Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-05-25

brain as only cream. vouoeairneEt hetns
10 longer possible, / would face matters q.
I they ieH ont, and trusted 70 put All rta
i execution before help in the shape vi tbs
/ aegro or others without might arrive. Ere
i Lowney had covered half the space 5etwixi
/ us, ! stopped for my sword, and, jumping II
the bench and from that to the table. drew
/ the blade.
Is the advancing man beheld ny fqnre
j loom suddenly on high, for the Beams Of the
ceiling barely cleared my head, he stopped
short and stepped pace or two backward,
drawing his sword the while, then with a
voice which might have been heard fur
long, be shouted:
by the great Jehovah. It's Donald
Thorndykc, or his spook from hell Are sc
run to ground at last! Ii We be no ghost,
surrender in the name Of the kingi-fio, old
man here is the devil himself; get to my
holsters and fetch the firearmsi Hither, ye
black rascal! help me mold HIM here. Help
here, ! say! Damn the closed door.-Boy!
BOY Oh, what pass Is this.
Waiting Tor no action on the part Of the
old Quaker, and hoping to forestall the ne
gro, / leaped TO the floor, and in an instant
The swords OF Lowney and myself We're
crossed in combat.
The onset was 80 sudden that it drove the
man backward against his table, which, with
the candle and earthenware, was upset,
though the crash did not mar the fellows
guard. Taking advantage Of the opening
thus made, ! sprang between him and the
door, and then the battle began in grim earn
est.
The light was far too uncertain to permit
my putting into practice my well-worn
stroke, and Lowney was much too wary and
too skillful in fencing to allow me TO at once
come at him by any other method. ] was
fairly sure Of firing HIM and in the end beat
ing down his guard, but at present ! had
enough to DO in looking for his tricks and
avoiding his furious lunges. In the halt
light Of the room the fire flew bright from
the steel in the energy Of the parry, and my
opponent hurried his fatigue by wasting
breath in constant string Of oaths-
/ viii net go 50 far as TO say how this GER
tainly would have ended had there been no
interference, but the end came in a man
ner totally unlocked for | had worked the
fellow backward through the room, hoping
to get him where he could retreat no farther,
and had forced him well toward the heavy
settle Wherein still sat the Quaker, when
that whitehaired patriarch rose with an
exclamation, and Selling his staff, stepped
behind Lowncy and brought the stick down
on his barred head, telling him to the floor
senseless carcass.
Though the blow was servieeable to me,
such an act OF war on the part OF a Quaker
made me turn on my ally and regard him
with establishment.
"'Twas foul thing to take man from
behind when engaged in front, my friend,
| broke out, "and, though give thanks for
good intentions, twas an unseemly act, and
you belle your cloth,
Thee has small time to pick fine holes in
my service, friend he answered, hurriedly.
Turn thee to the window and see my mo-
tive | wish to make friends with thee, but
we must hurry. Look yonder!"
looked as directed. and to my amaze
ment saw squad of British cavalry about
turning into the lane leading to the tavern.
There was scaut time for me to run Tor my
arms and get to the window, but, as ! was
about to throw open the easement, the
Quaker laid his hand on my arm.
Not that wayi he erred 1T Is swamp
land and thee would be mired in the night.
Upstairs It's safer for now-leave the rest
to me.
With mighty nimbleness for so old
man. he drew me toward the kitchen, and,
throwing open the door, pointed to a set OF
boxed in steps leading above, and then
quickly drcw back, closing the door behind
him
had but gotten ~ the short fight when
heard him 90 to the barroom entrance and
shout for help With all the might OF his
cracked voice. ia moment ! heard the
CHATTER of arms as the men entered the low
er room, and at the same time the negro
came bounding mp the stairs behind me-
a 4. "A f,ff ftse. lou