The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-02-08
CHAPTER VIII.
rIr HMT oF rHE EARrReuAKE

NttE hAHA VT I'M hNk&AhNNAhks
TAs cfnsh Of thunder following tho iash
for q tinas rnAde words impossible; ahd
hcsion was equally ous q the question, for
n the Hsiaat oi the believing. and while
Eas casting scarriling ElAnoes aboni the room
Tor aosne aneana Of dcfcpac, he raised tha
wCapon ard ievelnd il al me.
eoaid fathom no motive ior bis thua at
taekire me, ssye the heat Ia bis rum.mad
densd brain, and, were he impellsd hy drink
my position was doubiy critical. Had there
been q ghost Of chance 20 act In the as
reaslys, IN this despeFate momohl ] should
have Evsiied myself Of Il, hut not even that
really formidable weapon and guard, chair,
was nearer than the table, and TO have made
move toward It / felt meant certain de
s,rnetian. A uaddcn attack sn him was out
Il my power, for betwixt ne iuteryened The
broad table itself, which made it impossible
70 avail myself Of the tactics bad used with
i.ounsbury. There was naushi for me to do
but stand a. | was and await tho terrible
issue.
However, as he remained silent, j man.
aged 70 fnd nay voice, and, ~ the thunder
rolled in The distance, shouted;
Capt. SeAmmell Ere yoI 40 demeBlcd or
40 eowArdly and 80 lost 70 honor that you
win murder the man you ehAllcasT1 to hghs
N The fieidy"
without a swerve Of the arm, be answered
S,srniy:
"sis down."
Even thus beact, il irked me 10 obey bim
like a echoolboy, but l realized that, armed,
under the existing circumstances he was far
stronger than with eli my sinews- Wisely,
then, swallowed my ire, and, approaching
the table, seated myself with the hope thai
he would come within reach.
He wss not slow 10 following. for be
stepped forward and carefully shd into the
chair opposite. though not for second un-
covering me with the muxzle OF his pistol, or,
Tor that matter. taking his eye from mine.
And here We sat while aash ard crash fol
lowed each other In quick succession. Ny
brain worked rapidly enough, but as the sec
snda sped no way could find TO rid me Of The
shining ring Of steel confronting the or turn
for = moment the equally brilliant CLINT Of
bis eye. each Of which acquired olearness
with the htful lighting Of the room.
The table was too broad for an onslaught,
and aow that we were closer, ! could see
the nerves Of the man were at full tension,
and that on the nlighteht hostile move on my
Part be would pull the trigger.
hope! lightning wculd strike the honse
end put an end 10 the situation. which at
last began 10 have its effect On me. and
take Il that no man can Ions stand the scowl
Of loaded barrel backed by determined
yet siient enemy without undergoing more
or less strain.
Twas even wiahinE that the heavens would
le, loose bolt and finish the matter. or that
the mas opposite would open hia lips and
sneak, despite the roar, when felt the floor
bsneAth me tremhle, a. though the house
was shaken by a mighty power II passed
In the instant, and as Il did - the thunder
faded away for the moment. and Scam.
neil, lowering his hand, LEI il rest on the
edge Of the table. whence the pistol held me
fall Ia the chest. Then be spoke. A%5 per
haps because the excitement indoors aud out
had partly sobcsed him, his words came
clearly:
Il have here your id message in my
hand, but, a. you may well guesA. Il is fore.
stalled There viii be no fight between us
tomorrow morning"
Because you deem it safer to murder me
nowi" returned calmly. Give me but"
Shut your mouth" be interrupted, let.
ting 20 hia temper. do you think | am here
10 handy words with a rebel! Capt Donald
1horndye, aliAs Lounsbury, you are close on
10 the end Of your rope, and you'll find that
end hsAs nooae in t. you cHrsed spy What
be continued, rising In his increasing rage,
and immediately reseatinR himself, while
his voice grew louder. do you think am a
fool, or 60 blind that may not see through
. riddlsf have found you out, hide and
hAir--Thorndyke, Of MArtha's Vineyard
srnusglsr--rebel-spyl Had you escaped me
this day, and been of on Ciinton's business,
which doubtless lies there" lpointihg to my
papers, which lay on the table,. u would
have hunted you down had il cost me my
commission. Escape me! No, by the godsi
From the beginning !ancied you the fraud
, you are, and at the Bulls Head by your
words and fnn airs, you made me sure Of IL
You slipped your role. You'll hnd your hen
hawk has sharp eyes, and. giant though you
be. you viii zee that seamew is nothing il
his grip. Nay, have not come 10 shoot you
down as you deserve, bat ! know your in
irrnal tricks. and mean 10 hold you where
you belong. take It twill afford me more
pleasure TO see you dance at 8 rope's end