Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-01

getting more at his ease. "Black Dog
rs ever was, come for to see his old
sllipmate, Billy, at the Admiral Ben.
bow Inn. All, Bill, Bill, we have seen
sight of times, us two, since 1 lost
them two talons," holding up his mu-
tilated hand.
''Now, look here" said the captain;
you've run me down; here am; we'll
then, speak up; what is it?"
"That's you, Billy" returned Blacl;
Dog, "yom're in the right of it, Billy. I'll
lave glass of rum from this dear child
here, as I've took such liking to; and
We'll sit down, if you please, and talk
square, like old shipmates."
When 1 returned with the rum, they
were already seated on either side OF
the captains breakfast-tabie - Black
Dog next to the door, and sitting side
ways, so as to have one eye on his old
shipmate, and one, as thought, on his
retreat.
He babe me go, and leave the door
wide open. "None of your key-holes
for me, sonny" he said; and left them
together, and retired into the bar.
For long time, though certainly
did my best to listen, I could hear moth.
ing but a low Cabling; but at last the
voices began to grow higher, and l
could pick up a word or two, mostly
oaths, from the captain.
No, no, no, no; and an end of It'll"
he cried once. And again: "If it comes
to swinging, swing all, say l."
Then all of sudden there was a ire
mendous explosion of oaths and other
notes.-the chair and table went over
in lump, clash of steel followed, and
then cry of pain, and the nsxt instant
l saw Black Dog in full fight, and the
captain hotly pursuing, both with
drawn cutlasses, and the former stream
ing blood from the left shoulder. Just
at the door, the captain aimed at the
fugitive one last tremendous cut, which
would certainly have split him to the
chin had it not been intercepted by our
big signiboard of Admiral Benbow. You
may see the notch on the lower side of
the frame to this day.
That blow was the last of the battle.
Once out upon. the read, Black Dog, in
spite of his wound, showed wonderful
clean pair of heels. and disappeared
over the edge of the hill in half min
ute. The captain, for his part, stood
staring at the signboard like bewil-
dered man. Then he passed his hand
over his eyes several times, and at last
turned back into the house.
"Jim," says he, rum" and, as he
spoke, he ree2ed little, and caught
himself with one hand against the wall.
care you hurt?' cried 1.
rum" he repeated. 81 must get
away from here. Rum! rum!"
l ran to fetch it; but was quite un-
stcadied by all that had fallen out, and
broke one glass and fouled the tap,
and while | was still getting in my own
way, heard a loud fall in the parlor,
and, running in, beheld the captain "
ing full length upon the floor. At the
same instant my mother, alarmed by
the cries and fighting, came running
downstairs to help me. Between us we
raised his head. He was breathing very
loud and hard; but his eyes were closed,
and his face horrible color.
Dear, deary me- cried my mother,
what disgrace upon the house! And
your poor father sick!"
In the meantime, we had no idea
what to do to help the captain, nor any
other thought but that he had got his
death-hurt in the scufile with the stran-
ger. got the rum, to be sure, and tried
to put it down his throat; but his
teeth were tightly shut, and his jaws az