The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-06-21
a Brave Coward.
BY Robert Louis Stevenson.



CHAPTER VIII.-(Continued.)
L voice was now heard hailing US
3fs0 the entrance. From the window
~s ssald SEQ the figure Of man in the
0soaltght; he stood motionless, his
oles uplifted to ours. and rag Of some
<1ng white on his extended arm; and
- 10 looked right down upon him.
0oogh he was . good many yards dis
NaAf on the links, We could see the
anesulight glitter in his eyes.
He opened his lips again, and spoke
1or some minutes on end. in a key so
1oxd that he might have been heard in
every corner Of the pavilion, and as far
0vay as the borders Of the wood. It
Was the same voice that had already
SAsuted "Traditore!" through the shut
A9s Of the dining-room; this time 1t
0ade complete and clear statement.
u the traitor "Oddlestone" were given
-. ill others should be spared; If not.
- one should escape to tell the tale.
Well, Huddlestone. what do you say
- thatf' asked Northmour, turning to
ne bed.
Up to that moment the banker had
given no sign of life, and I, at least.
2ad supposed him to be still in faint;
Sat he replied at once, and. in such
tones as have never heard elsewhere,
AAve from a delirious patient, adjured
Aad besought US not to desert him.
Enough" cried Northmour, and
'tAsa he threw open the window, leaned
eat into the night, and in tone Of
sxurtation. and with a total forgetful-
ness of what was due to the presence
sf a Lady, poured out upon the ambas-
sador a string of the most abominable
tafIlery. both in English and Italian,
and babe him begone where he had
come from.
Meantime the Italian put his flag of
truce in his pocket, and disappeared, at
q tsfsurely pace, among. the sand-hills.
They make honorable war;" said
Northmour. "They are all gentlemen
'aaA soldiers. For the credit of the
1thing, wish we could change sides
'1su ana I, Frank, and you too. Missy,
ny darling-and leave that being on
the bed to some one else. Tut! Don't
71ook shocked! We are all going post to
what we call eternity, and may as we'll
~ ahove-board while there's time. AS
tkf a I'm concerned, II could first
0traugfe Huddlestone and then get
Clara in my arms, could die with
como pride and satisfaction. And as it
e. By God, TIL have kiss!"
Before I could do anything to in
esrfsre, he had rudely embraced and
repeatedly kissed the resisting girl.
NeKt moment had pulled him away
With fury. and flung him heavily
against the wall. He laughed loud
and long.
turned from him with feeling CT
contempt which did not seek to dis
semble.
"As you please" said he. you've
teen q prig in life; prig you'll die"
And with that he sat down in a
chair. q rifle over his knee. and
amused himself with swapping the
loek.
All this time our assailants might
have been entering the house. and we
teen none the wiser; we had in truth
almost forgotten the danger that so
inminently overhung our days But
5ust then Mr.. Huddlestone uttered a
cry. and leaped from the bed
Iosked him what was wrong.
"Ftre!" he cried. "They have set
che house on fret"
Northmour was on his feet in an in
slant, and he and I ran through the
door of communication with the study.
The room was illuminated by red
and angry light. Almost at the mo-
Rent of our entrance a tower of flame
arose I'm front of the window. and. with
q tinSling report, pane fell inward on
tie carpet. They had set fire to the
i1eaa-to clubhouse, where Northmour
ased to nurse his negatives.
~:Hot work." said Northmour. LET
Nh Try in your old ROOM"
We ran thither in breath, threw
I'D the easement and looked forth.
AIoag tho whole back wall Of the pa
v1lioa piles Of fuel had been arranged
ana kindied, and it is probable they
had been drenched with mineral oil,
aor. In spite of the mornings rain,
they all burned bravely. The fire had
taken q frm hold already on the out
house. There was not human being
to be seen to right or left
"Ah, WELT" said Northmour, heres
the end, thank God"
And we returned to MY Uncle's
Room" Mr.. Huddlestone was putting
on his boots. still violently trembling,
but with an air of determination such
O. had not hitherto observed. Clara
stood close by him. with her cloak In
10th hands ready to throw about her
shoulders, and strange look in her
eyes, as il she were half hopeful, half
doubtful of her father.
We'll, boys and girls" said North
mour, "how about sally? The oven
e heating, II is not good to stay here
and DO baked, and. for my part, want
To come to my hands with them and
De done''
There is nothing else left" I re-
piled
And both Clara and Mr.. Huddle-
stone, though with very different in
donation, added, Nothing"
Az We went downstairs the heat was