The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-14

destroyed much of the upper and lower lips,
SO that the left half of her mouth was one
perpetual and CHASTITY grin.
The first female still did the talking, car
rying it on in loud voice, which illustrated
the truth of what she said-that l might
shout my lungs out and no help would
come
"Now, look here" said, ''f've only few
shillings in my pocket Ii | carried my
usual wealth wouldn't be here. I'll shell
out these on the table if you let me out
peaceably.'
emptied my pockets on the table. That
didn't suit them They insisted on the
watch, and although said the watch had
been given me by very dear friend lit had
i bought it myself, that seemed to make
no difference. SO | scooped back the cash
into my pockets and said if there had to be Il
fight why fight there would have to be.
The first woman took Ter hand from con-
cealment and showed an ugly looking dirk.
She took q stop forward. / backed up against
the wall was more afraid of a PREACHER
Gus attack from some concealed confederate,
but I imagine my own fright at the time
rather exaggerated the danger of the situa-
ton.
Stand back cried "or I'll massacre
YOU" and fiourished the blackthorn. She
stood back, swearing like a trooper.
"Now, for the last time, will you let me
out2"
"Divil an out was the reply. l swung
my cane and sma,hed to pieces the Hamlet
picture. The head Of the cane went clear
through the glass and the play scene in the
center The broken glass ratified down on
the floor and one Of the cords snapped, leav-
ing the shattered picture dangling On the
other: then that broke ana tie heavy frame
| ard ruined engraving fell with crash to the
floor The three wolnon shricked at the I'M
expected disaster just as ordinary women
| would have done Tie grinning bag was the
most disturbed she was evidently the pro-
| prietress of the don she shook her fist, and
| as near as could understand her mumbiing
| talk, said my body would he found in tho
| Iitfy.
@Don't talk to me-" | said. "Get your
women away from that door and open it. II
| can't call the police / will ring up the fire
| department. The next thing | smash is that
| lamp and the moment after this room will be
! on fire 0p1n that door.
| The woman would have done so, but the
one with the knife prevented her.
| | raised the cane and struck the lamp
| The pieces of the shade and the lamp glass
| vera scattered all over the room. The lamp
it eli swung too and fro unbrolen, but its
yellow, chimneylcs;, smoky light threw Il
| ghaS,iy uncertain glare over the whole
| sceIee.
| The second woman now spoke:
"For Gods sake, Mrs. Duffy, LET him
OH"
Sho drew the fair di,ilist aside and whis.
| pered something T., her TO which the other
nodded:
Get to thc-furthar enl of the room-you
too Mrs. Daily
They did So, and for moment l stool
with the open door anl The dark hall before
me- | ltnaw the stree, door WIS locked, and
that Hhile I iumbled at it the three would
have me at 4 worse Disadvantages than l was
then in Put l 1ticel the key Of the room
was ON the outside OF the door, and saw my
| way Of escape / novel slowly towards the
open d00r-then made a holt-drew it shut,
and tnrnel the key, locking in my fair host
ces add heV Sylpl-like companions
| Tie next instant irwaS thrott!ed by I'm,
seen hauIs.
Force tho doore, force the doore!' cried
the voice of my late cowardly comrade, as
we struggled in the dark. He had ms
against the bauistars, his two hands on my
| throat and his knee pressed against ME
flung handbag AMI coat to the foot Of the
stairs and tried to hit him with tho black
thorn, but we were at too close quarters,
bent back over the bauisters, shortened
the cane by grasping it near the end with
both hands, the numerous thorns on the
stick giving me an excellent grip on it, ana
with all my rapidly vanishing strength har-
pooned him in the face with the point of it
With yell Of pain he looSenei his hold and
graspei the stick l followed up my ad
vantage by forcing him backwards down
the stairway half way down he fell and put
ting my foot on him | sware I,
brain him if he stirred. Thi
took place very rapidly, and as
the women inside were shaking vigorously a
the door expected crash every instant
felt along the inside OF the street door fol
the key and handle while one foot remained
on the fallen man. IOpencd the door anC
let in the light from The street lamp
"Roll Off my cont, will YOU" He rolled
picked up coat AID handbag. The cane
still hell. AS Isprang into the street
heard the upper door crash. The ladies o
the house had evidently got free. l mus
confess that ran for the next few block
Just about as fast As l was able. hailed
passing car and asked II be token to TIL
North Wall A few minutes later ! was OF
board the boat for Hoiyhead The OLD
woman's blessing seem t, have puta GOO
deal Of usefulness in that cane. have
yet, but whether or not the blessing still
c!ings to it do not know.