Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-03-27
WHEN VIRTUE LOST.
AsToRY TO PROVE THAT RIGHT DOES
NOT ALWAYS COME UPPERMOST.

In Southern Town-The Fatal Work
The End of a Foolish Girl.
A star reporter was one Of group in
Il hotel lobby the other evening and
New York drummer had just finished
story on the old line Of virtue triumph
ing and the villain of the plot getting
his just dues thu side of the hot place,
when Kentucky congressman took the
floor
That sort Of thing" he said, sis
we'll enough IN books and on the stage
and l am willing TO agree that il hap
pens IN actual life, but not always. Let
me cite an instance to the contrary"
There being no objection 20 the eta
ton, the Kentuck an, after casting his
eye over the company, proceeded:
Years ago, in a southern town, " he
said, there lived pretty girl with
lot Of money! combination no man can
deny the power of-and She had sweet
hearts galore, but two of her devotees,
one quite a reputable man and the other
quite as disreputable, and after her more
for her money than herself led all the
rest, and both of them were nervy men
and quick on the trigger Any sensible
person would have thought that the girl
would have decided very early as be
tween the good and the bad, but every
one knows that women don't do that
way III matters of the heart
II Will say for her, though, that her
preferences were for the decent man and
he stood the best chance Of winning
among all Of the contestants. His dis
reputable rival, however, received more
or less encouragement and he was max
ing a hot tight-SO hot. in fact, that ON
one or two occasions the men had come
to blows and once, at least, pistols had
been drawn. The girl was foolish, as
other women have been under like cir
cumstances, and rather enjoyed the po-
sitIun she occupied and felt fattered by
the dangerous rivalry for her hand and
heart. one day, though, it eliminated
trag ically, and the girl didn' regret it,
that anybody ever heard her mention. 1t
was IN the afternoon and "A pleasant day
and the two rivals met unexpectedly,
just across the street from her house,
and each on his way to call on her
The girl lived on corner and they
were approaching from different streets
and almost buttod into each other at the
crossing That was hardly the place 10
have il out, but they were hot blooded
and young and on the instant two men
jumped back from each other few feet,
two pistols few from two hip pockets,
two sharp reports rang out upon the
air, and one man fell 10 the sidewalk,
dead And it wasn't the bad man,
either. On the contrary, ii was the repu-
table one, and there was bullet hole
straight through his forehead. The bad
man : shot had preceded the other just
enough, and the decent man : pistol
went off as he threw up his hands. Five
minutes later the whole street was III an
uprOar, and the bad man was in custody.
The other man was carried over 10 the
girls house, for il was not known then
that he was dead, and physician was
called. Half an hour later the dead body
was removed TO an undertaker's, and
that part of the tragedy was over.
During all the excitement the girl
had not made her appearance, and as
soon as the air quieted little search
was made for her. because 1t was known
that she had been in the house shortly
before tho shooting. Her mother Went
directly 10 her room, and When she
opened the door, she saw her daughter
sitting at the window, or rather leaning
upon n flower shelf on the window sill,
and her first thought was that the girl
bad seen the shooting and had tainted.
She ran to her and lifted her up and as
she did So she found her face bloody and
the girls body almost stiff She ran,
screaming, out, and when the doctor
came he found dead girl with bullet
hole in her head.
Further examination showed hole
in the glass Of The window, and the
whole story was told. The girl had been
sitting there, and had no doubt seen the
meeting Of the two men. aud the bullet
from the killed man 5 pistol had reached
her there and ended her life at the same
time the life of the man She would have
married went out. OF course il was self
defense in the case Of the man who
escaped his rivals bullet, and it was
the rivals bullet which killed the girl,
and the rival was beyond any earthly
jurisdiction. The affair ended there,
with nothing good IN triumph, except a
public sentiment which compelled the
killer TO stay away from the town fer
five or six years.
"Didn I he even meet violent death
or something like that inquired the
drummer thirstinR for some trace q
the usual in the tale.
No, replied the Hentuckian, mot
even that. His uncle died and left him
fine farm, and he found very nice
girl who was willing To marry HIM. ,
The drummer sighed and didn' offer
to cap the Keutuckiau : story with &
better one. Washington star.
Better Woyk Every Day.
l., trf 20, I -.