The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-01-03
A Brave Coward.
CHAPTER H.-(Continued.)
BY Robert Louis Stevenson.

u.-tCOntinued.)
My wife and /, a man and a woman.
have often agreed to wonder how a per-
o could be at the same time SO hand
some and so repulsive as Northmour.
He had the appearance Of a finished
gentleman; his face bore every mark
OF intelligence and courage, but you on
~ had to look at him. even in his most
amiable moment. to see tina: he had
the temper of a slave captain.
1 never knew a 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 a 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 q mepacing expression.
At that moment he was somewhat
paler than by nature; he wor a heavy
frown: and his lips worked, and he
looked sharply round as he walked like
. man besieged with apprehensions.
And yet l thought he had a look of
triumph underlying all, as though he
had already done much, and was near
the end Of IN achievement.
Partly from a scruple of delicacy-
which ! dare say came too late-partly
from the pleasure Of startling an ac-
Q~unintance, / desired to make my pres
ence known Il him without delay.
I got suddenly to my feet, and step
ped forward.
ANorthmour!w said L.
have never had 81 shocking a sur-
prise In all my days. He leaped on me
without q word; something shone in
his hand; and he struck for my heart
with q dagger. At the same moment
I Knocked him head over heels. Wheth-
q It was my quickness, or his W un-
certainty. | know not; but the blade
only grazed my shoulder, while the
hilt and his INST struck me violently
on the mouth.
I Ned, 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
1cufne, pumped down again upon the
grass. The lantern had fallen and gone
out But what vas my establishment
70 see Northmour slip at a bound into
the pavilion, and hear him bar the
door behind him with a clang Of iron!
He had moi pursued me. He had run
away. N0rthmOur, whom / knew TOR
the most implacable and daring OF
men. had run away!
~ / thus stood transfixed with
wonder. ! began to grow painfully con-
saciOus Of the INJURIES / had received
IN the scufle; ! skulked around among
the sand hills: and. by 4 devious path,
regAfned the shelter Of the wood. On
the way, the old nurse passed again
within several yards Of me-, still car
Tyins her lantern, on the return Jour-
ney to the mansion house Of Graden.
This made = seventh suspicious feature
n de case. Northmour and his guests,
Il appeared. were to cook and do the
cleaning for themselves, while the old
WOman continued to .fnhabit the big
empty barrack among the policies.
There must surely be great cause for
secrecy. when - many Inconvenience
were confronted to preserve It.
So thinking. I made my way to the
den For greater security, I trod out
the embers Of the fire, and lit my lam
tern to examine the wound upon my
shoulder. It was . trifling burt,
though It bled freely, and I dressed it
- well = / could (for its position made
II dfmcult to reach) with some rags
and cold water from the spring. While
was thus busted. l mentally declar-
Cd war against Northmour and his
dhystery.
CHAPTER III.
For two days 1 skulked round the pa
viIi0n. profiting by the uneven surface
Of the links. l became an adept in the
necessary tactics. These low hillocks
and shallow dells, running one into an
other. became q kind al cloak Of dark.