Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-08

taken the alarm. Dymphna had started
away, and l saw her figure retreating
swiftly in the direction Of the house. The
man poised himself n moment irresolute
opposite to me, then dashed aside and dis
appeared behind the cottage.
l was after him on the instant, my
sword out, and caught sight of his cloak
rs he whisked round a corner. He lodged
mo twice round the next cottage, the one
nearer the river. Then he broke away
and made for the bridge, his object evil
IDENTIFY to get off the island. But he
seemed at last to see that was too quick
for him, as certainly was, and should
catch him half way across the narrow
planking, ana changing his mind again
he doubled nimbly back and rushed into
the open porch of a cottage, and l heard
his sword ring out. l had him at bay.
At bay indeed! But, ready as / was and
resoluto to capture or kill him, ! paused.
hesitatcd to run in on him. The dark
ness of the porch hid him, while 1 must
attack with the moonlight shining on me-
l peered in cautiously. Come outl'' 1
cried. Come out, you cowardr' Then
heard him move, and for a moment I
thought he was coming, and stood a tip
toe waiting for his rush. But he only
laughed derisive laugh Of triumph. He
had the odds, and l saw he would keep
them.
took another cautious step toward
him, and shading my eyes with my left
hand tried to make him ont. AS did SO
gradually his face took dim form and
| shape confronting mine in the darkness.
stared yet more intcntly. The face be-
| came more clear. Nay, with a sudden leap
| into vividncss, as it were, it grew white
against the dark ackground-white and
| whittier. 1t seemed to be thrust out nearer
| and nearer until it almost touched mine.
It-his face? No; it was not his face! For
| one awful moment terror, which seemed
| to still my heart, glued me to the ground
where I stood as it flashed upon my brain
that it was another face that grinned at
me SO close to mine; that it was another
face was looking on-the livid, blood
stained face and stony eyes of the man /
had killed!
With wild scream turned and fled.
| BY instinct for terror had deprived me of
reason, 1 hiod to the bridge, and keeping,
1 knew not how, my footing upon the loose
Gathering planks made one desperate rush
across it. The shimmering water below,
| in which saw that face a thousand times
reflected; tho breeze, which seemed the
dead mans hand clutching me, lent wings
to my flight. sprang at a bound from
the bridge to the bank, from the bank to
the boat, and overt turning, yet never SEQ
| ing, my startled companion, showed of
from the shore with all my mieht-and
fell a-crying.
| A very learned man, physician to the
| queens majesty, has since told mo, when
/ related this strange story to him, that
| probably that burst of tears saved my rea-
! son. 1t so far restored me, ut any rate, that
I presently knew where I was-cowering
IN the bottom of the boat, with my eyes
covered-and understood that Master
Lindstrom was leaning over me in terri
BILE state of mind, imploring me in min
gled Dutch and English to tell him what
had happened. II have seen him. was
all could say at first, and scarcely dared
remove my hands from my eyes. Il have
seen him. l begged my host to row
away from tho shore, and after a time was
able to tell him what the matter was, he
sitting the while with his arm round my
shoulder.
You are sure that 1t was the Span
iard.'' he said kindly after he had thought
n minute.
Quite sure" answered, shuddering,
yet with less violence. How could be
mistaken II you had seen him
And you are sure? Did you feel his
heart this morning, whether it was beat
ing'"
His heart:'' Something in his voice
gave me courage to look up, though still
Stunned the water, lest that dreadful
visage should rise from the depths. NO,
did not touch him.
''And you tell me that he fell on his
face. Did you turn him over?'
"No." saw his drift now. I was sit
ting erect My brain began to work
again. No." admitted. II did not"
Then how" asked the Dutchman
roughly, how do you know that he was
dead, young sir? Tell me that"
Il When I explained, BAH he cried.
} There is nothing in that. You jumped
to a conclusion. thought a Spaniard's
head was harder to break. As for the
blood coming from his mouth, perhaps he
bit his tongue or did any one of a hundred
things-exccpt die, Master Francis. Tha,
you may DO sure is just what he did moi
do
J "You think so'" said gratefully.