The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-11

was thrust rudely open, and Capt Settle,
ais hat cooked over one eye and sham drunk.
snness in his gait, lurched into the room.
with the whole villainous crew behind him.
huddled on the threshold. Jacques and
stepped quietly back, so as to cover the girl
Would you mind waiting a momentga in
1uired Sir Deakln, without looking I'D, but
rubbing the nutmeg calmly up and down the
crater; "a fraction too much, and the whole
punch will be spoiled"
1t took the captain aback and he came to a
stand, eying us, who looked back at him
without saying word. And this discom-
posed him still further
There was minute during which the two
parties could hear each others BREATHING
Sir Deakin set down the nutmeg, wiped his
thin white fingers on napkin, and addressed
the captain sweetly:
Before asking your business. sir. I wouId
beg you and your company to taste this
liquor, which, in the court of France'-tbe
old gentleman took a sip from the mixing
ladle-"has had the extreme honor to be pro-
nounced divine" He smacked his lips. and
rising to his feet, let his right hand rest on
the silver foot of the lamp as he bowed to the
captain.
Capt. Settles bravado was plainly oozing
away before this polite audacity; and. seeing
Deakln taste the punch, he pulled off his cap
In a shamefaced manner and sat down by
the table with word of thanks.
Come in, sirs; come in," called the old
gentleman, ''and follow your friends ex-
ample Twill be compliment to make me
mix another bowl when this is finished.n He
stepped around the table to welcome them
still resting his hand on the lamp, as if for
steadiness. 1 saw his eye twinkle as thew
shuffled in and stood around the chair where
the captain was seated.
jacques bring glasses from the cupboard
yonder And, Della, fetch some chairs for
our guests-no, sirs, pray do not mover
he had waved his hand lightly to the door
as he turned to US; and in an instant the in
tention as well as the bright success of this
comedy flashed upon me. There was now no
one between us and the stairs, and as for Sir
Deakin himself, he had already taken the step
Of putting the tables width between him and
his guests.
touched the girls arm, and we made as if
to fetch couple of chairs that stood against
the wainscot by the door, As we did so, Sir
Deakin pushed the punchbowI forward under
the captains nose
Smell, sir" he cried, airly, "and report
10 your friends on the foretaste."
Settles nose hung over the steaming COM
pound. With swift pass of the hand, the
Did gentleman caught up the lamp and had
shaken drop of burning oil into the bowl.
A great blaze leaped to the ceiling. There
vas howl-a scream of pain; and as
pushed Mistress Della through the doorway
md out to the head of the stairs, l caught a
backward glimpse of Sir Deakin rushing
after US, with one of the stoutest Of the rob
oers at his heels.
down stairs, for your ifeI'' / whispered
% the girl, and, turning, as her father tum-
'led past me, let his pursuer run on my
word, as on spit. At the same instant. an
'ther blade passed through the fellow trans
versely, and Jacques stood beside me, with
lis back to the Intel.
As we pulled our swords out and the man
lropped, l had brief view into the room.
where now the blazing liquid ran off the table
\ 4 stream. Settle. staraping with agony,
lad his palms pressed against his scorched
yields. The fat landlord, In trying to beat
'ut the flames, had increased them by up-
citing two bottles of aqua vita, and was
lancing about with three fingers in his mouth, |
The rest stood for the most part dunn.
ounded; but Black Dick had his pistol lifted. |
jacques and 1 sprang out for the landing
md round the doorway. Between the flash |
nd the report felt sudden scrape, as of
ed hot wire, across my left thigh and Just /
bove the knee
''Tenez. camarade," said Jacques voice in |
y ear; ''a moi Ia porte-a vous le maitre,
has," and he pointed down the staircase, |
here, by the glare of tie conhagraticn that /
eat past us, saw the figures of Sir Deakin
I'D his daughter standing.
But how can you keep the door against a
ozen!"
The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders with
smile
"Mais-comme cap
For at this moment came rush of foot
cps within the room. i saw a fat paunch
rustIng past US, quiet pass of steel, and
e landlord was wallowing on his face across
g threshold Jacques teeth snapped to-
'ther as he stood ready for another victim:
i'd as the fellows within the room tumbled
lck he motioned me to leave him.
L sprang from his side, and, catching the
il of the staircase reached the foot in n
upie of bounds.
Hurry" cried, and caught the old bar
Jet by the hand. His daughter took the
her, and between us we hurried him across
e passage for the kitchen door.
W thin, the chambermaid was on her knees
the settle, her face and apron OF the same
lie. Is saw she was incapable of helping. and
Stoned across the stone floor and out to-
1rds the back entrance.
A stream of icy wind blew in CUR faces as
, stepped over the threshold. The girl and
oent our heads to it, and, stumbling, trip
ne and painting, pulled Sir Deakin with us
f into the cold air.
The yard was no longer dark. In the room
owe some one had pushed the easement
en-, letting in the wind; and by this twas
ry evident the room was on fire. Indeed.
curtains had caught, and, as we ran, a
mon of flame shot out over our heads. [
king the thatch. In the glare of it the
touildlngs and the yard gate stood clearly {
t from the night. l heard the trampling
feet, the sound of Settles voice shouting
order, and then dismal yell and clash of S
eel as we flung open the gate. {
Jacques" screamed the old gentleman: !
ny poor Jacquesl Those dogs will mangle
m with their cut and THRUSH
Twas very sigular and sad, but, as if in an
er to Sir Deakin's cry, we heard the brave
lows voios; and famous shout it must
We been to reach us over the roaring of the {
mes I
= Mon maitre-mon maitre p be called twice.
q then 'Sauve toil'' in fainter voice, vet
ar. And after that only racket of shouts
d outcries reached us. Without doubt the
lains had overpowered and slain this brave
want. In spite of our peril for they would
after US at once), twas all we could do to
az the old man from the gate and up the