Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-28

clearneSS, so dropped nv heau upon tne
pillow and sank into profound slumber.
must have slept about four hours when [
woke with violent start. To this day L
have never known what it was that reused
me. Everything was perfectly still, and yet
1 found all my faculties in state of eI-
treme tension. Was there someone in the
room? 1t was very dark, but peered about,
leaning on nv elbow. There was
nothing to be seen, but still that eerie
feeling haunted me. At that moment the
hving scud passed away from the face of the
moon and a food of cold light was poured
into NV chamber. 1 turned my eyes up in
stinctively and-good God There at the
window was the face, an evil, malicious
face, hard cut and distinct against the sill
very radiance, glarinS in at ME as Minnie
had seen il the night before. For one
moment l tingled and palpitated like
frightened child, the next both glass and
sash were gone and l was rolling over and
over on the gravel path with nv arms round
tall strong man-the two of US worrying
each other like pair of dogs. Almost by
Intuition l knew as we went down together
that he had slipped his hand into his side
pocket, and L Clung TO that wrist like grim
death. He tried hard to free it but
was too strong Tor him, and we staggered
on our feet again in the same position, pant
ing and snarling.
Let go my hand, d your he said.
Let 60 that pistol then" gasped.
We looked hard at each other in the moon
light, and then he laughed ard opened his
fingers. y heavy glitteriug object, which 1
could see was revolver, dropped with
clnk onto the gravel. l put my foot on it
aud let go my grip Of him.
We'll, matey, how now?" he said with
another laugh. 'Is that AN end Of a round
or the end of the battle. You islanders seem
a hospitable lot. You're so ready to welcome
4 stranger that you can't wait to find the
door, but must come flying through the
window like Internal fireworks"
''W hat do yCu want TO come prowling
round peoples houses at night for, with
weapons in your pocket" L asked sternly.
Il should think l needed a weapon" he
answered, when there are young devils like
you knocking around. Hullo! here's another
o. the family"
1 turned my head, and there was my
father almost at my elbow. He had come
round FROM the front door. His gray
wooden nighIdresS and grizzled hair were
streaming in the wind, and he was evidently
much excited. lie had in his hand the
GoubIe-barreled gun with which he had
threatened me in the morning He put this
up 10 his shoulder, and would most certainly
have blown out either my brains or those OF
lue stranger, nad L NOT turned away the
barrel with nv hand.
"Wait bit. father" / said 'let us hear
what he has 10 say for himself And vou,"
q continued, turning TO the stranger, "can
40 me inside with US and justify yourself if
7-o,, can. But remember we are in a ma
io-iy, SO keep your tongue between your
teeth
Net SO fsst, my young bantam"
he crumbled you've got nv
sir-sbooier, but [ have Derringer in my
1,oci-st l earned in Colorado to carry them
boih. However, come along into this shautv
of vours and let US get the G-1 palaver
over. I'm wet through, and most internally
hungry"
Nv father was sill mumbling to himself
and ridgetiur with his gun, but he did not
oppose nv taking the stranger into the
house. 1 struck ma;ch' and lit the oil
lamp in the kitchen, OIL WhlcA our prisoner
stooped down to it and began smoking
cigarette. As the light feil iull on his face
both NV father and / TOOK GOOD look at
him. He WAS man of about ~. remar&a-
blv handsome, Of rather S!anlsh type,
with biue-black hair and bearl, ana sun
burned features. His eyes were very bright
and their gaze so intense that yGu would
think they projected somewhat unless you
saw him in profile. There was a Gash Of
recklessness and devilry about them, which,
with his wiry, powerful frame and jaulty
manner, gave the impression of a man whose
mast had been an adventurous one. HI
was elegantly dressed in a vel
veIeen Jarket and greyish trousers of
foreign cut Without in the least resentin-
our prolonged scrutiny, he seated himse'I
upon the dresser, swinging his legs, and
blowing little blue wreaths from his cigar
e;,c. His appearance seemed 10 reassure
nv father or perhaps it was the sight OF
the rings which flashed on the strangers
left hand every time lie raised it to his lips.
"Ye munna mind Archie, SIR he said in
acrnging voice. ''He was ave a fashions
BARN, over quick wi his hands, and wi
msir muscle than brains. L was flashed N.Y.
sel wi the sudden stoUr, but as tae shootin'
at We. sir, that was a an auld mans hayers.
Nae doobt we're a veesitor or mavbe it's a
shlpwreck-its no a shipwreck, is 't?'
The idea awoke the covetous devil in NV
fathers soul, and it looked out through his
glistening eyes, and set his long stringv
hands a-sha6lng.
Il came here in boat said the stranger
shortly. This was the first house l came
10 after I left the shore, and I'm rot likely
10 forget the reception YOU have given me-
That vouug hopeful Of yours has nearly
broken my back"
''whv couldn' you come up to the door like
& man, Instead of skulkiHg at the Window
Hush. Archie, hush!' said NV father
implorIHgiy; whileoUr visitor grinned across
al me as amicabiy as if my speech had been
muzt conciliatory.
- don't blame vou," he said-he spoke
with . strange mixture of accents. sometimes
with foreign lisp, sometimes with a slight
Yankee intonstion, and at other times very
purely indeed. 81 have done the same.
mate. Maybe you noticed br1gantine
standing on and of the shore yesterday"
l nodded my head
That was mine" he said. "I'm owner.
skipper ana everything else. Why shouldn't
a man spend his money in his own waE l
Ike cruising about, aud l like new expe-
rienceS. ] suppose there's no harm in that
/ was in the Mediterranean last month but
I'm sick Of blue skies and fine weather.
ChIOs is 4 d paradise of a place.
I've come up here for a little fresh air and
freedom. / cruised all down the western
isles, and when we came abreast of this place
of yours it rather took my fancy, SO hauled
;he foreyard aback and came ashore last
night 10 prospect. 1t wasn't this house /
struck, but another farther to the west ard
however, 1 saw enough to be sure il was 4
place after my own heart-a real quiet cor
ner So l went back aud set everything
straight aboard Yesterday, and now here 1
am. You Can put me up for few weeks, l
suppose. I'm not hard to please, and can
pay my waT; suppose we say SO week for
board and lodging, and a fortnight 10 be
paid in advance"
He put his hand in his pocket and pro-
duced four shining napoleons, which he
pushed along the dresser to my father, who
gratbed them up eagerly.