The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-27
THE MIDDLE TOE.
II WAS MISSING FROM THE RIGHT FOOT.


rupted with another oath and sprapg to the
ground. The two men Joined the others at
the door, which one of them had already
opened with some difficulty, caused by rust
was dark. but the man who had unlocked
the door produced . candle and matches and
made light. He then unlocked door ON
their right % they stood in the passage.
This gave them entrance to Large square
room which the candle but dimly lighted.
which partly mufflsd their ,footfaNs. Cob
webs were in the ANGLES of the walls and de-
pended from the calling like strips Of
rotting :lace, making undulatory move
ments in the disturbed air. The room had
two windows in adjoining sides, but from
neither could anything be seen except the
rough inner surfaces Of boards few
inches from the glass. There was no ire
place, no furniture; there was nothing. Be-
sides the cobwebs and the dust, the four
men we're the only objects there which were
not q part of the architecture. Strange
enough they looked in the yellow light Of
the candle; they might have been tableau
vivant after painting by Rembrandt. The
one who had so reluctantly alighted was
especially 'sspectacular''-he might have
been called sensational. He was Of middle
age, heavily built. deep. chested and broad
shouldered. Looking at his figure one
would have said that he had . giants
strength; at his face that he would use it
like giant. He was clean shaven, his
hair rather closely cropped and gray. His
low forehead was scanned with wrinkles
above the eyes, and over the nose these be-
came vertical. The heavy black brows fol-
lowed the same law. saved from meeting
wise have been the point of contact. Deeply
sunken beneath these, glowed In the OBJ
scure light q pair of eyes OF uncertain
color, but obviously enough too small.
There was something forbiddinR in their
expression, which was not Bothered by the
we'll enough. az noses go; one does not ex-
pect much of noses All that was sinister
In the mans face seemed accumulated by an
unnatural pallor-he appeared altogether
bloodless.
The appearance of the other men was suf-
ficiently commonplace; they were such per-
sons as one meets and forgets that he met.
All were younger than the man described,
between whom and the eldest of the others.
who stood apart. there was apparently no
kindly feeling. They avoided looking at
one another.
"Gentlemen,' said he man holding the
candle and keys, II believe everything is
right. Are you ready, Mr.. Rosser?'
The man standing apart from the group
bowed and smiled. 4
"And you, Mr.. Grossmith, ~
The heavy man bowed and scowled.
ing" n o,>--'
Their hate. coats. waistcoats and neck ;
wear were soon removed and thrown out.
side the door, in the passage. The man
with the candle now nodded, and the
fourth mamie who had urged Mr.. Gros-
smith to leave the wagon-produced from
the pocket of his overcoat two long. muir
demonstrating bowie knives, which he
drew from the scabbards.
"1hey are exactly alike" he said, pre-
senting one to each of the two principals-
for by this time the dullest observer would
ing. It was to be duel to the death.
Each combatant took knife, examined
it critically near the handle and tested the
strength of blade and handle across his
lifted knee. Their persons were then
searched in turn, each by the second of the
other.