San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-14

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Of my extremity.
But wherefore? She could do no more
for me than was being done by my
faithful attendants. My wife has long
urged me to give up my perilous voca-
ton for some pursuit of less danger. II
l should tell her all, as would be
obliged to do, she would allow me no
rest until the change was made. was
not ready to make it and doubt whether
it ever will be made.
If the time should come when be-
lieved death impended, / could sum-
mon her in few hours l would wait
until the necessity arose, which, thank
heaven, never came
1t was a q source of never ending an
noyance to me that when ON the verge
of solving the mystery of the great ruby
the door was closed in my face. Had l
been able to master myself when totter-
ing across the floor until the window
was raised / believe Mrs. Howard would
have impaired the momentous secret.
But my collapse robbed me forever of
that chance.
My strength steadily increased until
the morning came, when carefully rose
from the bed and found I could stand on
my feet and don my clothing. was
still weak, but was making good prog
ress.
Through the open door of my room !
could see the one leading to that apart
ment which had proved SO we'll nigh IA
tai to me. The conviction had long been
with me that if / entered that once
more / would find something to help
me in my cropping for light.
So, when all was quiet down stairs
and no one could know I was astir, l
walked uncertainty across the hall,
turned the knob and stepped across the
threshold.
As did SO l caught that same odor
faint, almost imperceptible to ordi-
nary senses, but in my delicate condi-
ton it almost overcame me again. 1t
was so abhorrent, so noxious, so hate
full, that had l not instantly stepped
back and closed the door must have
succumbed as before. My system so re-
volted that suspicion even of its exist
enoe near me would overpower my
senses.
keep your secretr' l exclaimed,
fastening back to my own room, where
I threw myself on the bed until l could
rally. "It shall remain secret forever
if it can be solved only through that
horrible faint"
now began to figure when l could
leave my friends. The weather, which
had been sunshiny and pleasant, became
cold, rainy and dismal. 1t lasted three
days before the skies cleared and the
sun showed itself. Then / tod them
that / was going home.
They urged me to stay until my
strength was fully restored, but I as
sured them that such was the fact now,
and / would only be wasting precious
time, of which too much had already
been squandered.
To test myself, walked in from the
country, instead of allowing Mr.. Bridges
to bring me in his carriage One of the
strangest things about my experience
with that dreadful drug was that when
I reached the station l could not per-
ceive the slightest effects from it. Twas
as strong, as robust, as powerful and
active as ever in all my life.
Duty called me to New York, and /
went thither without delay. Twas sorry
to learn afterward that my good wife
had begun to feel anxious about me;
but, not suspecting anything of the kind,
l devoted little time to work before
going home.
At the Astor House / learned that
Mr.. and Mrs Howard had staid there
ON the night they came in from New
Jersey. They left the following day to
sail for England. A little inquiry
brought me the cabman, an honest,
straightforward fellow, who had taken
their luggage to the pier, and he assured
me that he saw them on the upper deck
of the Campana when she swung out
into the stream.
The fact that they had sailed on this
ocean greyhound some two weeks before
proved that they were we'll over toward
the other side of the world and probably
touring on the continent or well on their
way to India.
"They have taken with them their
secret, ;" REFLECTED, "a secret which has
baffied me and every one that had any
thing to do with it."
/ started to go down to Maiden lane,
but the afternoon was so far along that
was apprehensive of not finding Mr..
Brown, so deferred my call until the
morrow.
On my way up town dropped in at
the Windsor, but learned that Mr.. Sand
husen had joined his family at their city
residence Then / decided that the best
thing to do was to go to my home, and
to that sweet, honest little wife who
persisted in welcoming me as though
were one risen from the dead. Had she
known the whole truth her feeling per-
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