The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-03
TUESDAY
SAVED FROM MURDER

whom the grasp proceeded. saw with
surprise that dark. angry flush was
growing upon his forehead. while his
usually calm eyes were lurid and blood
shot
LET us go home" he said hurriedly.
Let us go home at once. Arthur" And
as he spoke he arose frcm his seat.
Seeing that he was I'm no mood to beai
questioning. l followed him I'm silence.
and in few minutes afterward we
were in our cab. being driven rapidly
toward the Astor House.
IL required but few words TO explain
the cause of his sudden emotion.
She was i'm the house" he said "in
the parquet seats. with Delavau beside
her"
l had been HannathOn's groomsman
on the occasion of his IN fated mar
riage. Never did wedding bells chime
for nobler bridegroom. a lovelier
bride. He was tall and dark, ike a
/ young Spanish hidalgo. and she. small
and exquisitely beautiful. a peerless
English girl. with face that came
nearer to my conception of an angels
than anything which l had ever before
seen IN nature
IL is not my intention to dwell upon
the painful and disgraceful details pre-
cedlng and attending the enforcement
which took place in less than four
years after the marriage. Suffice it TO
say that in Martin DelaVau. an old
and trusted friend, Earl Hannathon
found the destroyer of his honor and
happiness.
A duel took place between them.
Earl escaped unhurt, but Delavau re-
ceived a wound which was thought at
first TO be mortal. He recovered. how
ever and In a short time after the
granting Of the divorce took himself
or TO parts unknown, accompanied by
the partner of his infamy. When in
formed Of this flight. Earl was heard
TO say:
Il should have shot him down with
out mercy and thus have saved her
from further sin. Well. well. he has
escaped me once. Let him ever cross
my path, and l will write myself muir
derer In his blood"
These words REQUIRED TO me as l wit
messed the smothered yet terrible wrath
with which he spoke OF his wife's and
Delavau's presence in the theater. I
foreboded evil. and ere | went to rest
that night my mind was fully made up
to rise early upon the following morn.
ing, seek Delavau and warn him TO
leave the city. This l should do not
from any kindly consideration toward
the villain or his paramour. but to
save my friend from the commission of
crime.
Until the clock struck IL Hannathon
walked the floor of our room. never
once looking toward me. but talking
aloud In one long. passionate strain.
He talked on until midnight. when |
succeeded In persuading him 70 seek
his couch. At 1 O'Clock he had fallen
into troubled slumber, and my last
remembrance as l, too. fell asleep was
that OF hearing him muttering his dis
honored wife's name. coupled fiercely
with that OF his false friend
He had made no threats respecting
Delavau. but felt assured that he
would do him harm, and so my S-ore-
said resolution was carried into effect
upon the ensuing morning.
/ found Delavau, as l had anticipat-
ed, informed him OF his danger In a
few brief, cutting words and advised
him to leave as speedily as possible
which he assured me. with an attempt
at thanks, that he would do at once.
An Unforeseen circumstance DELAYED
my return to the Astor until IL O'Clock.
of ~ II Il
had Just risen and was making a hasty
toilet.
His revolver lay upon the bureau. l
took it in my hands.
1T is loaded" he said, with a strange
smile.
when did you load it?'' I asked.
"A few minutes ago"
/ did not ask for whom he had in
tended its contents. I knew that full
we'll
Earl" said l, looking him steadily
in the eyes. you may be angry with
me now. but at some future day you
will thank me for what have done
have seen Delavau and warned him.
He Is by this time many miles away
from New York
A storm or curses burst from his lips,
but at II O'Clock he had cooled down
sufficiently to eat his late breakfast
with satisfaction and appetite.
IL is worthy OF note that upon the
evening of this day he was presented
to the young girl who eventually be-
came his wife. Frightening his shadow
ed heart with the gladness of second
love.
Thus my ruse had a double success
that OF preventing a murder and being
instrumental in securing Earl's lifelong
happiness.
His gratitude to me is boundIess His
trstborn bears my name. and my place
at his table is always that of the hon
Ored guest.
Nearly a year ago | pointed out to
him the notice of his first wife's death
In one of the great western cities.
His eyes grew filmy as he muttered:
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