The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-10

he hastily looked Mt his watch-it
was midnightl-and turned to take
leave of tho lady. She was gone. He
found no conveyance waiting nor any
within reach. "I suppose the fellow
got tired Of waiting aud 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 i'll great conmotion, gathered
around cabriolet, the driver of which
was off his box, wringing his hands
and muttering lamentations after the
manner of II Frcnchmun when under
great excitement
Lying i'll tho roadway, looking ghast-
~ in the Pickering light cast by the
carriage lamps, was tho body of young
Englishman. A thrill of horror pcrvad-
ed tho captain rs he realized that he
was face to face with murder and rs he
advanced he caught the eye of the I'M
happy driver Of the cabriolet.
"Mon Dicu" said the latter in a 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 ho entered into voluble
explanation. He had kept to monsicur's
instructions and had brought his cabrio-
let to tho Casino few minutes before
the time fixed upon. AT 11:45 young
Englishman had rushed out of the Ca
sino and entered his vehicle, bidding
him drive rapidly to the Hotel DIES
strangers
They had not driven far up the street
(Which at this time of night was very
deserted) before his cabriolet was VIC
lently pulled by man scizing the
horses head. AT tho same moment an
other had entered the carriage, and n
violent struggle had taken place between
the latter and the occupant. The whole
terrible affair had occupied but a few
moments, and the driver had not recov-
cred from his confusion and stupefac-
ton before the men had decamped. He
had scarcely time to observe them but
his short glance had convinced him that
they We're Italians.
AT this point Il light burst in upon
the captains mind Clearly the assas
sins were his Two fellow travellers, the
Italians from Monaco
Hastily relating what no knew TO the
gendarmcs, he set out quickly for the
hotel. Arrived there, he easily obtained
n cab and conveyed himself and port
manteau TO the station. Fortunately
the train was still there and he was in
time to regain his seat AS he sank back
wearily against tho cushions ho said to
himself.
THAT mysterious red domino has
saved my life. Who knows what might
have happened had left, us 1 intended.
ut IL, or, worse still, if, had not her
beautiful eyes detained me, l had kept
to the appointed hour of the departures"
AS he nearcd London, late in the even
ing, sad foreboding oppressed him,
and i'll spite of himself he expected the
worst
Mrs. Dacrc, tho mother Of his fiancec,
met him OH tho threshold of her house
In m Instant he knew tho truth from
her face.
Ethel was dead! "Sho died." said
the weeping mother cat about II
O'Clock last night.
AT 11!' said the captain absently.
Ho was SO stunned by the shock of the
evil news that his mind seemed to ram
bic. cat III Why, at II o'clock last
night 1 was dancing with-with the
red domino!" Then, like a sudden in
SEPARATION, the truth flashed across his
fcvcrcd brain. Great God!" he said,
"thc red domino and Ethel were one
and the same and it was Ethel alone
who saved my lifep' and he reoled to
the floor i'll fainting fit
Whether the reader accept this view
OF not, the coincidence is at least re-
markablc one. Arthur V. Thompson in
London Cream