The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-22
CHAPTER vllI.-(Continued.)

'pchi'Subt ht StObu iilbllOllitNs, his
face uplifted to ours, and a rag of some
thing white on his extended arm; and
as we looked right down upon him,
though he was a good many yards dis
tant on the links. we could see the
moonlight glitter in his eyes.
He opened his lips again, and spoke
fer some minutes on end. in a key so
loud that he might have been heard in
every corner Of the pavilion, and as far
away as the borders of tho wood. 1t
was the same voice that had already
shouted "Traditore." through the shut
ters Of the dining-room; this time II
made a complete and clear statement.
II the traitor "Oddlestone" were given
up. all others should be spared; II not,
no one should escape to tell the tale.
well. Huddlestone. what do you say
to that" asked Northmour, turning to
the bed.
Up to that moment the banker had
given no sign Of life. and |. at least,
had supposed him to be still in a faint;
but he replied at once, and, In such
tones as | have never heard elsewhere.
save from a delirious patient. adjured
and hesOught us not to desert him
Enough cried Northmour. and
then he threw open the window. leaned
out into the night. and IN a tone Of
exultatlon, and with a total forsetful-
ness Of what was due to the presence
OF a lady, poured out upon the ambas-
sador a string Of the most abominable
raillery. both in English and Italian.
and babe him BECOME where he had
com from.
Meantime the Italian put his flag OF
truce In his pocket. and disappeared. at
a leisurely pace. among the sand-hills.
"They make honorable war" said
Northmour. "They are all gentlemen
and soldiers. For the credit of the
thing. | wish we could change sides
you and I. Frank, and you too. Missy,
my d~arling-and leave that being on
the bed to some one else. Tut! Don't
look shocked, We are all going post to
what we call eternity. and may as we'll
be above-board while there's time. AS
far as I'm concerned. if | could first
straugle Huddlestone and then get
Clara In my arms. I could die with
some pride and satisfaction. And as 1t
Is. by God. I'll have a kiss"
Before | could do anything to In
'terfere, he had rudelv embraced and
repeatedly kissed the resisting girl.
Next moment l had pulled him away
with fury, and flung him heavily
against the wall. He laughed loud
and long.
| turned from him with a feeling Ct
.tl.A n l.l ,-t .anl 20 do
semble.
LAS you please said he. you've
been a prig in life; a prig you'll die"
And with that he sat down in q
chair. a rifle over his knee. ant
amused himself with swapping The
lock.
All this time u assailants might
have been entering the house. and we
been none the wiser; we had In truth
almost forgotten the danger that sc
imminently overhung our days. But
Just then Mr.. Huddlestone uttered g
cry, and leaped from the ed.
asked him what was wrong.
Fire." he cried. 'They have sci
the house on fre!"
Northmour was on his feet in an in
slant, and he and | ran through the
door of communication with the study
The room was Illuminated by a rec
and angry light. Almost at the mo
ment of our entrance a W of flame
arose in front of the window, and, with
q tingling report, a pane fell inward or
the carpet. They had set fire to thu
.lean-to clubhouse, where Northmoul
used to nurse his negatives.
Hot work. said Northmour. lie
us try in your old ROOM
We ran thither in a breath. threw
up the easement and looked forth
Along the whole back wall Of the pa
yilion piles OF fuel had been arranged
and kindled, and 1t is probable they
had been drenched with mineral oil
for. in spite of the mornings rain
they all burned brayely. The fire hat
taken a firm hold already on the out
house. There was not a human beini
to be seen to right or left.
"Ah, Welt" said Northmour, "here'i
the end, thank Cod
And we returned t MY. Uncle!
Room" Mr.. Huddlestone was putting
on his boots, still violently trembling
hut WITH an air VI utltl HiIhdtiOu SuCi
as | had net hitherto observed. Clar;
stood close by him, with her cloak IL
both hands ready to throw about he
shoulders, and a strange look in he
ewes. as If she were half hopeful. hal
doubtful of her father.
We'll. boys and girls" said North
mour, how about q sally? The over
IS heating, II Is not good to stay her,
and be baked, and, for my part. l wan
TO conie to my hands with them ant
be done"
There is nothing else left" l re
piled.
And both Clara and Mr.. Huddle
stone, though with a very different in
donation, added, "Nothing!"
As we went downstairs the heat wa
excessive, and the roaring of the fir
filled our ears. and we had care
reached the passage before the stairs
window fell in, a branch Of flame sho
brandishing through the aperture, ant
the interior of the pavilion became II