Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-02
VIII.

all this uproar Observation-Disclosures
came suddenly upon two dim, swaying
figures. The one nearest him-that Of
a mam-was clutching, throttling, APP
Parently, Il slighter form in white, a
woman. The butt of his revolver
Enlightened out the dark fgurcwith one
crack, and then for a moment every
thing was darkness and confusion. A
lamp, held by some screaming female
at q neighboring window, was dropped
with n crash. The screams subsidized to
scurry and chatter and Ethiopian pro-
testations and furious demands: "You
Elinor! you black niggul,-you let me
out this room instantly" Then rush of
footsteps to the window again, and
tragic appeals: MISUNDERSTANDING!
Whut'sh happened? Doanswer? Domake
1Ilinor let me go to you, or Ah'll jump
out this window. Aim comm now"
And, indeed, q dim, slender form could
be deserted, arrayed in white, ben,iing
low from the easement, when Burns
with his lantern came tearing around
the corner. Then majestic voice, inn
perious even though well-nigh brca TIL
less, was heard: katherine, return to
your bed instantly. DO you hear? in
stantly! And send Ellnor to me-"
That Katherine shot back within The
sleltering blinds was possibly due not
so much to the impetus given her by
those imperative orders as to that i'm
parted by the sight of a pair of shout
derstraps and the face of the young otli-
Ger gazing in bewilderment above him.
Well might he look amazed! At his feet
on the pathway Private Riggs was
spluwling, half stunned by the blow he
had received. On his back amidst the
wreck of glass hot-bed, Private Muir
ply was clutching at empty air and
calling ON all the saints in the lIibern.un
calendar to rescue him from the hands
of that old bedlam. On the pathway, in
loose wrapper, her bosom heaving
with mingled wrath and exhaustion,
one hand firmly clutching stout cane,
the other clasping together at lier white
neck the shreds of her torn and disi,ev-
cled garb, her dark eyes flashing fire,
hen lips quivering, stood q woman GER
tainly not so years of age, despite the
silver in the beautiful hair streaming
down upon her shoulders and the deep
lines of grief and care in her clear-cut
and thoroughbred face. She leaned
heavily on the stick an instant, but
raised it threateningly as the lucliess
Murphy strove to sit up and stanch the
blood trickling from his lacerated hands
and face.
Don't you dare to move, subj" she
painted, "unless-" And the upliftcd
cane supplied. most SUCCESSFULLY, the
ellipsis.
"Oh, fur the luv O God, ma-am, don't
ma'am-"
shut up, Murphy" growled Burns.
'It's easy to see what brought you
here. Shall l let Riggs up, lieutenant?
He's bleeding good deal"
But Riggs didn't want to get up. lie
Aopped helplessly back upon the glass;
plot. Burns bent over and held his lam
tern close. THE mans drunk, SIR" he
sad-"and cut"
II did that, 1 presume" said Lam
bert, still little out of breath alter
the dash to the rescue. II found
him daring to lay hands on this
lady. Madame, sincerely hope you are
not injured. 1t is impossible for Inc to
say how deplore this outrage. These
men shall suffer for it, l assure you"
With rapid step the corporal of the
guard, bringing with him u couple of
men and another lantern, came i.ur-
riedly to the scene and stood silent and
alert, CHANGING eagerly from face to
face. Two OF three frightened negroes
had crept around the rear portco and
hung trembling behind their mistress.
and shoulders, a quadroon girl halted
half way down the steps from the side
door, her eyes dilated, and her hps
lwitching in terror, until low voice
from Within babe her go ON, and q iall,
dark-haired, pale-faced girl in long,
loose wrapper fairly pushed her for
ward and then stepped quickly to the
elder woman's side.
GO back to the house at once, my
child. This is no place for you. Go to
Katherine and tell her say she must
not leave her bed. Got" And, silent
ly as she came, but with an infinite and
evident reluctance. the tall girl turned
and obeyed. Mrs. Walton had spoken
slowly and with effort. OF Mr.. Lambert
and his party she had as yet taken no
notice whatever. Again Murphy began
to squirm in his uncomfortable couch
of mingled mud and broken glass and
head lettuce, and the cracking ac-
compartment to his moaning once more
made him the object Of the lady's atten-
ton. :,
"Lie still, suh," she said, low and
sternly. "You have broken mob glass
now, sub. than youh captain can re-
place. Lie still whuh you are until my
suhvants lift you out-IIenry!" she
called.
"4e-assum," was the answer, as one
Of the negroes came reluctantly for
ward, humbly twirling battered hat
in his hands.
''Go fetch your barrow"
"Indeed, Mrs. Walton" interposcd
Lambert. "you need not trouble you're
eelf The guard shall carry these two
scoundrcls to camD. and nrison life at
ship island or Tortugas will put stop
to their prowling. 1t is on your ac-
count am distressed. We have no
surgeon at hand; will send at once for
doctor in town"
She raised u slender white hand, re-
linquishing her grasp upon the cane.
which now went Gathering upon the
gravel of the walk. 1t was sign to
check him, and respectfully he broke
Off in his hurried words Then arain