The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-06-15
A Brave ,OWard.
VMAAAAAaANAONWaN NNNalNANNleNNN0Y
By Robert Louis Stevenson.
CHAPTER H Continued.

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CHAPTER H. Continued.
My wife and !, "a man and a woman,
!. have often agreed to wonder how a per-
son could be at the same time so hand
B some and SO repulsive as Northmour.
4 He had the appearance of a finished
gentleman; his face bore every mark
OF intelligence and courage, but on
ly had to look at him, even in his most
amiable moment, to see that he had
the temper of a slave captain. 81
" ] never knew character that was
both explosive and revengeful to the
same degree; he combined the vivacity
Of the South with the sustained and
deadly hatreds of the North; and both
traits were plainly written on his face,
which was sort of danger signal In
person he was tall, strong and active.
his hair and complexion very dark; his
features handsomely designed, but
spoiled by a menacing expression.
At that moment he was somewhat
Daler than by nature; he wore a heavy
frown; and his lips worked, and he
looked sharply round as he walked, like
q man besieged with approximations.
And yet I thought he had look of
triumph underlying all, as though he
had already done much, and was near
the end of an achievement. ....
Partly from scruple of delicacy-
which dare say came too late-partly
from the pleasure of startling an ac-
quaintance, desired to make my pres
ence known to him without delay,
got suddenly to my feet, and STEP
ped forward.
"Northmourv said I.
I have never had so shocking a sur
prise in all my days. He leaped on me
without word; something shone in
his hand; and he struck for my heart
with a dagger. AT the same moment
knocked him head over heels. Wheth-
or 1t was my quickness, or his own I'M
certainty, l know not; but the blade
only grazed my shoulder, while the
hilt and his fist struck me violently
on the mouth.
fed, but not far. I had often and
often observed the capabilities of the
sand hills for protracted ambush on
steaithy advances and retreats; and,
not ten yards from the scene Of the
scuttie, pumped down again upon the
grass. The lantern had fallen and gone
out. But what was my establishment
10 see Northmour slip at bound into
Che pavilion, and hear him bar the
door behind him with a clang of iron!
He had not pursued me- He had run
away Northmour, whom T knew for
the most implacable and daring of
men, had run away!
AS l thus stood transfixed with
wonder. began to grow painfully con-
Gcious Of the injuries I had received
In the scuff1e; skulked around among
the sand hills; and, by devious path,
regained the shelter of the wood. On
the way, the old nurse passed again
within several yards Of me, still car
Fy1ng her lantern, on the return jour-
ney to the mansion house Of Graden.
This made seventh suspicious feature
In the case. Northmour and his guests,
1t appeared, were to cook and do the
cleaning for themselves, while the old
woman continued to inhabit the big
empty barrack among the policies.
There must surely be great cause for
secrecy, when so many Inconvenience
were confronted to preserve it.
So thinking, I made my way to the
den. For greater security, 1 trod out
the embers of the fire, and lit my Ian
tern to examine the wound upon my
shoulder. 1t was a trif1ing hurt,
though it bled freely, and dressed it
as we'll as could (for it's position made
1t difficult to reach) with some rags
and cold water from the spring. While
was thus busted, mentally declar-
cd war against Northmour and his
mystery. .*:>