El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-22
The Messenger Boy
A short story.

Ut WAS o'clock in the morning The
rain made the long avenue look like
\ a canal. The sound of footsteps was
heard through the silence Of the night
A little messenger boy carried a tele-
gram He stopped in front of large
dark house, examined the number on
the gate and rang the bell
After three vain efforts he received
no answer. He put his telegram back
into his pocket, then slowly and dellD-
erately began to pick the lock He
opened the door and went inside
At the same moment a heavy hand
dropped on his shoulder and a deep
voice commanded; Hand up. You are
The big. police sergeant Quiault,
looked at his prisoner with an express
sion of pity and grOwled:
1t is rather too bad at your age"
The prisoner looked up and showed
his features. 1t was a girl and not q
Good! Goodl" cried QuiauIt rs it
you, Maria2 ! had hoped never to see
lou again"
He said this in a sad voice and a
thousand different emotions struggled
in his heart. Then he looked at his
wayWard wife Maria the companion
of his childhood and later his beloved
wife Two years after their marriage
he had fought with her and had driven
Ter out Of his home
You say so yourself, so I suppose it
is true" she laughed.
Have you lost all sense of shame
them
What right have you to talk Of
sh1mc< lou have gave me up
TO me you are just an ordinary
burglar, caught in the act"
I had believed you would be less
hard on me"
People. believe in many things that
do not exist"
And still you used to love me and
do everything asked you to-"
L simply do my duty TO those who
employ me But still / am sorry that
it has come to this with you. Not for
: our sake, for you deserve no pity. but
Tor the sake OF your poor parents
You ought to have had more pa
uence. You ought to have forgiven
ne Remember how young was2 You
don't know how have suffered and
regretted"
7 know you too well to believe your
words
Look at me. Louis Look into my
eyes and see If 1 am lying when I say
that love you Remember the happy
days We spent together, Louis. Have
pity on mel Do not throw me back
into the gutter when I want TO be-
come a good woman Take me home
tonight"
She noticed how his voice trem5led
and knew that he was about to forgive
her
Louis, you don't realize the crime
you are about to commit It is a great
thing to save fallen woman, and God
VIII surely reward you
I dare not believe you, Maria"
But I viii prove it to you. I viii
give you chance to be promoted right
now. I will deliver Beau Blond the
king Of the East End, into your hands
tonight"
is it true. Maria2"
Z swear. He is all alone, and I know
you are. not afraid to meet him"
Quiault loved Maria and he loved
his work. It meant a promotion if he
could capture Beau Blond single
banded. the crook who had baffled the
police for months and was wanted for
Ioany murders
He took the handouts from IS
Wlfe's wrists She kissed him passion
ately and told him her plan.
I know where Beau Blond is
shall tell him a story about lot Of
swag here / shall bring him here and
when we pass by, you jump at him. He
Quiault laughed.
He made sure that his revolver vas
IN his hip pocket. and Maria left the
house He heard her clan her hands
as a signal He looked cut of the vim
COW and saw the couple coming slowly
towards the door With every muscle
tense he waited They passed and he
But was the result2 He found him
self struggling like boar in the grip
Of five men. He felt the blows of their
Dludgeons and the sharp pain of their
knives He fought like -nadman and
throat
He succeeded in getting his hand
Tree and into his pocket The revolver
was gone Maria saw his cOnSternat ton
and said with a laugh
Don't be afraid of him I have his
gun The policeman heard the words
and knew his wife had betrayed him.
Pain and sorrow overwhelmed him he
gave up the struggle.
IN the morning the mangled body Of
sergeant Quiault was found in the
mOat