Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-14

something Deh1n0 the woman 8 head.
Hush" he said, as she repeated her
last question.
Maria believed him mad and sat
watching his expression for some clew
to his purpose some warning of i'm
pending danger. Surely his worn brain
was graphing with some wild fancy.
Slowly he arose, and, passing behind
Maria, who kept her eyes upon him con.
stantly. turning her head that she might
watch his slightest move, he took some
thing FROM the shelf that held the lamp.
AS he returned to the table Maria
watched him with the fascination of
fear. Stopping, he drew the wine jug
from beneath the table and poured out
two glasses of the drink. Then he drew
from his pocket that which he lad taken
from the shelf 1t was Il small, square
vial with poison" printed in large,
black letters Oh the label. Maria knew
it too we'll 1t was strychnine, used to
exterminate coyotes. Into one of the
glasses of wine he poured 4 portion OF
the deadly mixture.
Maria" he said, 1--WE changed my
mind. l amt a-Goin ter waste no lead
on that coyote. I'm a-soin ter pizen
him, Or, rather, you be"
He went close to the covering woman
and Whispered in her ear. At his words
her eyes grew big with horror, her face
blanchcd and the sweat gathered Oh her
forehead. She slipped to the floor in III,
agony of terror and groveled there, her
arms about his knees.
mo, no"' she shrieked. mot that
not that. Jesu! cannot do it. Oh,
spare me, spare me, esposo mic, and dc
not force that crime upon my SOUL
He shook her off roughly. "Listenr'
he said, between set teeth. at shall be
done. You have killed my love, an
now, by God, you shall kill jose You
are good at lyin; lie ter him. Make
friends with him. Make him drink. No
tricks! I'll hold the drop on you from the
bedroom, an eff you try ter warn him, or
ef you fail. I'll shoot. I've given YOU a
chance to git out Of this alive. Take it
or leave it.
When Jose came home he found Maria
telling her beads beside the kitchen
stove. As he entered she rose with
feverish haste and repeated, like a les
son, the words she had to say.
'Jose," she said, ''let US be friends.
You are right; there is 10 safety for us
if my husband comes. Better for us that
he die in the hills than set foot within
this house. Let us drive him from our
thoughts, jose, and-and drink Her
voice died away in a shuddering whis-
per, and she sank into a chair
what ails thee, Maria:" asked Jose,
who, though drunk, could not fail to
notice the horror on her face.
The bedroom door creaked warningly.
1t is nothing, said Maria, with an
effort. Il was thinking Of him. After
all, he is my husband. But it is over
now, and ! am better. Let us drink to
peaceful future. Jose, here-and here
after" She pushed the glass toward
him and raised her own, splitting a lit
tie on the table and on her dress.
Jose seized his with 4 laugh. Long
life to wise men; death to foolsr' be
cried and tossed it Off at draft.
''Carramba! Thy wine is something
bitter. l must look to the barrel. Come,
let us be happy. 1 will sing TO thee.
Maria," and taking his guitar from the
corner he sat down upon the table and
sang. His back was toward the bedroom
door, and over his shoulder Maria could
see pale face pcering from the gloom.
The tension was frightful, the contrast
between the mans impending fate and
the lightness of his mood appalling.
Jose sang well and with spirit. Jack
son, glowering upon him from the bed
room. fingered his rife nervously and
prepared to shoot. Jose put forth All
arm TO draw Maria to him. The guitar
fell with crash, and his whole frame
became colvulsed. He swung partly
around and clutched the table with a
grip of iron. Jackson, could see his TEA.
lures how. God, what Il look Every
muscle of his face seemed drawn to the
point of breaking, his eyes protruded
and their fixed and CLASSY glare seemed
bent on him. 1t was too much. A wave
of pity swept over the heart Of the
avenging husband, his ri fle cracked, and
the sutferings of Jose Ruiz were at AL
end
As the shot rang out in the silence of
the night Ma,ia's overwrought nerves
gave way, and she fell fainting to the
floor. jackson, coming out of the dark
ness of his room, paused Il moment &c
lock upon the living and the dead, then
strobe ont into the night. -San Fran.
cisco Argonaut.