The record-union., 1899-04-18
WHAT HAPPENED
ON HAWKINS BEAT.

d pun Will LIE Hl6ul rWIkO ldA tAiC PSA'
tics CT that particular city.
Although young and green Hawe.ins
was not without ambition. He aspirad
to a Captaincy, and some day, If all
went well, he hoped to be made Chief.
but he was just wise enough to keep
tn. s though 20 him elf. In the ms an
time he strolled about his beat ogling
the nurse maids, and stroking with sat
isfaction his newly grown mustache.
The beat assigned him was in the
most populous part of the city, and
consisted mainly of retail stores of
greater or lesser degrees of Importance
and large and fashionable hotel.
When the route was first assigned him
Hawkins had been inclined to grumble.
Where was the chance to make thrill
ing capture when ones beat was on one
| of the principal streets, and all one had
| to do was to walk about and make
pretense of seeing that doors were lock-
| ed, or lights turned out? But when
Hawkins eye fell upon the big hotel
his spirits rose. He felt instinctively
that he would yet win distinction
through that hotel.
His steps used to linger as he passed
it, and many a covert glance did he
cast up at it's brilliantly lighted, lace
covered windows. But all was quiet
within and Hawkins hoped-for sensa-
tiOn failed to materaliZe. Hawkins was
growing discouraged. He even enter
tanned serious thoughts of asking the
Chief to put him on the white Chapep
district. Something was always sure OF
happening down there. The soul CT
Hawkins burned within him to make
an arrest. He felt that until he did that
he was only half a policeman
| One summer evening, as Hawkins.
with tagging steps was passing his IA
vorite corner, his eyes were attracted
to room on the second floor of the ho-
tel, and at the sight which met his gaze
his heart almost ceased to beat. He
looked about him sharply to see if any
one were in sight, but the street Was
deserted
The windows Of the room at which he
looked were wide open, and through the
blaze of electric lights, Hawkins could,
from where he stood on the opposite
side of the street, get a full view Of
the interior of the room, without of
course being able to hear word of the
conversation but that it was heated
and excited he could have no doubt.
A man and a woman were the actors.
They were both young and good look
ing. The woman, who wore a thin,
white dress of sc me SCI cling ng mater
| ial, cut just low enough in the neck to
give a glimpse of a snowy throat en-
circled by a string of pearls, was pac-
ing agitatedly up and down. From time
to time she wrung her hands, sparkling
with jewels, and seemed to be pleading
with the man upon whose face was fixed
an angry scowl, but as Hawkins
watched a feeling of disappointment
crept over him:
| Some newly married couple indulging
in their first row." he thought disdain-
fully to himself and was turning away
in disgust at the prosaic ending of his
longed for sensation, when his eye was
caught again by the gleam of some
| thing long and wicked looking in the
mans hand Hawkins grew uneasy.
He wished now that some one would
appear
All at once the man advanced with
quick, long strides toward the covering
woman who had retreated to the farth-
er end of the room. A wild desire to
call for help suddenly assaied Haw-
kins His whistle was in his mouth
he took it out resolutely. No; alone
| dhd 0lidiOCd save DS illS SOOu ilSlil al Ill
would he rescue beauty in distress ard
face the red-handed assassin.
Hawkins quite swelled with pride as
he thought of the commotion his first
arrest would make. He lost no time
in crossing the street and entering the
hotel. A iveried bell boy came for
ward to inquire his wants. but at sight
of his policeman's star fell back Haw-
kins up the first flight of stairs and
then stood bewildered in the hall He
was young, green and unsophisticated
and this was the first time he had ever
been ON the inside of any hotel of i'm
| portance in his life. All was quiet. To
Hawkins, in his excited frame of mind
the silence seemed absolutely death-like
| Presently it was broken upon by the
sound of loud and angry voices. Haw-
kinS followed the sound. Outside the
door he paused. His newly found cour-
age seemed to ooze from his finger tips:
his knees shook so he could scarcely
stand. With a violent effort he pulled
| himself together The voices in the
meantime had sunk to a subdued, indis-
! tinct murmur. All at once a woman
spoke. Her voice was loud and had
in 1t q note of anger and of scorn.
| 80, false and perfidious wretch, SO
you would kill me?" she said. 'Rut
you cannot do SO; for with my frail
| strength did l wrench from your hand
the weapon with which you would let
out my fresh young life and which now
lies on the pavement beneath. No! no!
Montremency Montague, not yet will
die, and ere the setting of another sun
will the witoh's prophecy be fulfilled"
Ten thousand curses on the hag,"
| cried the man. Would that L had her
here, and with my two strong hands
would I cast the foul words back into
her withered throat!'
"Ha! ha! hal" laughed the lady
mockingly. You we'll can talk, but
know that if her words ring true you
| will be-
Cease your prating, woman!" Shrek
ed the man. Hawkins, on the outside of
the door, trembled. What care I for
the base born hag's prophecy"
And yet at mention of her name'you
| tremble and grow white taunted the
of the soothsayer will yet come to pass,
for SO 'tis writ in blood"
Enough" cried the man. Il will
listen to no more. Away from my
sight, nor never let me look upon your
face again! But, hold! An idea seizes
me. You shall diei And thus will I
| hurl defiance into the very teeth of des-
tiny Ere another hour has struck from
| the watch tower your mangled body
will be lying on the cold stones below, a
prey for vultures!"
Not while I'm around" muttered