Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-18
THE RED DOMINO.

les voyageurs that serious collision had taken place between NJ and the next station, and that the traffic would not be resumed in all likelihood till aft CT 12 that night. It was then :.
 The captain determined to seek the best hotel in the place and console him self in the meantime with a good din ner. And ill a very short time he was seated at the table d'hote in the Hotel des Etrangers.
 Captain Hugh Walters was a young officer, only recently promoted to his present rank. He had paid short visit to Monte Carlo among other places, and having plenty of money to throw away had, of course, essayed his fortune at the gaming tables.
 His luck had been extraordinary. The very fact that money was no object to him seemed. strangely enough, to have gained him all the moro the smile of ficklc fortune.
 Most of the money he carried in the shape of notes in tho pockets of q leath- ern belt.
 He had received q telegram which had greatly disturbed him It was from the mother of his fiancec in London and ran thus: Ethel is dangerously i'll with pneumonia Come home at once. 7"
 He was barely seated at the table be- fore he had discovered a couple of ac- uaintancCs-Americans whom he had met at Monte Carlo. and who had left that place few days previously for NJ. In their society he was com pcllcd to hanish his griof and to con- cCal his anxiety. That very evening they said there was to be a grand mask ed ball at the Casino. Would he not come to its
 Tho captain was in no mood for danc- ing that evening, but he could allege no good excuse.
 As he was about to mount the steps of the Casino a thought struck him, and he turned toward the driver of the cabriOlet. Just at that moment he mo- ticed his two fellow travellers, the Ital- ians, pass by the Casino, arm ill arm. He fancicsl that they also recognized him.
 However, the incident did not strike him as remarkable, and calling out to the cabman, Gall for me at II:45 punctually," he passed into the Casino.
 
 have had its charms for the captain. He had been we'll looked after by his friends, who had left him small time to himself and had dragged him from part ner to partner. At last he was left for a short time to his own devices The clock was striking the hour of II when, although it was yet so carly, Inc finally decided to go. He would go to his hotel on foot, and tho walk, he thought, would do him good.
 Fate decreed otherwise, however Be- fore he had reached the exit of the ball. room he was buttonholed by one of his American friends.
 What, going already. This will never dOr' he exclaimed. "Thero is a lady just arrived whom I am deter mined you shall dance with. She seems great beauty, and the Comte du Val, one of the stewards. says she is the best dancer in M"
 As he finished the CoElte du Val came up with the lady in question. The lady wore a domino of a deep red silk. which effectually concealed her identity When she was introduced to Walters, only her eyes were visible. These were of ex- ceptional beauty-the color of a very dark blue. so deep that it approached to black. The captain was immediately drawn to her by their fascination.
 So far he had only known one person with such eyes as these. and that was his faraway tiancee, the girl on whom all his anxious thoughts were now cen tered
 He at once begged that he might have the next dance. The lady gracefully bowed her assent, her manner plainly indicating that for the present at least it was her pleasure to maintain her in- cognito by an absolute silence.
 Not a word fell from the lady's lips, notwithstanding that the captain had felt it incumbent upon him to speak oc- casionally. and they continued to dance ill complete silence-On her part at least
 For all this the time passed, as it seemed to him, like pleasing dream He forgot all about his journey, the hour of his departure and his order to the cabman-fOrgOt everything, iu | fact, even Ethel, while under the spell that the eyes of his companion seemed to have weaved about him. He was suddenly recalled to himself by the chiming of the great clock oi the Casino as he was leading his part. her to her seat at the end of an enioya ble waltz.
 He hastily looked at his watch-it was midnight.-and turned to tak' leave of the lady. She was gone H. found no conveyance waiting nor any within reach ''I suppose the fellow got tired of waiting and left" h. thought as he walked rapidly from thu Casino in the direction of the hotel
 He had not gone far along the badl, lighted street before his progress wa arrested by confused crowd of people apparently in great cOmmotion, gathered around a cabriolet, the driver of whicl was of his box. wringing his hand and muttering lamentations after tn manner of Frenchman when unde great excitement
 Lying in the roadway. looking ghast ly in the fickering light cast by tn | carriage lamps, was the body of youn, Englishman. A thrill of horror pervad ed the captain as he realized that h. was face to face with murder, and as h advanced he caught the eye of the un happy driver of the cabriolet.
 "Mon Dieur' said the latter in a ton of interse surprise. Monsieur is thel not dead? And had made certain tha the unfortunate man at our feet wa none other than monsieur himselfr'
 With that he enteEed into volubl explanation. He had kept to monsieur, instructions and had brought his cahrio | iss 70 the Csgino . few minutes hsfur l As Ank Assd npsn, AiiilAAA xa1Rl