St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-20
CHAPTER XXyI.
ALBERT HOWARD IS MEMORABLE.

Before leaving Buena Vista, Commodore
West and his nephew had had 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, if any
thing, hislove had been intensified by a feel
ing of pity for the brave girl who had been
cursed by her associations with such father.
He was engaged to Dora, but her last words
to him, before he left Buena Vista, released
him from his pledge, a privilege of which he
was determined not to avail himself.
When the commodore said goodbye to Mrs.
Morton, he added: ..Gs %
''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 and the old regard command me to the
last if l can be of any service.
The commodore and his nephew made their
way to the little hotel at San Bernal, 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. Halo ;3d Ti
1t was after the duel, and Ralph and his
uncle were in the little sitting room, trying
to write by the dismal lamp, when Albert
Howard entered, with rifle IN the hollow
of his arm, and a strip of plaster down his
right cheek. Closing the door and setting
the rifle against it, Howard strobe over, and
laying his hand on the 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 Morton?"I queried the COM
modore, as he laid down his glasses, and
looked eagerly up into the strong, sunburned
face. -.-i, H5+= yt.D,s
''Morton?"' repeated Howard, with a grim
laugh, swell, Morton is still living"
'Ah!' exclaimed the commodore, SCI am
glad it is not what you intended it to be,
duel to the death %
'sBut it was % said Howard sThe man
who met me lies dead upon the sands, unless
the body has been taken to Buena Vista be-
fore this. AS the end nears Morton is play
ing stronger and stronger cards, but have
the last deal. and I know his hand"
s'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 fixed. on the commodore's
face, 81 shall explain in a very few words.
You may have noticed, as has every one else,
the striking resemblance between these two
partners in crime. For years they have
banked on it. and worked on it, and, whether
Ellerton intended it or not, I feel sure that
Morton must have had in mind exactly such
circumstances as those in which he now
finds himself. Finding that a duel was iney-
liable, and knowing that he was not himself
good rifieman, he prevailed upon Ellerton
to take his place; or Ellerton, who was IN
doubleday Drawer man than himself, may
have volunteered to dose; L think the latter
is the case. I was supposed to have met
Morton this evening, but it was Ellerton who
faced me, and close asiwas the resemblance
and make up, I saw through the disguise.
The news is already hurrying through the
country that Colonel Morton is dead; the
body will be buried as that of Colonel Nor
ton; the survivor will be DR.. Ellerton, and
DIR. Ellerton will be the executor of the estate
left by his friend. In other words, Morton,
as Morton, has ceased to be- and so long as
he lives, which will not be- many years,
imagine, he must pose-indeed, he must be
DR.. Elerton." So 5.,s liz
ttYou amaze, mer said the commodore
"But coneeding that whatyou say is true, do
you not think we have had our revenge?
AS Elerton, the man will leave the country
very soon and possibly never be heard of
again. In Gods name let him go! And let
us rest satisfied in having forced him into
life that is worse than death. I ask this for
the sake of the two noble women whose lives
have been blasted by their associations with
this man. IL 'gi Il -t
Howard laughed again, folded his arms,
crossed his legs, and with his eyes on the
ceiling, said:
Commodore West, knowing how you have
suffered at the hands of this man, did not
think you could be so easily satisfied; but if
you are content with what has happened, I
am not. Let me see; it is now nearly twenty
four years since this man brutally murdered
my brother at Tucson, Arizona. About the
same number Of years have elapsed since I,
prosperous young miner who had never
carried a pistol, and never had a quarrel
with man, registered an oath, before
heaven, that all the years of my life should
be devoted to hunting into the grave the
murderer of George Howard. He still lives,
and it matters not to me whether his name is
Ellerton or Morton or Martin, whether he is
rich or poor, whether he stays in California,
or journeys to the uttermost ends of the
earth, I shall follow him up with the same
persistency that has marked my past, nor
| rest satisfied till earth has seen the last of
him. score of times during my long pur-
| suit, could have walked up to this man,
being absolutely sure of who he was placed
my pistol to his breast, and killed him; but
that would not suit my purpose. I watched
| him changing from hunted cur into posi-
| ton of comparative responsibility, and I re-
| joiced at it; saw him rising step by step,
| sometimes by means that were honest, but
more frequently by methods that were in
harmony with his nature, from poverty to
opulence, and from opulence to honor and
wealth; I saw his daughter growing into a
beautiful womanhood; I saw him surrounded
by the sycophants who are drawn to wealth
as flies are to honey; I saw him, under his
last name, becoming one of the great money
factors of the State, and indeed of the nation {;
and at all of this rejoiced, for knew that the
hour of his ruin was under my control, and
that the higher the position he had attained
the greater and more terrible must be the
fall, when the fall came. The first blow has
been struck the second blow is pending and