The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-08-22
Shoot! shoot! coward" cried the

Shoot! shoot! coward" cried the
man again.
l caught, out of. the corner Of my eye,
the soldier again on his feet and walk
ing slowly up to me, with his great
pistol held before him and bearing on
me. And tits more than strange how,
gone though I knew I must be, L had
but one thought-she should see what
a patriot could do in his last hour. Sc
l gave a hearty lunge at my man, and
again, Still seeing the other growing
slowly ~larger-when there rang. out an
other shot like a lannon's report in
that room. ..j 30,
Missed again." muttered I; but a
curse from my opponent, and the
heavy thud Of a falling body, told me
he was down. Yet did it AXE me long
to realize what had happened; for !
could not let my eye wander from the
sword h a flashed in front of me con-
stantly. AS we turned around one an
other, however, I caught the glimpse
of Mistress Philipse, looking in terror
at the floor in front Of her, and holding
my smoking revolver in her hand-and
my good spirits flew back to their prop
er place. rg
/ UP came from below a shout, and I
heard cries and steps rushing up the
stairs. Still my man pressed on his
work; but what I had seen her do gave
me the stomach to push him to the
wall And then, too quick to be told
here properly, my name sounded clear
and brave, in Acton's voice, accom-
panied by the sounds of my approach
ing friends. For the space, of an in
slant we stood listening, and in that
moment I turned to Mistress Philipse,
n cried: E q
Into the back ROOM! quick! Wait for
me there! All! you will attempt it,
will your this last to my adversary,
as I saw him making for the window.
Twas a hard moments exchange-of
thrusts and he was too near the win
dow; for, as I cried out mi the door
opened and Acton rushed in, the man
turned, put his foot lightly on the low
sill, and went out straight into the
darkness with a fall of thrice his
height below him. Yet even then, I
noted that she had gone in the nick
Of time. All might yet be well!
We ran to the window and heard
the voice Of Curtis cry out, as he ran
off into the night after my vanished
opponent. Then I soon learned that
four British soldiers were prisoners,
and that five lay dead, or wounded, be-
low. And while the men were discus
sing how many had escaped, Curtis
walked into the room.
"'Well?' said I, struck by the express
sion On his face.
He sat down and wiped his forehead
without speaking for a moment; then
said, as if to himself: 81
Sometimes I almost believe in spir-
it's" -t.s
What now, lad?" asked Acton.
Here was I standing in the door be-
low" said he, rising with far more an
imation than he usually betrayed,
looking out into the night; when who,
think ye, literally dropped from the
clouds?" gH /
why, lad, twas my man jumped
from the window above" said I.
Curtis shook his head. &
"'Twas the man with, the cape! the
man, as sure as I live! The man who
Is known to us as Hazeltine! I knew
him at once. I made after him, but
and here he shrugged his shoulders
but he disappeared, as il the darkness
had swallowed. him." =
And | sat down and pondered what
this might mean. @5s..