The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-07-23
CHAPTER lN.

When the door had closed behind her,
Hendricks gave IL deep sigh and smiled
family.
"She doesn't know what an awfuly
narrow escape ! had" he began. When
retired last night ] was so overcome
with fatigue that l hardly could take
time 10 mndrrss. actually fell asleep
while sitting on the side OF the bed
I" take of my boots. | almost tumb!rd
to the floor, and that reused me suf-
iirirntly 10 complete the operation.
"Thc first intination Of danger came
TO me in Il dream. l thought | was in
The basement OF Il burning building,
confined in room, the walls of which
were solid masonry and the doors OF
iron. seemed TO be choking and gasp
ing for breath. 1t WIS no dream; it
was realty us far us The sitting srns.l-
tion was concerned, for on waking [
found my arms piuionet. a weight on
my breast and Il towel saturated with
rhlor"iorm held tightly over my nos
trils.
My Lord! ii was awful. Every vein
in me seemed on fire. | felt as if ! had
been pumped full of igni,ed gas
tried 10 scream, but my human night
mare prevented that, or the slightest
movement on my part.
All at once the thought struck into
my bennmhed consciousness that was
in til" clutch Of my secret foe, and with
that cnnr sort of rerugnant dcspcra-
tion That had strength threw out my
right hand, and catching the towel
wrcnrhcd it from my nose, md then
sucked down into me "a Whit of Gods
pure air 1t seemed to act on me like
releasing Il gigantic spring, for
hurled him from me as you would a
singing iznrd. heard him strike the
middle of the floor and grunt as the
breath went out of him. Then felt
hastily under my pillow. and missing
my revolver, and hearing click from
where he cromchcd, knew TINT he had
nabbrd il. | was on my feet in mo-
mcnt, and you can bet did some tall
dodging in the darkness, for knew I
was his target ! saw him moving as I
moved. trying to get an MIN at me, and
all the time | was cdging, sometimes
erect, again on all tours, toward the
corner where I knew that old sword
stooda relic of The Revolutions
before he pulled the trigger l had
hold of it. He heard it rattle and
blnzed away. His bullet struck the
brass scabbnrd, glanced off and crashed
into that mirror there. The flash helped
me locate him, and jerking my weap-
on from its rusty sheath, | dashed Mt
him. hoping to cut him down before he
got another shot. My first furious
thrust with such formidable weapon
nstonishcd him, and he backed, cooking
the gun as he did so. gave him stab
right at he brrnst. 1t would have run
two-inrh plank through, but it had
no more effect on him than if had
str'ck the iron sides Of an American
mnn-ofwnr. He had on blI1let-proof
suit of clothes. heard him hugh
drrisiveIy, and then he fired again. I
felt the twingc in my side just as my
mother screamed below, and then was
almost ovcrpowercd by the thought
that >h" wo'!ld rush to my rescue and
get killed along with me. I dashed at
him. cut at the hand holding he re-
volvrr and was rewarded by hearing the
weapon strike the floor at his side I
saw him stnop for it, and plunged my
swords point nt his bnck. 1t rebound
ed us il it had struck cork. The next
lick was dealt at his hand as it CROPPED
toward the pistol. ! knocked his arm
out and he fell sprawling on the floor.
The mistake ! made then was in try
ing TO get possession of The revolver, for
When reached for il, he bounded 10 his
feet, and. Kissing like cat, sprnng out
~ The open window through which he
had come. ! saw his head and Shout
dcrs disappear below the sill just rs
secured The gun. ! ran to the window
r,d -, ..-.u':-.r ,'o,~r tho slant
II seems Possible.