Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29

NV
woman?-'
az do know all; all that you could tell me.
The woman of whom you speak is my honored,
we'll beloved wife. Your falsity, your crime IN
the full depth of it's wickedness is known to me,
I am not here to discuss your Infamous past.
"Iast week. calling me friend, you dared in my
absence to violate the sanctity or my nome Win
your presence; to pollute the ears OF my wlIe
by a. renewal of your protestations of love- with
all it implied.
"'That moment the earth became too narrow for
you and me to walk together upon it. For this
offense, there can be but one reparation have
challenged you to mortal combat, and you nave
refused. l have sought you in the public streets
to force challenge from you, and you skulked
away This time you cannot escape me. am
here to avenge my aoifes honor aohich is my oaon
ITO all of this he listened with pallid face.
uttering not one word of denial or defense.
"'Have you come to murder me? ne asked.
"T have with me arms for BOTH we Will go
outside lest we alarm your wife. There is no
need to disturb her with this revelation of your
wckedness'
"We went outside. By this time the snow had
ceased to fall and through the rifted clouds the
stars were shining upon u.s. Presenting Dotn the
pistols and the knives, l said
'sTake your choice of weapons; either OF them
is certain death for one or both. If both fall
then we will die assured that the secret of your
iffamy and my wifes cruel wrong, Will ole WIFI
u.s. If | fall, there will be reasonable certainty
that you will not publish your own dlsnonor: IL
7 survive you know your guilty secret will be
safe
"He fell upon his knees paralyzed 1T seemed
with fear and begged me to spare his life"
Darrall paused few moments In MS reclIai'
overcome by the recollection.
"spare me my friends the details of that scene,
for it hurts me to the quick to remember tnae
killed man. No matter that wrestled WIN
him for my life; but for Marguerite, woulu
sooner have died myself
"There was the click of pistol, flash OF
knife in the starlight; the sound of body railing
heavily to the ground. That was ALL
"Marguerite soas avenged"
'Well done!" calculated the Judge taking
Darralrs hand in his.
"I only wish it could have happened in the
sight of all men," said Sothern
"That was my choice; but feeling as did that
nv own life depended upon the manner in which
it came about | determined upon this midnight
encounter in order to force an equal conflict upon
him."
(which he did not deserve" answered the
Judge "Now let us have the minutest details OF
what followed
"Only stopping moment to secure the
weapons 1 took my way across the open lots to
the Kentucky river, where | hurled the knives
far out in midstream. Then walking In the
shallow waters edge until reached point mid
way to the inn, l stopped, and removing my
top coat lest it should bear some marks OF the
encounter, l rolled it up weighted with my heavy
overshoes and stones, and threw 1T far out In
the stream, knowing there were no marks upon
it whereby it might be identified.
"I then took my way carefully toward the
hotel shutting the snow with my feet as
walked Choosing the middle of the street where
all tracks would be obliterated by the early
morning traffic. l reached my destination
where entrance easy, the door still unlocked
as l had left it, the halls all dark and no one
aStir.
"Once in my room, exhausted from the want
of sleep for many nights excitement, and the
nervous strain, I retired to my bed and slept so
soundly that did not waken until the noon
hour when found the town all astir over the,