Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-03-19
R0EBUCk'S STORY.

s..... 80 s..m Anas "A uv, .,'s s".. 40.
emit play any game on mo-. And I turned
to the door Just thon two mon burst into
tho room, making as much noise as lot
OF medical students coming into sick
room to see an operation. One Of them
was big, rod faced fellow, who was sure
enough an Englishman. Ho even had top
boots. such ns mon used to woar In Ho.
gnrth's timo, though ! don't pretend 70
know when that was. Tho other man was
smaller, but deal wickeder looking, and
Judged that he was low class French
man.
Tho big man had drawn sword In his
hand, and as soon a. he was I'm tho room
no called out to tho woman, I have caught
you at last, and Ill attend TO you when
have killed this scoundrell The woman
shrieked and fell on her knees. The man
paid no attention to her, but came toward
mo- cursing like an alderman, whilo tho
other man kept crying outs Down with
biml Down with himp
"Now comes In what Is to mo the queer
est part OF tho whole business. Consider
Ing wasn't armed and considering that
neither of the men had pistol, what
ought to have done was clear enough. Any
man brought up as was in community
where rough and tumble fighting was the
national amusement, a. you might say,
would have thrown the hrst thing that
camo handy into the big mans face and
then knocked him and his companion
down before he could have used his sword.
But didn't do anything of tho sort. I
sprang into tho corner OF the room where
tho figure In armor stood and snatched the
sword that 1t had In It's hand. Then / put
my back against tho wall and pulled one
OF tho marble topped tables in front Of ME
and said very quietly to the man, Unless
you beg this lady's pardon and mine on
your knees shall do you the unmerited
honor Of killing yon.'
"Well, the big man came on, and for the
next five minutes we had some Of tho pret-
tiost fencing you evor dreamed OF. I told
you had never had sword In my hand
before, yet there was fencing as * / had
been at 1t all my life, and felt just as
confident that the fellows sword would
never touch me, and that should kill
him, as / ever felt Of anything since I
was born. Good gracious, how did en-
Joy that flghtl Presently the man stopped
to get his breath, and bowed very polite
ly to him and said that perhaps hiJ COM
rade would take his place while he was
*.
seem to banker after fighting, and he kept
In tho background and confined himself to
telling the Uthor to cut my heart out,
which WAS an easy line of policy for him.
"We went to fencing again, and could
SEQ in tho mans eye that ho was getting
frightened This time, however, / didn't
waste any time in airs and graces. Before
wo had fenced two minutes / ran him
al. hnd ha
before could fairly draw out my sword.
Then l turned and bowed to the woman,
not as u free and independent American
citizen bows, but after the style Of some
ridiculous Fronch dancing master, and
saying to the smaller man, Follow, open
the door and show tho lightp I walked
out The man did US 1 ordered him, but
before had gone down tho first flight of
stairs the door was shut, and 1 was in
darkness again.
II climbed down slow and cautious,
holding my swOtd in my hand with tho
point In front OF mo. Suddenly thcre was
gleam OF light which Instantly disap-
pcared. / knew what it neant Some
ono had opened tho door Of the room
whcro wo had been lghting and had shut
it again. Probably tho little man had
pluclied up courage enough TO pursue me
and stab mo in the dark.
Il waited where 1 was with my back
UP against the side OF tho house, for cal
culatod that if the man was following me
he would keep hold OF tho benistors
After bit 1 distinctly heard some one
coming down tho flight above, but max
ing hardly any noise. The man had evil
dently taken off his boots, which would
help him to movo faster than 1 could be.
sides preventing him from making any
noise
II waited hardly allowing myself to
breathe, till I judged he was close to me,
and then lungcd with my sword. felt
the sword point strike him and pierce
deep into him. There was a yell, and the
man fell heavily on the stairs, while his
sword went rattling down to the bottom.
II wasted no more time with him, but
drawing out my sword wiped IL az we'll
as could In the dark on the inside OF
my coat. 1t seemed to me that those
stairs had multiplied since climbed them,
when of course they hadn't. and that
would mover reach tho street again. How
ever, came to the bottom at last and
out into the street. Not soul was to be
seen. l ran at the top OF my speed down
the dark street till came to the little
open square. l made few moro turns
and found myself In u we'll lighted and
crowded street, where I soon picked up n
cab and got back to my hotel, carrying
the sword hid under my overcoat
The next morning did my level best
to find the house where had been that
night, but, I couldn't fnd It, though I
walked till was dead tired Then, think.
Ing that had better get out Of Rouong
before the police should hear OF the affair.
! took the noon train TO Paris -
my idea, said !, lis that you dreamed
the whole thing"
Roebuck got up, and unlocking a closet
brought out an old fashioned rapier
"There," said no. "is the sword brought
away with me. l couldn't very well
dream solid steel and brass, could ~
1 looked at tho weapon On the hilt
was coat Of arms partly obliterated with
rust ] rubbed IL with my handkerchief
until 1t was SO plain that 1t could readily
ha 4 80 ~.