Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-09-14

dramatic company.
"Halloa," old boy!" cried Bruce,
who was genial fellow. "I'm glad
to see you. l want to introduce to
you an acquaintance of mine, who
has just arrived and is doing the
Crescent City. You and he ought to
know each other!"
Very wellr' returned Charlie Mil
Ter. So, little later, the introduc-
ton was accomplished, and Miller
found himself in company with tall,
dark man, who answered to the name
of Burton Dalton. He was eXtre mely
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
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 flour
ished sharp knife in close proximity
to the young mans heart. A vigor-
Gus cutlery 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 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 kodak picture-nothing
Late one night Charlie Miller was
awakened to find some one in his
room. A tall figure with masked
face was bending over his open trunk,
hastily turning over its contents.
With stifled cry Charlie sprang up
in bed; but the thief dashed wildly
past him, and was out of the room in
an instant. No traces were found of
the thief, and upon investigation,
Charlie discovered to his surprise, that
none Of his valuables were missing;
nothing but n 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 a few moments, and left
the theater lie went straight to the
st. Charles hotel, and going TO the
office, inquired for mail for Charles f.
Miller, and received a letter and n
small package. At sight of the pack
age, his face grew dark.
THAT accursed kodak picture has
come at lastw he muttered. and
now Miller will recognize me; for
have never disguised myself, trusting
to do my work and get away before it
was too late. In vain have l tried TO
put him out of the way. He is ever
on the alert, and though he does not
suspect me, he is on the lookout for
his hidden foe. Tonight is to see the
end. l have arranged all. We are to
drink in Miller's room after the thea
ter: his drink will be 'doctored,' and
he will not live an hour No one will
suspect me, as | have an excellent
disguise in readiness, and will ship on
board u certain little craft, which
will be far away from here before
morning.
These murderous thoughts were
rushing through his mind-the horri-
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 a table, and stood glazing
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 a 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.
ooh. Charlie! Charlie" she crieo
II have never had 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 here! know
now who intercepted our letters: /
/ have found him out; it is that horrible
Davenport Day-and, why! Charlie
! there he Is nowm And her indignant
eyes rested upon Burton Dalton's
wrathful face, who saw that his game
was up.
All at once the cry of "fire" arose
upon the night. The ST. Charles
hotel was wrapped in flames from
dome to basement. 1t had broken
out so suddenly, and must have been
burning so long, that there was no