Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-22
CHAPTER XIV.

wards, when another servant came in TO an
nounce that dinner was served. 49,,
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ARRIVAL or COMMODORE WEST.
When the servant woke Lord Pelham Nor
ton and Ellerton watched the act from the
shadow Of tho broad piasza "Whatif he had
oyorhoardY" That was the unsurpassed
question that troubled the two. but when
thoy saw the Englishman starting up. rubbing
his eyes, and yawniug, then looking hurriedly
at his watch, they became convinced that tho
man had been actually asleep and that there
WAS no cause for their nervous alarm.
While thoy were at dinner. Judgo'Dayidson
who had come ON post haste from San Fran
cisco, put In an appearance. lie WINS not
permitted to see Ralph that night, Doctor
| Haynor who remained TO attend him, rofus-
| Ing u have him disturbed.
Early the following morning, Colonel Morton
Ind breakfast with Judge Davidson, hours
before the regular time, and the two drove
| bacl, to san Francisco Morton having rolays
Of horses at different points ulong tho route.
On tho way In, he very positively told the
udge that ho ought not TO have sent for
Commodore West and tho judge as positively
declared that Mortons dispatch, announcing
the young mans mortal wound, left him no
other course 10 pursue.
81 quite understand" no added, "why you
should not be anxious to meet tho man whose
sweetheart you captured from him years ago
but Commodore West Is a manly follow, aud
trust mo. Colonel Morton, no will bear you no
ill-will on that account"
"You think notG' coughod Morton.
"oh, am sure Of Il; indeed ho IL one Of
tho most generous souls In tho world. /
doubt II there ls living or ever lived, but one
man whom ho hates intensely and lot me say
ho has good reason for that"
II declare, Judge, you quite interest me-
snid Morton. AZ he held in tho spirited team
''who is the man, and how did he come TO
arouse the gallant commodon's lroP
"Oh. Il Is an old and q long story. Brenyit
"a this. Ralph Holmos's father married tho
commodore's sister. a beautiful girl, whom
know very well, as did him, when ! was q
boy. Holmes was well OF and was an oficor
in the Mnson's Bank. Through him a man
named Leonard Martin was employed In tho
samo institution. This follow Martin, plum
dered the hank. but In way that showed
after his flight that Holmes who though inno-
cent must have been concerned In Il. Holmes
borgared himself 20 make good tho loss,
Nolther he nor his wife long survived the
seeming disgrace. When they died. they left
I their only child. a son-thAt is Ralph Holmes
LIN hls ,lnclos care"
"But this follow Leonard Martin, what be-
came OF himy asked the colonel with quicl;
side.long glance at tho man beside him on
tho s,at.
Commodore West during the past twenty
three years has given much time and money
, 10 finding the fellow"
"Dut what can he do with him II toundY'
.rho+ abouId not lil,o to say. Ono thing
is certain however. and that Is that no has
, evidence that will bring the follow to justice
and elear the dead MN IS name. In this worl
| tba commodore thinks he "a being aided by a
man l,o has mover seen. named Albert Howard
hoiiavo the name "a a fiction and the fellow
, t-a,,al nevsrtholess Il WINS to meet him thai
, pa,nh Holmes came to this coast"
And of course. he has not succeeded"
/ .,WoI no or Won would have known Of II,
replied the Judge, adding with smile, 81 an
,ae,,,ed h tblpk tbnt since tho young mar
+, c,r,e 10 Buena vista. he has been Influenced
! Inv Low. rather than vengeance, and that Ii
admiration Of the daughter Of his uncle's OLE
h s,ro,tbeayt although he knows nothing abou
,bot he has forgotten tho man who sent biz
4 ,a,tar =, an earlv crave. However,. tho com
! ,ne s. viii aoon he here himself. and he vii
- ~, VIVA rirbt whom tried to convince