Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-27

hBkhI HOWARD Is tNkAORkBLEs
Before leaving ,Duens Vista, Commodore
West and his nephew had had a distinct
understanding with Mrs. Morton and Dora as
to the reason for their sudden departure from
Buena Vista. The regard OF Ralph Holmes
for the beautiful girl had not been changed
by his remarkable discovery. Indeed, itany-
thing, his love'hRd been intensified by feel
ing OF pity for tho brave girl who had been
cursed by her associations with such father.
He was engaged TO Dora, buther last words
to him, before he left Buena Vista, released
him from his pledge, privilege Of which he
was determined not to avail himself.
When the commodore said goodbye to Mrs.
Morton, no added: -'ea-s
"You cannot blame me for what / am doing;
you know how this man has cursed my life
and blasted yours. For the sake OF the old
love anu the old regard command mo to the
last II can be OF any service.
The commodore and his nephew made their
way to the little hotel at San Bernnl, which
they found pretty well crowded by Albert
Howard and his rough companions. They
knew the crisis had come, that the end OF
Morton's career was at hand, and so they de-
cided to stay here until the curtain had fallen
on the last act
It was after the duel, and Ralph and his
uncle wero in tho little sitting room, trying
to write by tho dismal lamp, when Albert
Howard entered, with q rifle in the hollow
OF his arm. and strip Of plaster down his
right cheek. Closing the door and setting
the rife against It, Howard strobe over, and
laying his hand on tho table by which the
commodore was sitting, he said
"The duel is over, and, as you see. am
unhurt save for this scratch
"And this man MortonT queried the COM
modore, as he laid down his glasses. and
looked eagerlyup into the strong, sunburned
face
"Morton2" repeated Howard with grim
laugh, "woll, Morton is still living"
"Ahp exclaimed tho commodore, 81 am
glad it is not what you intended IL to be, a
| duel to the death"
''But It wasp said Howard. "Tho man
| who met mo lies dead upon the sands, unless
the body has been taken to Buena Vista be-
fore this. As the end nears Mortoni is play
ing stronger and stronger cards, but j have
the last deal, and know his hand"
''You are talking in riddles" said the com
modore. 81 DO not understand you"
''Then," said Howard, as he dropped into
a chair, laid his elbow on the table, and
rested his chin in the hollow of his hand,
while his eyes were f1ed on the commodores
face, ~ shall explain in very few words.
You may have noticed, az has every one else,
the striking resemblance between these two
partners in crime. For years they have
banked on it, and worked on 1t, and, whether
Ellerton intended st or not, feel sure that
Morton must hayo had in mind exactly such
circumstances as those in which he now
finds himself. Finding that duel was iney-
liable, and knowing that he was not himself
a good rineman, he prevailed upon Ellerton
to take his place; or Ellerton, who was I'M
doubtedly n drawer man than himself, may
have volunteered 20 do so F; think the latter
is the case. was supposed to have met
Morton this evening. but 1t was Ellerton who
faced me, and close as was the resemblance
and make up, saw through the disguise
Tho news Is already hurrying through the
country TINT Colonel Morton is dead the
body will be buried as that of Colonel Nor
ton the survivor will DO DIR. Ellerton, and
DR.. Ellerton will be the executor OF the estat'
left by his friend. In other words, Morton
as Morton. has ceased to be, and so long AZ
he lives, which will not be many years,
imagine. he must pose-indeed, no must b.
, DR.. Ellerton."
/ nYou amaze met" said the commodore
"But eonceding that what you say is true, dc
} YOU not think we have had our revenge
, IA Rnerton. the man viii leave the countr,
! VERY soon and possibly never be heard o
: AMIN. In Gods name Let him gol And le
ns rest satisfied In having forced him into
) Hfo Tint is worse than death. / ask this 10
Tho sake Of the two noble women whose live
o have been blasted by their associations viii
Howard laughed again. folded his arms
A crossed his legs. and with his eyes on tn
Q ceiling. said
. "Commodore West, knowing how you hay
: entered at the hands Of this man, did no
= ,hink Won could be so easily satisfied but
= vo,, ara content with what has happened
= an not Let me see; It Is now nearly twenty
: four wears since this man orutallymnrdere
nv brother at Tucson, Arizona. About N
= same number Of years have elapsed since
!, a urospernus young miner who had neNe
q carried a pistol, and never had a qusrr'
q with a man. registered an oath, peior
= heaven. that all the years Of my life shouI
he devoted to hunting Into tho grave IN
s. murderer Of George Howard. He s'ih i've,
- and Il matters net to me whether his name
!. Euerton or Morton or Martin, whether Ne J
rich or poor, whether he stays in uahiornii
a or Journeys to the uttermost ends o. IN
= earth, l shaI follow him up with the SAN
ner.isteney that has marked my past 20
: rest satisfied tin earth has seen the last
= MIN. score Of times during my long pui
y snIt I could have walked up TO this mai
~ hsipc absolutely sure Of who he was, place
=. nv pistol to his breast and killed him p
7 KIT would not suit my PURPOSE ! 'vatehe
i, him changing from hunted eur INTO q r.
ION OF comparative rcspec;ahiliiy, aad ! :
! ioleed at Il; saw him rising. step y s,sl
= somstimes by means that were honest, o
more frequently by methods that were
!, harmony with his nature, fron poverty
!. !. onnlence. and from opuleuce 70 honor az
=. sl,sith, saw his daughter sra1'"r wy"