Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-10-08
A LUCKY RUSE.

cry flush was growing upon his forehead,
while his usually calm eyes were lurid and
bloodshot.
Let us go home, - he said hurriedly.
LET US go home at once, Arthur" And as
he spoke he arose from his seat. Seeing
| that he was in no mood to bear question
ing, followed him in silence, and in a
| few minutes afterward we were in our
cab, being driven rapidly toward the Astor
House.
I 1t required but few words to explain the
| cause of his sudden emotion.
She was in the house" he said, Gin
the parquet seats, with Delayau beside
her. -
The pronoun represented the woman
who had once been his wife and whom he
had not seen since the period Of their di-
vorce, some three years prior to the time
of our sketch. During that three years !,
his partner in business and companion in
pleasure, had never heard him refer in the
most remote manner to her who had once
been SO dear to him, but had not accept
ed this silence as proof that he had forgot
ten her, for knew that Earl Hannathon
naughty, reserved and controlling the
fery impulses of his creole blood with an
iron will-was not the man to dwell upon
the great sorrow of his life even to me,
who had reason to believe myself his most
confidential friend.
had been his groomsman on the occa-
sion of his i'll fated marriage Never did
wedding bells chime for q nobler BRIDE
groom, lovelier bride. He was tall and
dark, like young Spanish hidalgo, and
she, small and exquisitely beautiful-a
peerless English girl, with face that
came nearer to my conception of an an
gels than anything which had ever be-
fore seen in nature.
1t Is not my intention to dwell upon the
painful and disgraceful details preceding
and attending the enforcement, which took
place In less than four years after the mar
riage. Suffice it to say that in Martin
Delavau, an old and trusted friend, Earl
Hannathon found the destroyer of his
honor and happiness.
duel took place between them. Earl
escaped unhurt, but Delavau received |
wound which was thought at the first to
pe mortal He recovered, however, and |
In short time after the granting of the
divorce took himself off to parts unknown,
accompanied by the partner of his infamy.
When informed of this fight, Earl was |
heard to say:
II should have shot him down without |
mercy and thus have saved her from fur
ther sin. Well, well, he has escaped me |
once Let him ever again cross my path, |
and l will write myself murderer in his |
blood''
These words recurred to me as wit |
messed the smothered yet terrible wrath |
with which he spoke of his wife's and Del. !
avau's presence in the theater. I forebod-
ed evil, and ere went to rest that night
my mind was fully made up to rise early
upon the following morning, seek Delavau I
and warn him to leave the city. This / |
should do-not from any kindly considera-
tion toward the villain or his paramour,
but to save my friend from the commits
sion of crime.
Until the clock struck 10 Hannathon
walked the floor of our room never once
looking toward me, but talking aloud in
one long, passionate strain, uttering words j.
like these:
God bear witness-haw'f loved that vo-
nan W, sERs sinned against me foully--
DSlteHS my pride down to the mire of
shame and trampled my heart beneath her
eet. set her up as an idol in my heart,
placing her before my future and my God.
She was the sunlight of my life and all
Use was dark to me- was drunken with
Ter beauty and mad with her love-"
Thus he talked on until midnight, when
succeeded in persuading him to seek his :
ouch. At l O'Clock he had fallen into q
roubled slumber, and my last remem- 1
france as I, too, fell asleep was that of q
rearing him muttering his dishonored :
vifes name, coupled fieroely with that of
lis false friend.
He had made no threats respecting Del ]
vau, but felt assured that he would do 2
im harm, and SO my aforesaid resolution =
vas carried into effect upon the ensuing
morning.
found Delavau, as l had anticipated, =
Informed him of his danger in few brief,
utting words, and advised him to leave
s speedily as possible, which he assured :
ne, with an attempt at thanks, that he
7ould do at once.
An unforeseen circumstance delayed my O
eturn to the Astor until il O'Clock. / Sc
ad left 1t at 6. I found that Earl had
lst risen and was making hasty toilet.
His revolver lay upon the bureau, III
ook it in my hands. I
ut is loaded, he said, with strange y
mile. l.
"When did you load itp" asked.
A few minutes ago." IA
did not ask for whom he had intended 81
g contents. knew that full we'll. p
earl, /" said I, looking him steadily in "'
he eyes, you may be angry with me now, =
ut at some future day you will thank me T.
1r what have DONE I have seen Della.
an and warned him. He is by this time A.
,any miles away from New York" N
A storm of curses burst from his lips, b'
ut at 10 O'Clock he had cooled down, =
efficiently to eat his late breakfast with
'tisfaction and appetite. A
1t Is worthy of note that upon the even. -
lg of this day he was presented to the Q,
oung girl who eventually became his
life, Frightening his shadowed heart with
,e gladness of second love.
Thus my ruse had double success. -
lat of preventing murder and being in
rumental in securing Earl s lifelong hap.
ness.
His gratitude to me is boundless. His p
rstborn bears my name, and my place at u
s table Is always that of the honored n
lest =,
Nearly year ago pointed out to him de
10 notice Of his first wife's death in one
the great western cities -
His eyes grew fllmy as he muttered:
1T is better SO, better go. God have
ercy upon her soull'-New York News
Such Is Fame.
ut was In Boston some years ago." said