The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-26

b1 JASFEh BARNETT COWDlN. Copyright. 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Col ;;s < < $ < < a pretty bud; glass after. glass of cham pagne and even absinthe drained in my unselfish endeavor to keep my broth- CT from stumbling. What was my cha grin, therefore, on nearing home that night to meet Jack clinging to lamp post, in the most beastly state of intoxi. cation. And he had not touched drop! had become engaged to young lady, whose attractiveness of face and charm of manner had won for her the distinc- ton of being considered the belle of the village. At the same time, Jack. true to his antipathy began paying marked sd Sdms as- ly that even her smile had the horrible benignity Of Japanese god.
 I viewed the situation with growing alarm, and racked my brain for rem edy, but the only feasible one that sug- gested itself meant great self-denial on my part. It was long and intense bat tie. Finally, I made fool of myself and became a laughing stock among my acquaintances by going to my fiance and asking to be released from my vows, ex- plaining with much diffidence the deli- cate situation There was tender scene at parting, but she took the matter phil osophically, and l went home with calm but sad heart. considering my sac rifice a most heroic act of brotherly af- lection.
 IeiL pOSttlVe Jnat JACK WOulu HOW break the mystic spell of his cross-eyed Nensesis, which he promptly did, but the denoument was most humiliating to me, and not what I had looked for. See ing that I had tilted the lovely Miss Dyson. Jack made violent love to her himself, and was graciously accepted! That l did not, out of pique, marry the red-haired derelict on life's troubled sea, was owing to circumstances over which had. provfdentially, complete control.
 After Jacks marriage he moved out to Denver. and nothing unusual happened for time. began paying compliments to beautiful girl in my set, and the date of our marriage was finally announced. Jack was urged to come on for the we'd ding, but he had some impending mining scheme on hand and begged to be ex. cused. He sent us a telegram, received just after the ceremony, congratulating us, and added the startling information that he had just secured a divorce!
 The inevitable climax to this see-saw double existence came one morning early Tn June. I had gone to the St. Paul building, having business with an archi- tect whose office was located on the six teenth floor. Eight persons were in the elevator as we ascended. Suddenly, with out warning, the cogs supporting the car gave way and we shot downward with inconceivable rapidity. A crash, and darkness followed; but to this day have no remembrance of any pain. Four out of the eight people in the car were killed outright, the others, save myself. badly injured. I alone mlraculously escaped unhurt.
 That afternoon I received a telegram from Denver announcing my brother s sudden death. I boarded the first train for the West in order to take charge of his remains. On reaching my destination was startled when tho facts of his mysterious demise were made known to me. He had been found on the floor of his office, dead from concussion of the brain.
 It was supposed to be the work of an assassin, but no trace of the criminal could be discovered.
 had my own suspicious on that point, however, which 1 did not care to divulge. as the tragedy had occurred, as nearly as could be ascertained. at the same hour es the accident to the elevator.
 The mysterious tie that bound us to- gether in this our mortal life has been snapped asunder, but l still find myself indulging in the widest speculations as to the future. Jack was a good and true man and has doubtless reached a hap pier and more perfect sphere of exist cree. Will the magic tie hold good be- yond the grave, and will I. therefore. be doomed to utter hoUelessness?
 But enough of this. I will go and take another peep at the children, fortunate ly not twins-and then to bed and rest ful dreams.
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