The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-30

had picked up the lamp and was mixing his
bowl of punch, humming to himself without
the least concerns:
'Vivre en- tout cas-
C'eSt .e grand soulas,"
with glance at his daughters face, that was
| white to the lips, but firmly set.
! Hand me the nutmeg yonder, +" he said
! and then, why, daughter, whats this?-a
/ trembling hand''
| And ali the while the footsteps were COM
/ ing up
/ There was loud knock on the door.
! Come in" called Sir Deakis
At this, Jacques, who stood ready for bat
tie by the entrance, wheeled round shot
look at his master and, dropping his point,
made a sign TO me to do the same. The door
was thrust rudely open, and Capt Settle,
his hat cooked over one eye and sham drunk
ennesS in his gait, lurched into the room,
with the whole villainous crew behind him,
huddled en- the threshold. jacques and |
stepped quietly back, so as to cover the girl
Would you mind waiting moments" in
qulred Sir Deakln, without looking up but
rubbing the nutmeg calmly up and down the
CRATER; "a fraction too much, and tire 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 a word. And this discom-
posed him still further.
There was q 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 would
beg you and your company TO taste this
liquor, which, in the court OF Fraucen-she
old gentleman took a sip from the mixing
ladIe-''haS had the extreme honor to be pro-
nounced divine" He smacked his liDs, 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
Deakin taste the punch, he pulled OFT his cap
In a shametaced manner and sat down by
the table with a word Of thanks.
Come in, sirs; come in" called the old
gentleman, land follow your friends ex-
ample. Twill be compliment to make me
mix another bowl when this is finished" He
stepped around the table TO welcome them,
still resting his hand on the lamp, as if for
steadiness. | saw his eye twinkle as they
shuffied 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 movew
He had waved his hand lightly to the door
as he turned to us; and i'll 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.
l touched the girls arm, and we made as if
to fetch a couple of chairs that stood against
the wainscot by the door As we did so, Sir
Deakin pushed the punchbowl forward under
the captains nose.
Smell, sir" he cried, airly, land report
to your friends on the foretasten
Settles nose hung over the steaming COM
pound With swift pass of the hand, the
old gentleman caught up the lamp and had /
shaken drop of burning oil into the bowl /
= great blaze leaped to the ceiling There |
was a howI-a scream of pain; and as l 1
pushed Mistress Della through the doorway |
and 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 !
bers at his heels.
Down stairs, for your life" l whispered |
to the girl, and, turning as her father tum- !
bled past me, let his pursUer run ON my |
sword, as on spit. At the same instant, an
other blade passed through the fellow trans
yersely, and jacques stood beside me, with
his back to the Intel.
As we pulled our swords out and the man
dropped, had brief view into the room,
where now tie blazing liquid ran off the table
in stream. Settle, stamping with agony,
lad his palms pressed against his scorched
eyelidS. The fat landlord III trying to beat
put the flames, had increased them by up
setting two bottles of aqua vitae, and was
dancing about with three fingers in mis- mouth
The rest stood for the most part dunn
founded; but Black Dick mad his pistol lifted
Jacques and | sprnng out for the landing
and round the doorway. Between the flash
and the report / felt a sudden scrape as OF
red hot wire, across my left thigh and just
above the knee.
''Tenez camarade." said Jacques voice in
my ear; "a moi la porte-a vous lie maitre,
a-bas;n and be pointed down the staircase,
where, by the glare of the confagratiCn that
beat past us l saw the figures of Sir Deakin
and his daughter standing.
But how can you keep the door against
iozenF
The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders with
smile
"Mais-comme car
For at this moment came a rush Of foot
teps within the room. | saw a fat paunch
Trusting past rs, a quiet pass of steel, and
he landlord was wallowing on his face across
he threshold. Jacques teeth snapped to-
ether as he stood ready for another victim;
nd as the fellows within the room tumbled
Jack he motioned me to leave him.
| Tprang from his side, and catching the
all of the staircase, reached the foot in
oup!e of bounds.
Hurry cried, and caught the old bar
net by the hand. His daughter took the
Their, and between us we hurried him across
be passage for the kitchen door
Within, the chamber1naid was on her knees
Y the settle, her face and apron of the same I
ue. saw she was incapable of helping. and
astened across the stone floor and out to-
Yards the back entrance. ,
a stream of icy wind blew in our faces as
re stepped over the threshold. The girl and ,
bent our heads to it, and, stumbling, trip ,
ing and painting, pulled Sir Deakin with Us
u into the cold air.
The yard was no longer dark. In the room
hoye some one had pushed the easement I
pen, letting in the wind; and by this twas :
cry evident the room was on fire. Indeed :
ne curtains had caught, and, as we ran a :
ennon OF fame shot out over our heads q
cklng the thatch. In the glare oi II the :
1tbuildnCs ami the yard gate stood clearly /
IT from the night I heard the traE1pling
feet the sound Of Settles voice shouting ! :
4 order, and then dismal yell and clash OF a
eel as we flung open the gate. :
Jacques screamed ne oli gentleman: I