St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-27

sne continued, ncllnlnG ner mead TO Rnlpn,
"you cannot have forgotten Lord PelhamPv
Il remember him very well, indeed" re-
piled Ralph, ''and even when he was posing
as an English nobleman half suspected his
Identity" 1
Mrs. Morton went on: 20 - . ~
GAS we were escaping through the park
tonight, this man, Albert Howard, and his
companions halted us, but as soon Us he
learned who we were, and our purpose, he,
treated us with the greatest courtesy, and
sent one Of his men to guard us as far as
San Bernal. Indeed, he apologized to me for
the course he was pursuing and plainly said
that nothing but what he called his sense of
justice made him act as he was then doing"
"Albert Howard is q desperate man. said
the commodore, ga man like myself, with a
grievance which he has nursed forvery many
years, but unlike myself, his thirst for venge-
ance increases with the draught which
should appease it,
Through all the years of my married life,"
said Mrs. Morton, looking down on her thin,
interiocked fingers, 81 have felt friendless
and homeless; but never so much SO as to-
night"
The commodore came over, and taking
both her hands, said in q voice full of emo
ton
"Friendless you and your daughter cannot
be while Ralph and live! Is not that true,
my boy?" he added, looking at his nephew.
"True, every word of it, uncle!'' was. the
hearty response. --.s r.l,. - t.!-s. -
"There can be no more sleep for my nephew
or myself tonight said the commodore.
eve shall both go back to Buena Vista, and
consult with Albert Howard. In the mean
time, you, Miss Dora, and Mile. Bertrand
must have quarters here. You neel rest.
Before Mrs. Morton or her daughter could
offer an objection, the commodore rang fora
servant, and in response the terrified landa
lord of the Gomez House appeared. I'l1i'i -
81 want rooms for these ladies'" said the
commodore, pointing to his visitors.
The landlord bowed and declared there was
not vacant room in the house. -
"Then,' said the commodore, cit will afford
my nephew and myself pleasure to resign to
the ladies our quarters. We shall not need
them for the present. Then bowling to the
ladies, the commodore asked to- be excused,
and he and Ralph withdrew and completed
their toilets. i
Coming back and speaking with, a hope that
he did not himself feel, the commodore
begged his visitors to be of good cheer, sum-
moned a servant to attend to their wants.
and then went out with Ralph. y >Nf
1t was a starless night, with strong wind,
blowing from the northwest, that sent long
lines of waves laundering on the shore. The
two men were armed. Indeed, peaceful citi-
zens who had not carried weapon for many
years had pistols strapped on their waists
tonight, and if asked the reason for this pre-
caution, they could not have given it. as ..
AS the course was more direct along the
shore than by the regular road, the commo-
dore and Ralph took this way. They had just
crossed the boundary line, and we're at the
spot where the fatal duel took place few
days before, when the old sailor grasped his
nephew's arm, and coming to halt, faced
eastward.
"What is the matter, uncle?" asked Ralph.
"Matter, boy, look! can't you see, Buena
Vista is on fire?" ..tos Sos
AS the two men stood there, one by one the
windows of the grand mansion appeared to
be lit up, and soon the whole structure stood
out in luminous relief against the background
of sky.
81 think" said Ralph, sthat Howard has
lit the fires about the house to prevent
escape, and that the place itself is not on
fire."
"No; it is the house! See, the flames have
caught the roof!''
1t was as Commodore West said.
Buena Vista was on fire; the. conf1agration
had been started by the hands of the man
who had taken so much pride in its cree
ton.
1t was now nearing daylight. Earlier in
the night Albert Howard had sent Mike
Regain and number of his men to the house
to demand the colonels surrender, and they
were answered by shots from within.
The men watching the house believed that
Colonel Morton in his desperation had started
the fire and determined to perish in the
flames. This was the very impression he
wanted to create.
Pedro, the brother of Mad Inez, acted as
captain of the colonels yacht whenever he
went sailing, and an able crew could always
the little huts about the bay. Soon after
midnight Pedro was summoned to an audi
ence with the colonel, and was told to make
the yacht ready for sea at once. By
means of the underground passage the
desperate man sent on board such valuables
as were portable, with provisions ample for
months cruise. His purpose was to put to
sea, leaving those who were watching the:
!J,-iSt