Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-08-22
it is most essential he should hear it

It is most essential he should hear il
himself"
Evidently impressed by my InanHer,
the young lady left the room, and short
ly afterward returned with an elderly
gentleman, whom l lightly guessed n
be Col. Crawley himself.
"My daughter tells me that you have
something important TO communicates,
said the officer on his entry, motioning
me back to the seat from which l had
risen on his approach.
Colonel" l said, as calmly as the
seriousness of the case would allow, iii
is my duty to tell you plainly, without
nincing words, that your life is in
danger!"
"My life in danger!" echoed the Off
Ger, with a tinge of derision in his tone
Impossible! l have carried it un'
scathed through half a dozen cam
paigns. and it cannot be menaced now.
Besides" he added, with CHEEKY
laugh, "who cares for the life of worn
out soldier?"
81 can tell you of one who loes,
whispered the young lady on his arm
looking lovingly into her fathers face
Now tell me, my dear sir, what you
mean," said the old gentleman, "foI
you seem terribly in earnest"
Sir" 1 replied, Il happen to know
that a conspiracy is on foot to take
your life and that the assassins mean Il
make the attempt this very night. Fol-
some reason, of which l am quite in
ignorance, you have incurred the hatred
of a secret assassination society, and
the members of it have decreed your
doom. 1t is in order to warn you and
prevent the execution of their foul de.
signs that l have come here this after
noon"
l related the adventure which had
formed the subject of my narrative
explaining everything in its minutes
detail. AS l proceeded l noticed thu
veterans features gradually relaxing
and directly l had finished, to my in
tense chagrin, he burst into a fit OF
laughter that lasted several minutes.
Excuse my rudeness," he said Mt the
end of it, but nobody enjoys joke
more than a soldier, and this is the best
that | have heard for long time. My
dear sir" he went on, you have stun.
bled across "A monster mares nest.
"The League of the Lifeless Men Is
no more an assassination society than
the Salvation Army or any other similar
confederation. 1t is simply social or.
ganization formed for the primary OBJ
ject of playing chess, and the only peo-
pie its members are in the habit o.
Strengthening are the opponents against
whom they happen to be pitted, for
give you my word, as an inveteratc
chess player, that they are the most
skillful manipulators of the ]feless
mem have ever seen.
"They are now about to play a series
of games with kindred club to which
i have the honor TO belong, and meet.
ing is arranged for at my house this
evening at nine, when anticipate we
shall get decisive beating. Their
headquarters are at Ga Delamore street,
and the meeting at which you so ro-
mantlcally assisted was doubtless one
called to report on their last tourna.
ment.
"Now that l have explained il all to
you and you see there Is no cause for
alarm" concluded the colonel, good
humoredly, 81 must insist that you d,
me the honor of stayiI z TO dinner with
as aud smoking a cigar with me after
ward. The man who Is anxious to save
the life OF a fcllow-creature is entitled
TO know something of the person that
life belongs to-"
Stupid, however, as was the mistake
into whick l had fallen, never re-
GREETED H. for acquaintanceship with
Col. Crawley and his charming laugh
ter led 10 an engagement which ulti-
mately resulted in a happy marriage
Tit-Bits.