Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-05


seemed to him, like pleasing dream.
He forgot all about his journey, the
hour Of his departure and his order to
the cabman-forgot everything, in
fact, even Ethel, while under the spell
that the eyes of his companion seemed
to have weaved about him.
He was suddenly recalled to himself
by the Ginning Of the great clock of
the Casino as he was leading his part
ner to hen seat at the end of an enjoya-
BILE waltz.
He hastily looked at his watch--it
was midnightl-and turned to take
leave of the lady. She was gone. He
found no conveyance waiting nor any
within reach. 81 suppose the fellow
got tired of waiting and left, he
thought as 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 wac
arrested by confused crowd Of people,
apparently in great commotion, gathered
around cabriolet, the driver Of which
was off his box, wringing his hands
and muttering lamentations after the
manner of q Frenchman when under
great excitement.
Lying in the roadway, looking ghast-
~ in the Pickering light cast by the
carriage lamps, was the body Of young
Englishman. A thrill Of horror pervad-
ed the captain as he 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 I had made certain that
the unfortunate man at our feet was
none other than monsieur himself"
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
tho 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 vio-
lently pulled by man Selling the
horses head. At the same moment an
other had entered the carriage, and
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-
ton 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
gendarmes, 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
time to regain his seat. As he sank back
YEARLY against the cushions he said to
himself.
"That mysterious red domino has
saved my life. Who knows what might
have happened had left, as intended,
at II, or, worse still, if, had not her
beautiful eyes detained me, had kept
to the appointed hour Of the departure?"
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 the threshold of her house.
In an instant he knew the truth from
her face.
Ethel was dead! "She died." said
the weeping mother, sat about II
o'clock last night"
Sat lip said the captain absently.
He was so stunned by the shock Of the
evil news that his mind seemed to ram
BILE. cat III Why, at II o'clock last
night I was dancing with-with the
red domino!' Then, like sudden in
SEPARATION, the truth flashed across his
fevered brain. "Great Godv' he said,
"the red domino and Ethel were one
and the same, and it was Ethel alone
who saved my life!' and he reeled to
I the floor in fainting fit.
Whether the reader accept this view
or not, the coincidence is at least re-
markable one. arthur V. Thompson in
London Cream.