San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-12
OUR MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

vas Cnere some one IN the room! IL " Y
very dark, but peered about, leaning
on my elbow. There was nothing to be
seen, but still that eerie feeling haunted
me. At that moment the flying scud
passed away from the face of the moon
and a flood of cold light was poured into
my chamber. turned my eyes up in
stinctiyely, and-good God!-there at
the window was the face, an evil, ma
licious face, hard cut and distinct
against the silvery radiance, glazing in
at me as Minnie had seen it the night
before. For one moment tingled and
palpitated like frightened child, the
next both glass and sash were gone and
was rolling over and over on the gravel
path with my arms around tall, strong
mantle two of us worrying each other
like pair of dogs. Almost by intuition
knew as we went down together that
he had slipped his hand into his side
pocket, and l chung to that wrist like
grim death. He tried hard to free it, but
was too strong for him, and we stag
gered on to our feet again in the same
position, painting and sparling.
"Let go my hand, damn you'll" he said.
"Let go that pistol them" gasped.
We looked hard at each other in the
moonlight, and then he laughed and
opened his fingers. A heavy glittering
object, which / could see was revolver,
dropped with a clink to the gravel. Iput'
my foot on it and let go my grip of
him.
"Well, matey, how now" he said with
another laugh. SIS that an end of
round or the end of the battle? You
islanders seem a hospitable lot. You're
so ready to welcome stranger that you
can't wait to find the door, but must
come flying through the window like in
formal fireworks.
"What do you want to come prowling
around peoples houses at night for
with weapons in your pocket" | asked
sternly.
81 should think | needed weapon"
he answered, "when there are young
devils like you knocking around. Hullo!
there's another of the family"
turned my head and there was my
come around from the front door. His
gray wooden nightdress and grizzled
hair were streaming in the wind, and he
was evidently much excited. He had In
his hand the double barreled gun with
which he had threatened me in the
morning. He put this Up to his shoulder
and would most certainly have blown
0f ha
stranger, had not turned away the bar
rel with my hand. 5..
"Wait bit, father" l said, "let us
hear what he has to say for himself.
And you" continued, turning to the
stranger, "can come inside with us and
justify yourself if you can. But remem-
Der we are in a majority, so keep your
tongue between your teeth"
"Not so fast, my young bantam" he
grumbled; "you've got my six-shooter,
but have Derringer in my pocket. |
learned in Colorado to carry them both.
However, come along into this shanty of
yours, and let us get the damned palaver
over. I'm wet through, and most in
formally hungry"
Ny father was still mumbling to him
self and fidgeting with his gun, but he
did not oppose my taking the stranger
into the house. struck a match and lit
the oil lamp in the kitchen, on which our
prisoner stopped down to it and began
smoking cigarette. AS the light fell
full on his face both my father and l
took good look at him. He was man
of about forty, remarkably handsome, of
rather Spanish type, with blue-black
hair and beard and sunburned features.
His eyes were very bright, and their gaze
so intense that you would think that they
projected somewhat unless you saw him
in profile. There was dash of reckless
ness and deviltry about them which, with
his wiry, powerful frame and jaunty
manner, gave the impression of a man
whose past had been an adventurous one.
He was elegantly dressed in velveteen
Jacket and grayish trousers of foreign
cut. Without in the least resenting our
prolonged scrutiny he seated himself
upon the dresser, swinging his legs and
blowing little blue wreaths from his
cigarette. His appearance seemed to re-
assure my father, or perhaps it was the
sight of the rings which flashed on the
strangers left hand every time he raised
it to his lips.
"Ye munna mind Archie, SIR he said
in cringing voice. He was aye a
fashions BARN, overquick wi his hands,
and wi mair muscle than brains. was
flashed myself wi the sudden stour, but
as tae shootin at We, sir, that was a an
auld mans havers. Nae doubt yo're
veesitor, or maybe it's shipwreck. It's