El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-29
The HeraId's Daily
Short Story

memories Of some place with wnlcn
he had once been Intimately acquainted
They crossed what he took to be a
landing and passed some score or 50
PAGES down a corridor wien she
paused before an open doorway.
Here is your room" she said on
need have no fear-the linen IS Wen
aired. And Of course" she added on
his slightly shifting. you may, II you
like. open the windows. We have been
Obliged TO keep them closed owing to
the damp. Good night"
She turned to go. and just for the
fraction Of a second Bertram saw her
face It was exquisite. His widest
dreams of Woman's beauty were not
merely rivaled-they were surpassed
1t was the work OF a second to throw
back the sheets and scramble IN pc
tween them and then with his mind
full to overlooking with visions Of MS
newIy-found goddess, he entrusted both
her and his father to the safe keeping
of the Virgin and the Saints and sank
into a deep and refreshing sleep
He awoke with a start. caught the
sound Of approaching footsteps-tne
sharp rat-tat-tat Of high-heeled shoes
Nearer and nearer they came right up
to the entrance Of his room. when TO
his establishment and no little emoar-
rassment. the door gently opened ana
in tiptOed the object OF his alteration
In one hand she carried a lOng-handled
iron spoon, and in the other hand
candle.
Bertram sat up In bed and was about
to speak to her when she laid one OF
her pretty finger tips on her lips and
smiNngly babe him silence. She then
glided to the crate, took from her
pocket a small lump of lead, which she
carefully put into the spoon. and bal
anced the latter with the utmost care
on the brightest Of the Goals.
It was while she was thus occupied
that Bertram suddenly became con-
scious OF the presence Of something OF
someone next him For a moment MS
heart ceased to beat-in deadly fear
he glanced round and perceived lying
by his side-a. mani An old man, with
long grizzled hair and beard. whose
features were somehow vagufly 1an1ll-
lar to him The man was sound asleep
"a fact betrayed by his breathing
which was loud and stertorous-
A slight movement from the other
part Of the room attracting Bertraun's
attention, he looked up just in time 70
see the girl flash a look OF subtle
warning to him.
Don't wake him. whatever you do.
her eyes said; he must sleep on"
Cautiously the girl approached the
crate, and lifting the spoon care1uly
stretched before her to the BED, ana
gaily mOtiOning to Bertram to keep
quiet, she gently turned the sleeper's
head over on the pillow and, with a
deXtrOus movement of her clever, sup
PIE fingers, poured the seethings hiss
ing lead into his ear
There was an agOnized scramble
eyes Of the old man opened cOnvulslVe-
~, and in the brief glimpse Bertram
caught Of them he recognized his
father
Almost simultaneously came a loud
crash binding darkness. and Bertram
was once again inrthe forest pursuing
his way laboriOVsly along the mud
At early dawi he arrived within sight
or Nantes-Nantes bathed in cold
gray mlst-and some half hour later
he dragged himself with difficulty to-
wards the wicket gate leading to his
fathers house
To his intense surprise it was pad
locked, but The mystery explained It
SER at once-standing upright in the
garden was q notice board bearing the
superscription. ITO be let or sold
6erlram sYayed on his feet as ne
looked ar II land then, with a short
sharp cry OF sappointment-he reeied
away to the nearest hOuse-the house
OF Ihelr old friend, Crozier.
n CIozier had Just aWakened-ne
llntaIlaoiy got up at sand shuttlinS
90" talrs he opened the door TO Bert
Mile tonner7esr' he exclaimed, IF
y lsh Bertraml Par ma fol. I was
Dreaming urea Of you last night. So you've
come backi"
Come back to find the place empty
Bertram said distonsolatelv. But tell
m my friend, where's my father?''
N CFozler's eyes grew round with
w nat!, he cried What You. don't
H-oW Then, seeing Bertrams look
~ utter stuDefaction: Poor fellowi
w poor Bertram, Your fathers
Ueau- he died a fortnight ago, the
w uay after his marriage with Mile
Ire Dernirlle. the niece of his last
IYo lseiNeeper; What killed him2 Apo
doctor"
SUI SUI the woman-the woman? What
q ss7rs Sue llkeE Bertram suffered.
a. WY NJ Crozier enunciated slowly
Sne was what some people would call
Pea u1lI ull-though as God is my judge.
10 not admire her. Fair very fair
mass Of washed-out yellow hair. and
~. very big eyes-china blue and
s sIllllll ss--name Of a Enthusiastically