing for Mrs. Doyle and blackmail-
ting those whom she lured, and where
she could watch him, and, to her eager
| delight, she noted and prepared to
make much of his attentions to Nine.
Lascelles. Incidentally, too, she might
inveigle the susceptible Lascelles him
self, on the principle that there's no
| fool like an old fool. Mrs. Doyle
lent herself eagerly to the scheme.
The letters began to pass to and fro
| again. Lascelles was fool enough to
answer, and when, all on a sudden,
| Mrs. Doyle's ''long-missing relative" as
she called him, turned up, pensioner
| on her charity, 1t was through the
united efforts of the two women he
got a situation as cab-driver at the
stable up at the eastern skirt of the
| town. Dawson had enlisted to keep
from starving, and, though she had no
use for him as a husband, he would do
to fetch and carry, and he dare not
disobey. Twice when Doyle was
battery officer of the day did
this strangely assorted pair Of
women entertain Lascelles at sup
per and fleece him out of what
money he had. Then came Philippes
with Lascelles in Mikes cab, as luck
would have it, but they could not fleece
| Philippes. Old Lascelles was rapidly
succumbing to Nita's destinations when
came the night of the terrible storm.
Mike had got to drinking, and was laid
low by the Lieutenant Mike and
Bridget both vowed vel geance. But
meantime Doyle himself had got wind
of something that was going on, and
he and his tyrant had a fearful row.
He commanded her never to allow a
man inside the premises when he was
away, and, though brought home
drunk that awful night, furiously Or
| dered the Frenchman out, and might
have assaulted them had not Bridget
lassoed him with chloroformed towel.
That was the last he knew until another
day. Lascelles, Philippes and she,
Mrs. Dawson, had already drunk bot
tie of champagne when interrupted by
Doyle's coming. Lascelles was tipsy,
had snatched his pistol and fred shot
to brighten Doyle, but had only en-
ragged him, and then he had to run for
his cab. He was bundled in and Doyle
disposed of. 1t was only three blocks
down to Beau Rivage, and thither
Mike drove them in all the storm. She
did not know at the time of Warnings
being in the cab. In less than fifteen
minutes Mike was back and called ex-
citedly for Bridget; had hurried con-
sultation with her; she seized water
proof and ran out with him, but darted
back and took the bottle of chloroform
she had used on her husband, now lying
limp and senseless on a sofa below,
and then she disappeared. When half
an hour passed and Lascelles failed to
return with them, bringing certain pa
pers of which he'd been speaking to
Philippes, the latter declared there
must be something wrong, and went
out to reconnoiter despite the storm.
He could see nothing. It was after
midnight when Mrs. Doyle came rush
ing in, gasping, all out of breath, "along
of the Storm" she said. She had been
down the levee with Mike to find a
cushion and lap-robe he dropped and
couldn't afford to lose. They never
could have found it at all "but for ould
Lascelles lending them lantern" He
= wanted Mike to bring down two bot
ties OF champagne he'd left here, but
1t was storming so that he would not
venture again, and Lieut.. Warning,
she said, was going to spend the
night with Lascelles at Beau Riv-
age; Mike couldn't drive any fur
Their down towards the barracks.
Lascelles sent word to Philippes that
he'd bring up the papers first thing in
the morning, If the storm lulled, and
Philippes went out indignant at all -:
time lost, but Mike swore he'd not
. drive down again for a fortune. Sc
the Frenchman got into the cab and
went up with him to town. The mo-
ment he was gone Mrs. Doyle declared
she was dead tired, used up, and dranl
huge goblets of the wine, until she
reeled off to her room, leaving ar
apron behind. Then Mrs. Dawson went
q to her own room, after putting out the
g. 1r4~ IL