Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-30

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He said nothing more, but he allow
ed the man to come within few
yards Of him, and then he prepared
for the only means Of defense he
had. The huge club was raised, and
at<that moment Rupic saw that the
other man also had club. He
knew then that they had been con-
cealed there until now.
"Harkp' uttered the second vii
lain just as his companion had rails
ed his club. "What noise is that %
e II suppose they're coming to see
if we've finished the job,' returned
the other, **and, by the saints, we
ought to have done there this. But
they shall find it done!w
The ponderous club was raised
again, and, with a quick, decisive
movement, the man advanced. Ru-
ric made movement of the body as
though he would bow his head for
the stroke. Every nerve and muscle
Of his frame was set for the trial,
and for the instant his heart stood
still. Quick as thought his body
bent-his right knee was brought
almost to his chin-and then, with
all the force he could command, he
planted his foot in the pit of the
assassin's stomach. The effect was
electrical. The wretch bent like a
broken stick and sank down without
single sign of life. :.
The second man uttered an oath
and sprang forward with uplifted
club, but Ruric easily lodged the
blow, and then, as the. thought for
the first time flashed upon his mind,
he darted to where the lantern stood
and overturned it. He had noticed
an open passage close at haAd which
seemed to lead to some sort of
dressing room, and, guided by his
memory alone, for it was now dark
as Erebus there, he glided swiftly
into it. When he knocked over the
lantern, he had upset column and
all, and just as he reached the pas
sage he heard a heavy fall, and. he
knew that his enemy had stumbled
over the fallen column. He heard
the curses, loud and deep, which
dropped from the lips of the bamed
man as he picked himself up, and in
a moment more he was edited by a
conversation between the two, for
villain No. l.. had revived, though
the tone of his voice plainly indicat-
ed that he had severe pain still
lingering with him.
michael, Michael" grained No.
l, and as he spoke Ruric could hear
him scramb|ing up on his feet.
Hi, Oriel!" returned No. -
"Have you dropped him?''
<<No?' cried Michael, with curse
which we do not choose to tran
scribe. t*He's a perfect devi]!"
*<But where's the lantern?''
<He put it out" g.
"But you ought to have knocked
him down, you clown"
$50 had YOU" =
"Me? Why, he kicked me over:
"Well, he lodged by me and kick
ed over the lantern"
"But where is he now?''
."He's gone. Hark! Ha, guess
they've We caught him. Don't you
hear %
eyes; they've caught somebody"
"And Of course it's him. He went
that way. Let's 60 and fnd''-
He did not finish the sentence, for
at that moment a voice came up in
thunder tones, and it said:
<*Ruric! Ruric!''
Good God?' gasped villain No. 1.
"What is that %
FRuric! Ruricv' :,
"By the living gods, that is not
from any of our men," uttered the
second ruffian. Ella, THY IRE CON-
ing this way!"
"Ruric! Ruric?' j.
"There is but one place" return
ed Oriel. *Here in the little draw
ing room. Come, let's Fl nd it. Oh,
curses on that gunmakers head! If
he be not the very devil, then he'ta
bound partner Of his. Have you
found the entrance, Mich3 el?"
mo. Its near you spmewhere.
Can't you1- Ha.! In, in r =
At that moment the glare Of a
flaming torch flashed dough the
gloom of the place, and tie two VII
lains stood revealed: a d zen stout
men, all we'll armed, appeared in the
only passage by which they could
escape, for to have fled into the
drawing room of which they had
spoken would avail them rpthing::
clio, villains :" shouted Vladimir,
the monk, raising his flaming torch
high above his: head Will his left