Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-07-05

I sarcastically asked Melbrain if he felt
inclined to double again.
Yes he shouted, pale with pas
sion. rFifty-a hundred, if you ike!
Zone hundred pounds, l said, TAX
ing out my check book.
at was my turn TO play. tried lot
a cannon, but missed. Malbrain seized
his cue, trembling like the proverolai
aspen leaf. He went to pocket the red'
but he missed the bali entirely, giving
a point to me. OF course, won by the
next stroke.
THE stake holder handed the ECO TO
me. amidst the applause OF the men
standing around-for Malbrain was not
liked. and my victory was popular. Then
the party broke up, but Masbrain waited
for me on the stairs His face was livid
with passion.
"I hope you are satisfied" he SAID
hoarsely.
81 am sorry, replied, eff the stakes
were too high; but later on you may
have your revenge
"'Revenger he shouted losing his
SeH-control. I'll have my revenge!
Well lay again. and you'll find the
stakes still higher-too high for you?
Il had good reason to remember these
words when l awoke one night, to find
Malbrain in my room, dressed in his
fantastic costume of Mephistopheles.
Come he said, 'one of us must die
Tonight. Through you lost the girl
who would have been my wife. My
money, too! But come to the billiard
room; We'll play tonight. Did you not
promise me my revenge? And the
stakes? You'will find them high
enough! Come! we will play for our
lives, you and j. Ha, ha! one Of us shall
die tonight
81 knew as I sprang from my bed that
the man was mad! We grappeled to-
gether, the candle fell from his hand,
and we struggled in darkness. Down
we went on the floor, and l felt the
cold steel of a revolver, which exploded,
and sharp pain came in my arm.
Then l heard doris opening and voices,
so | held on until some of the fellows
came in with lights. Mephistopheles
was carried off to his own room, raving
and struggling The slight wound in
my arm was dressed by the doctor con-
nected with the establishment, who al
so took the unfortunate lunatic under
his care.
Later on Malbrain was sent to
private asylum. The doctors opinion
twas that brain lesion had threatened
the poor fellow for some time. Wheth"
er he had escaped from the asylum
when he met you, or had. been discharg-
ed as cured, one cannot say. However,
my story" concluded Carstairs," has
solved the mystery of your unfortunate
encounter with the wretched man."
yes" I said, muslng on the strange
accident l had heard. But l wonder
why he charged you with numbering
Miss Carstairs? Ard he also repeated
the accusation in the paper | found. l
suppose it was some wild idea he had
got ho,d OF in his mad jealousy OF you.
Eyes" said Carstairs. You see, he
thought we were rivals, and knew j was
the cause of Rays disappearance"
Then there is another thing that
puzzled me- Why did the mailman
brand my leg with the word 'Rache"
ut is German for revenge" said Car
stairs.
Eyes, but Malbrain was not Ger
man, so why should he use that IAN
guage?"
Cant say. suppose the marks have
entirely gone by this time?"
Eyes: but the police had them photo
graphed, and,I think have one of the
photos in my portmanteau.
found the card and handed it TO Car
stairs.
1T is funny" he said. laughing, Ito
notice how beautifully the printing is
done-all except the full stop, which is
a bit too highup. BY jove! it must have
been painful, though"
81 never felt it at the time was in
a faint, suppose"
"Ah, have it," cried Carstairs. That
full stop explains it. OF course, the
Iword he meant to trace was Rachel
only fol-, some reason he didn't finish the
81 Hal ha! ha! How Ray will laugh
at you when she hears of you being tat
tooed with her name"
SO my last thought that night was Of
charming Ray Carstairs. And how
could it be otherwise?-hern name on my
body, her image in my soul, and her
kiss on my lips? AS for the kiss. | felt
Icould not honorably keep what was
not intended for me. But I was soon
able to return it, for ere another month
had passed Ray Carstairs promised to
be my wife.-Boston Standard.