The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-10

got tired of waiting and left" he
thought rs he walked rapidly from the
Casino in the direction of the hotel.
He had not gone far along the badly
lighted street before his progress was
arrested by confused crowd Of people,
apparently in great commotion, gathered
around a cahriolet, the driver Of which
was off his box, wringing his hands
and muttering lamentations after the
manner of a Frenchman when under
great excitement.
Lying in the roadway, looking ghsst-
ly in the Pickering light cast by the
carriage lamps, was the body of young
Englishman. A thrill of horror pervad-
ed the captain as no realized that he
was face to face with murder, and as he
advanced he caught the eye of the un-
happy driver of the cabriolet
''Mon Dieu!'' said the latter in tone
Of intense surprise Monsieur is then
not dead? And had made certain that
the unfortunate man at our feet was
none other than monsieur himselfr'
With that he entered into voluble
explanation. He had kept to monsieur's
instructions and had brought his cabrio-
let to the Casino few minutes before
the time fixed upon. At l1:45 young
Englishman had rushed out of the Ca
sino and entered his vehicle, bidding
him drive rapidly to the Hotel des
Etrangers.
They had not driven far up the street
(Which at this time Of night was very
deserted) before his cabriolet was vio-
lAr,+1 null lnI 1Nx,
horses head AT the same moment an
other had entered the carriage, ard
violent struggle had taken place between
the latter and the occupant. The whole
terrible affair had occupied but few
moments, and the driver had not recov-
cred from his confusion and stupefac-
tion before the men had decamped. He
had scarcely time to observe them, but
his short glance had convinced him that
they were Italians.
AT this point light burst in upon
the captains mind. Clearly the assas-
sins were his two fellow travellers. the
Italians from Monaco.
Hastily relating what he knew to the
gendarlnes, he set out quickly for the
hotel. Arrived there, he easily obtained
cab and conveyed himself and port
manteau to the station Fortunately
the train was still there, and he was in
timo to regain his seat AS he sank back
wearily against the cushions he said to
himself.
THAT mysterious red domino has
saved my life Who knows what might
have happened had l left, as | intended,
at II. aH, worse still, if, had not her
beautiful eyes detained me, / had kept
to the appointed hour of the departuro?"
As he neared London, late in the even
ing, sad foreboding oppressed him,
and in spite of himself he expected the
worst
Mrs. Dacre, the mother of his fiancee,
met him on tho threshold of her house.
In an instant he knew the truth from
her face.
Ethel was deadl "She died." said
the weeping mother ''at about ii
O'Clock last night -
AT i1p' said the captain absently.
He was so stunned by the shock of the
evil news that his mind seemed to ram.
BILE. "At III Why, at II o'clock last
night l was dancing with-with the
red dominop' Then, like sudden In
spiration, the truth flashed across his
fevered brain. "Great Godr' he said,
''the red domino and Ethel were one
and the same, and it was Ethel alone
who saved my hfel" and he reeled to
the floor in a fainting fit.
Whether the reader accept this view
or not, the coincidence is at least re-
markable one. Arthur v. Thompson in
London Cream.