El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-02
The Herald's Daily
ShOrtStOry

As the servant who had been pres
emf AT the meeting escorted the count
out he whispered to MIN IN spanish;
We are countrymen, count
so 1 perceive.
I want to help you, your life Is in
danger here.
The banquet is given only in order
to murder you:
SO I thought
Still if you will come and follow
nv advice not only shall you be saved
but become doge of Francabella-
How. What do you meanE'
DO not show any emotion at what
am going to tell you There are spies
everywhere, and II a snaoow 7 Oh suspI-
cion falls on me am deac man
Tell me, count, did you ever hear Of
the red DEATH?
Never
there sits next to the dOge red DOM
inc wearing a red mask. At the end
of the feast this domino snakes the
hand of every guest and very often one
of them dies Immediately after. Do you
understand2'
"Oh, yes, a secret poison"
Yes. through a ring of death
Il understand
hand YOU will receive a paper which
you must read unnoticed- 1t viii tell
you what you are to do
How do you knOw?
I do know dare say no more
now. VIII you come and be doge of
F1ancabella?"
You will find out if you come
The count came promptly to the
feast The doge received him with
the utmost pOlitenss and introduced
him to the other guests.
When the banquet was over the
dreadful moment of shaking hands
with the red death came ana 1t was
noticed that nearly every guest paled
at the thought that his hour had come.
The court alone was undisturbed- FIJI
mig his goblet again he opened the
slip of paper the red death had
Slipped into his hand and read: Pre-
tend that you are feeling i'll and ash to
be taken into another room. viii
be there to carry out the plan.
A few moments later sombody who
had been watching the counts features
intently remarked that he did not look
The count. who had really turned
a little paler made light of II and
said it would soon pass. The guests
looked at each other and breat-ed cas-
Ter at the thought that death had
passed them by once more
Instead of getting better, however,
the count seemed to grow worse ana
his amiable host suggested that ne re-
tire to his private apartment that a
doctor might attend him.
I thank your grace for. your kind
ctIeT. winch Will accept lAe CUM
replied in a faint voice.
I will accompany you myself You
will kindly excuse me, gentlemen,
will return in a moment
He gave the count his arm a--d they
left the banquet room together.
In luXuriOusly furnished room the
red death" stood waiting for them
and locked the door behind them. Then
quick as a flash he produced a thin sllk
cord. sneaked up behind the doSe Who
stood STOPPING over the count, ana
throwing a moose over his head he
strangled him before he could utter
a sound. When the dOge was dead
he tore off his mask and stood be-
fore the count.
"Quick, count" he whispered. put
on the doSe's dress, return to the ban
quet hall and be dOge of Franco
bella. If you succeed in deceiving the
guests we are saved, otherwise We arc
both lost. Leave the dead body TO me,
l will throw it down to those Of his
Victims
Assisted by Antonio the count Pal
mera put on the doge's costume and
the resemblance was so perfect tnat
nobody ever suspected what had hap
pcned. But the red death" was never
seen again at the doge's banquets-