Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-07-03


us. There was but time to push one of
the long tables between us and to draw
my rapier, when the crew was at the
other side Of the low barrier.
Yet then felt more tranquil than
had since entering the tavern; for the
flair was taking on the look of a
fight, and I had been in so many,
large and small, of late. that there
was a certain familiarity to 1t, and it
put me more at my ease. l turned the
pistol out of the nearest mans hand
with my point, and got the girl be-
hind me, when the leader (for SO he
was) got upon his feet. purple with
rage, and roared:
Stop there! The man has insulted
me! Stop. This is not for you, clowns!
Clear away here" And with q sober
ness had little expected he scattered
them to either side. and, leaning his
hands on the table, spluttered In my
teeth:
You. sir! You have struck me in
the face! Are ye a coward. or will We
settle this heer now?'
Nothing could be better" ans
wered. Indeed, nothing at this mo-
ment could have been better, for 1t
Quteted the others, or else In n mo-
ment we had both been dead, or one
of US worse. Nothing could be better"
repeated; but l will not stir from
mere, unless you make 1T falf llght
and give me fair play"
Never fear, my fine gentleman! I'll
give ye fair play enough, and foot of
good steel to the bargain. Here, you.
Gowan." he added. turning to the tav-
ern Keeper, who seemed to be surpris-
ingly sober, of a sudden. too. push
away these tables, and you, my friends,
II one of you does aught to interfere,
III blow out his brains!" And he
q n hYnp Of y,icfo IN ~ ha1f
They obeyed him like lambs and set
to work, pushing the chairs and tables
against the walls of the room, while
two dragged the "jolly good fellow by
the shoulders under the bar. So much
Will serious fight do to cool the wine
heated brains OF men In such riotous
times as these. For my part. turned
to the girl, to find her looking up at
me with undisguised fright In her
eyes.
Keep close by the fire." said I quick
ly; there is naught to Though
there was enough and to spare. For
what might happen when l had set
tied this one. could not tell
A strange little smile passed over her
face at what 1 had said. and then She
answered:
II will. But can you fght2'
NOW, do not know why 1t should
but 1t did, cut me to have such ques-
ton flung at me as | was on the point
OF going into q struggle that she alone
had brought upon me. 1t might have
seemed that che could think Of some
one but herself at such moment; but
as l have said I do not understand
the working OF q woman's mind. So
that. however. I may have thought, l
only said,
We shall soon see. MISTRESS and for
your sake. at least, can but try"
IA lad etr o&<rIk t,,A-
again for moment. and then moved
over to the fireplace without word.
Now then, sir, are you ready?"
asked my man, and l answered by
moving into the middle OF the now
cleared room. liked it no, in any way
The lights We're bad. AT best t was but
fog, and q man cannot be blamed for
enemy's eye. To one side of the room L
could see five Notwithstanding knaves
standing together, and what / might
expect of them at any moment could
not be guessed.
Then, too good swordsman as was
and t is no conceit that makes me say
so, for i had had three years OF work ly
day and night and half a dozen before
them of constant practice with my fla
Their, Captain Balfort, of the Indian
Wars-but. good swordsman as / might
be, no fight is surety, and | knew
nothing of my antagonist, excepting
that he was partly under the influence
OF liquor. IL ! fell, what might not be-
come of the girl. what might not the
papers In my boot mean to him, and
those to whom he belonged. And it soon
appeared to whom he belonged, for he
crossed my sword at once, saving:
And now for myself and for the
king! Watch out. you bastard, for I am
the best of men to play with this tool.,
And. indeed. he was a master hand
could tell at the first thrust that he
was better than I, and had he been
empty of liquor, this tale and my own
life had ended there and then in that
dirty room. He was inside my guard
q dozen times in the first two minutes
as we circled round each other, playing
constantly for the light Of single Ian
tern that hung over the outer door.
still, I was growing calmer, and had
begun to gauge him better when he
slipped over my thrust and ripped the
shoulder of my coat with a sudden
and true stroke. Then. on the instant
! heard stifed cry: and, glancing by
his head, saw the girl standing by the
fire, leaning forward. her hands ner-
vpusly clasped together at her throat,
her hood down upon her shoulders, and
q look of terror in her eyes.
"Ah." said the wretch my lady
her comfort when thou hast gone to
hell"
Twas q spur that made me mad to
think on, realising as / did that he had
all but done for me that moment and
l went at him with every thrust and
stroke l knew, beating his rapier till
the room sang with the blows But /
could not touch him. He was mar
vellous good hand, and no mistake: for
he gave ground TIL / had him with his
foot at the other wall, but not once did
! get inside his guard.
Keep your hounds in their place"
cried, between my fast-coming breath;
for the men, whether from interest or
with some foul design, had gathered
closer to us.
Stand off. you foolsl" he cried in
answer. DO ye not see 1 have him
pinked already? Look We at that-and
that-and that!" And he broke away
from the wall, and pressed me as l had
never been pressed before, nor wish to
be again. Once he touched me above
the wrist, and I could feel the warm
blood running down into my sword
hand. This was no country lout, in
good earnest, and knew then that /
had to do with some British officer
without his uniform.
Another stifled cry came from the d.
rection Of the fireplace. sounding clear
in the silent room, and smile played
over the mans mouth, as he muttered:
Now one for the king!" And he
drew a little away from me. j stood
my ground and let him go. And as /
took breath or two to catch my wind,
and brushed my left hand across my
eyes to wipe away the sweat, cried
at him out of the bitterness of my
heart:
Damn you and your king. you vii
lt1
that We draw away?"
Before I had well finished look came