Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-07-05

coat, and my own passed clean through
the top of his left shoulder.
Down he went, carving my sword
with him, n a how set up from the
men!
"A foul blow! A foul blown they
cried, INC / had u time to pull my
rapier away when they were upon me.
The first to come caught my fist on his
nose n rolled away with a groan of
pain, but In an instant the others a
me down. Twas a wretched scramble
of a fight, one against four, and /
kicked and struck out and cursed them
all for towards, when on a sudden the
officers voice sounded high above the
others, and with his one good arm and
the tavern keepers assistance, he
pulled the crowd off.
l jumped to my feet. dazed and near
ly mao with anger, to receive a tap on
my shoulder from the fiat of his sword.
we've not finished with me, my
friend! Have We had %enough?"
Il? You British spy! / had enough?
III send your poor soul to hell before
I've had enoughl"
"Good!' said he. Good! TITS q
proper spirit! But hell waits for 9TH
ers than me tonight" and he was at me
again with the blood running down the
soaked sleeve of his left arm, that
swung aimlessly at his side. The man
was game beyond a doubt, and a
strange respect for him crept over me,
cooling my brain and giving me a sight
or n l must do to save my own
life.
Again he beat into my guard. Again
he pushed me to the wall. But / was
cooling down, and he could not stand
the terrible strain. If / could but hold
him off, his heavy drinking would sap
his strength before mine began to FAIL,
and with that now heart came to me,
and | smiled on him as he worked to
touch me.
That, and the knowledge OF his fail
ing strength, goaded him in a tender
spot, and he lost his temper and his
easy air. | could neal him mutter a
soft curse now and then, and the cool
smile was gone. Then l tried again a
dodging thrust that had met a wall of
cold steel earlier in the fight.
Waiting till he prepared a thrust of
his own, | parted with q too waving
motion, n swung my blade far out
to the right. He saw the lost guard at
once, by saw too late how | drew in
my arm and turned the point at his
breast. | dropped on both knees as
his rapier passed close by my head,
and he literally spitted himself on mine,
falling heavily on me without a sound.
Knowing what would come, | rolled
him over. and, jumping up, drew both
pistols, n stood looking about the
room, which, through my blurred eyes,
showed me what seemed to be n hun
dred faces.
'The next will die sooner" I cried.
(which shall it be? Which shall it be?
Will we not come, none of you? Ah!'
And then, seeing some one rushing
toward me, / leveled the pistol straight
at his head, raising my eyebrows to get
a clearer look, when, God help me, /
had like to have shot the girl!
You are hurt" said she softly.
Where? Where Is it?" and, looking
up at me with eyes that were filled with
tears, she took my right wrist and
turned back the sleeve. Twas but a
scratch, but his point had touched a
vein and let oct a deal Of blood, and
/ SAY her sway at the sight.
Have a care" l said quickly; they
are coming" but she stirred not q step,
and proceeded to wipe away the blood
from my arm. And then, growing cool
er, I saw the tavern keeper warily step
ping forward, bowling and ~apologizing
n keeping a sharp watch on my two
pistols.
"'Tis all over, sir. The men here will
not break their word'-a fine thing was
their word, to be sure-"but the gentle
man is dying, sir"
For the first time I looked at him.
He lay just as ] had rolled him over,
but any n could see that he breathed
heavily still.
Here, you, JIM" said Gowan. You
know some'at of such things. Is he
dead?"
The sallo ,y-faced countryman stepped
over and Strengthened out the body,
keeping a careful eye the while on my
pistol, as my companion swiftly and
gently bound her handkerchief above
the cut and stopped a part of the flow.
Then she as gently pushed me on to a
stool by the table and stood with her
hand unconsciously resting on my
shoulder as the c~ountryman ripped up
the officers Jacket and barred the
wound.
"'Tis beyond me-" said he finally.
Eye "a do naught but WASH 1t with
clean water. and wait" .
Take him into the other room here
said Gowan, and three of them picked
him up n carried him into the inner
part of the tavern.