The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-27
PART III.

disposed himself TO wait the coming OF |
the morning as comfortably as circun-
stances would permit, and very soon.
much to the others surprise, resumed
the slumber from which he had been
no rudely awakened. The man at the
table. not having the same happy indif- ,
ference, or conscious that he had to
deal with one of great courage and re-
source, elected TO sleep with one eye |
open. so that he might frustrate any
designs upon himself or his possessions|l
To that end he wrapt himself in his |
cloak, and sat down in the window-sea..
In this strange fashion, the one asleep, !
the other nodding, with the bones of |
contention the packets - lying or |
the table between them, as if things Of |
no account. the night was spent.
At length, after what seemed to tho |
waking man an eternity of time, and |
when he was almost come TO beifeve |
that day would never break again, the |
first faint flushing of dawn strealing |
the easement warned him that the fate |
full moment was at hand. Rising with |
great caution so as not to disturb tho |
sleeper, he stole across the floor, out 81
and opening a door at the end of it |
looked into the place beyond, and
whispered something to man, who, in |
the dim light of the half dead fire,
booked not unlike mine host. Whoever
he was, he seemed on good terms with
the speaker, for he no sooner heard
What the other had 10 say than he
clipped the bolt of the house door and
made for the stable. The man in the
cloak. apparently satisfied. returned 10
the room as stealthily as he had left ii,
and resumed his seat. Little by little
the dull, gbostly light increased in
strength, the grey began TO wane and
warm and grow rosy, then by-and-bv
The table, the chairs. the rafters, and
the floors and the walls. and at last the
fireplace at the far end of the room,
began to show; bird twittered on a
bough without. and then. as flood Of
yellow glory streamed over the world,
and another day came dancing across
the hilltops,a hundred fute-lilxe throats
piped out q welcome.
When at last it was broad daylight,
tiie man at the window arose and
9tretched himself, and Then proceeded
ito call the host by hammering upon the
table with the pommel of his sword.
"Send in my man." said he, when
mime host appeared; "and bark vel
what cheer have We at hand? Give us
what We haye--we are in haste"
AS soon as the lackey had come in,
closely followed by the victuals, Hall
burton, who had been walxen for some
Kline, had his bonds undone, and the
three at once proceeded to fortify ma
ture by attacking the viands, at which
work Halliburton, valiant trenchman,
Showed that misfortune, whatever else
it had done, had not deprived him of his
appetite.
"Perdition seize this man." muttered
lhe other to himself: "there is no dis |
1heartening him. If his spirit be as
agreat as his stomach he will not be easy
sverthrown."
"A long bottle for long ride" said |
Halliburton, jocosely. as he poured out |
Abe wine from tall flask; may you be |
9ast in"
"Ye seem confident, sir" returned the |
other, sourly; che laughs who wins"
swell, well, have presentiment that |
will win. Howbeit, if lose L will !
have had my laugh" said Haliburton;
-'but come, sir, your dice, your dice;
xhis is not marriage feast; the high
est throw has the choice
"You first" cried tie other, produc-
lng his dice box.
''IIave with you then" rejoined Hall
burton, as he rolled the cubes upon the
board.
"Seyen!" calculated his opponent,
~seyen to beat" and he threw in turn.
''Tcn!" he cried; "Jesu Maria / am
sdfe; / have won!" he cried again,
hcaT:rg a sigh as IL relieved; II choose
my ain beast
With an exclamation ofvexation, Hal
ibuTton rose and buclSled on his sword
'Let us 60, he said.
.''At once, sir" answered the other
with a sharp laugh; "but faith! IL YOU
only win by losing, We will scarce make
salt TO your kali"
Not troubling himself to reply to this
sally. Halliburton strode out 10 where
the two horses were being led ND and
down in front of the door, leaving his
adversary to settle his reckoning.
swell, sir" said the latter when nj
last he came out, Ell you are ready. so
am T. and ne handed the two dis
patches 10 mine host as had been agreed
upon.
"le viii stand between us so, sir"
he explained, ''and the moment we are
up ye will give this gentleman his
choice; the packet that's left is mine,
Now, sir" he cried mounting his horse.
''boot and saddle"
Ready" answered Halliburton. vault
Ing into his saddle. "Come, good sir,
the packet"
Nine host. standing between the two
horses. held up the dispatches.
Halliburton looked them over care.
fully for second or two. then noting
the mark he had made 20 enable him 20