Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-09-13

clever and agreeable, and Charlie
found as the days went by, that time
passed in his society very pleasantly.
But Charlie was vaguely uneasy. He
was conscious of certain strange and
curious circumstances. He was fol-
lowed everywhere, when alone. by n
man whose face he could never see,
try as hard as he might Once late at
night, while passing down Royal
street. he was suddenly attacked from
behind by an unseen foe. who -four
ished a sharp knife in close proximity
to the young mans heart. A vigor-
GUS outcry from Charlie brought the
police to the rescue, but the would
be assassin was gone. The police
warned Charlie TO be on his guard,
especially in certain streets. and then
he called q cab, and was driven back
to the st. Charles, his mind full of
conflicting emotions.
Another thing troubled him beyond
words. In all the time he had been
in New Orleans, he had not received
one letter from Louise, not a line. nor
the expected kodssit pictufe-nothihg.
Late one night Charlie Miller was
awakened to find some one in his
room. A tall figure with q masked
face was bending over his open trunk,
hastily turning over its contents.
With stiflsd cry Charlie sprang up
in bed; but the thief dashed wildly
past him, and was out Of the room in
m instant. No traces were found OF
the thief, and upon investigation,
Charlie discovered to his surprise, tina t.
none of his valuables were missing;
nothing but package of kodak pic
lures, which were yet to be developed.
Saturday night, the twenty eighth
Of April. came, and Charlie invited his
friend Dalton to accompany him to
the St Charles theater. The play
was unsatisfactory, and between the
second and third acts Dalton excused
himself for few moments, and left
the theater. He went straight to tho
st. Charles hotel, and going to tho
office, inquired for mail for Charles F.
Miller, and received letter and a
small package. At sight of the pack
age, his face grew dark.
"That accursed kodak picture has
come at last" he muttered. 's"And
now Miller will recognize me; for I
have never disguised myself, trusting
to do my work and get away before it
was too late. In vain have tried to
put him out Of the way. He is ever
on the alert, and though he DOES not
suspect me, he Ia on the lookout for
his hidden foe. Tonight is to see the
end. have arranged all. We are to
drink in Millers room after the thea
ter; his drink will be 'doctored.' and
he will not live an hour. No ona will
suspect me, as I have an excellent
disguise in readiness, and will ship on
board a certain little craft, which
will be far away from here before
morning"
These murderous thoughts were
rushing through his mind the hofri.
Bile purpose to remove his rival for
ever from his path, that he might win
the girl who would-did he but know
it-never be coerced into marriage,
when hasty footsteps fell upon his
ears, and turning swiftly. he saw be-
fore him-Charlie Miller.
Burton Dalton dropped the stolen
mail upon q table, and stood glaring
wildly at the unexpected apparition
of Miller upon the scene. But Char
lies quick eyes had caught sight. OF
his own name upon the package, and,
with swift bound, he possessed him.
self of it, and tore it hastily open. A
small package OF kodak pictures.
which Louise had neatly developed,
and the one on top was the picture OF
Davenport Day.
A cry of surprise fell upon the sill
ence, and, turning, Charlie Miller be-
held Louise Stewart in company with
her father. With outstretched hands,
she rushed to his side.
"Oh! Charliel Charliev she cried.
"I have never had a letter from you
since you left me at Hot Springs. and
was SO sure that you were i'll, per-
.suaded papa to come on herel know
now who intercepted our letters;
have found him out, it is that horrible
Davenport Day-and, why! Charlie
there he IL nowl' And her indignant
eyes rested upon Burton Dalton's
wrathful face, who saw that his game
was up.
All at once the cry Of "fre" arose
upon the night The st. Charles
hoUC1 "uo WLoPPOo ia hohCo ALL"
dome to basement. It had broken
out so suddenly, and must have been
burning SO long, that there was no
hope.
In the midst of it all. the horrible
confiagration, the shrieks and groans,
md mad excitement Davenport Day
beheld his rival holding Louise close
to his heart, making mad haste
through the horrors of the scene out
to safety. With wild execration,
the villain turned swiftly, and
plunged into the flames. 1t is not
known whether he meant to sacrifice
his own life, or whether, bewildered
by the discovery of his attempted
crimes, and maddened by the awful
scenes around. he lost control over
his own actions. but it is certain that
he perished In the burning building,
and was seen no more.
Over his bad past Louise and her
lover, now happily united-for her
father no longer opposed the mar
riage-have agreed to drop tho veil
of forgeffulncss. They are happy,
and SO we will leave them.
Doctor, Are Hard Up.