Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-06-28

The marquis glanced again at the
card which he held, and read:
Maurice Stanton Livermore:
Give me a private interview imme-
diately"
Lead me to the gentlemen" he said,
quietly, though there was tumult in
ais heart
AS he reached the door of the bijou
oarlor he saw man pacing restlessly
TO and fro, much as Gagged tigers arc
wont to exercise.
1t was Captain Livermore, but his
friends would have been shocked at his
appearance. for his hair was sadly lack
ing in order, his face flushed, as though
he dallied long over the wine, and his
whole aspect like that of man who
has been on a spree.
The marquis was disturbed; he an
ticipated bad news, but had not glim-
mer of what shape it would take until
the captain, seeing him enter, advanced
to meet him.
Captain Livermore, what can l do
for your" the marquis asked, coldly.
"Sir, l have come for my wife,
The marquis started as If some ono
had fired a pistol shot close to his ear
Even the most collected individual
might be a trifie ratified by such an
answer. Still this did not prevent him,
while he was whipping his wits into
line. from excaliming:
Pardon me, sir, but fail to exactly
comprehend the meaning of what you
say"
Then l will explain further. My
first intention was to shoot you down
on sight, but l could not forget that
once you refused to avail yourself of
the privilege of taking my forfeited
life, and l swore that the man who had
been that generous should have at least
a chance to defend himself before /
killed him.
Still 1 am in the dark The first
thing grasp is that she has told you
who am
Il was a blind fool never to have
suspected it. You ruined me, marquis
but surely that should have satisfied
your desire for revenge. All that had
might go and welcome. SO long as l
still call my wife and babies mine
Again l say, have come to you to de-
mand my wife"
And l reply, sir, that l have not
seen your wife since last evening, when
left her in your own house, together
with her children"
Eye looked into eye. 1t was as though
:he captains whole existence depended
upon what he read there, his manner
that of a distracted man holding his
passions in check only through the
most desperate effort.
Jack Overton, do you swear to
that?" he demanded, hoarsely.
81 do, on my life"
Again the captain met his gaze and
seemed to read his very soul through
those open windows.
After all, these were two men built
pretty much upon the same model
both brave and frank by nature-such
individuals can understand each other
through the mysterious realm of tele-
pathy.
81 cannot believe that the man whose
generous spirit caused him to fire above
my head on the other occasion would
look me squarely in the eye and speak
falsely. Yes. even against my will, /
an compelled to believe you, and /
prove it by offering you my hand, mar
quis; but if you are not guilty, then, in
:he name of heaven, who has taken my
wife away?" 1 left home after dinner
TO meet a very important engagement
that had connection with my future
eft there with the kisses of wife and
children warm upon my face, for Fe-
dora had told me all, and her distress
concerning your possible future action
had drawn us closer together. l re-
turned later in the evening, just as
speedily as a cab could bring me from
the Victoria, to find her gone and my
little darlings motherless. This note
was left behind"
He handed the other a crumpled
sheet of paper, upon which had been
written in a peculiar chirography,
long, running hand, such as is taught
,n Spanish schools:
ITO balance accounts.
"Guerre a mort"
When he looked up his face was ash
On gray.
Those eager. bloodshot eyes saw that
the miserable and tragic little paper,
worthy of a place on the comedy stage,
had struck home.
Nv, loua 1,,o.eadtsi ~