The Washington times., 1902-05-18
~
Copyright. 1901, by Frank A. Munsey. as
''In the Shadow OF War"

why. you whelps of Satan. do you no
| know lady has graced our board?" And
as sidled over to the fireplace. he role,
this way and that and finally came clos,
to her as she turned to look at him.
Madam" said he as he started to max,
a profound bow with a sweep of his pew
ter mug sending thin line OF ale in @
circle over the floor, ''madm, I s'lute
ye''-
But the bow was too much for him. and
he stumbled over his own feet, and fell
at hers The quick turn of her head, as
she stepped back from him, threw her
! hood back on her hair, and then l saw
her face for the first time.
What a face II was, / shall never for
/ get it. never, could not describe 1t; for
/ it seemed then all eyes and wavy brown
hair. and a small mouth, that had more OF
scorn in IL than could have believed pos
| sible in any human feature. Beautiful?
! Aye, that II was, white now as snow, in
/ its frame of dark hair and darker hood.
/ But 1 know not what devilish influence
| the face had on me. for as the man strug-
| gled to his feet, she gave him slow look,
and then, turning to me, said quietly. with
contempt in her voice:
''Will you not protect me, sir?"
And I. without hesitation, struck the
fool in the face with my closed fist and
sent him rolling over himself against the
wall
Twas foolhardy thing to do. and !
baforo hod Hpic
sooner was he down. than a howl set up
from the others, as they made for 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 af-
fair was taking on the look OF fight. and
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.
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 heren' And with a soberness 1 had |
little expected. he scattered them to eth
er side. and, leaning his hands on the ta-
BILE, spluttered in my teeth:
You, sir! You have struck me in the |
facet Are ye a coward, or will ye settle |
this here now?"
Nothing could be better answered |
lndee nothing at that moment could |
have been better. for it quieted the 9TH
ers, or else in n moment we had both been /
dead, or one Of us worse. Nothing could /
be better / repeated; but will not stir
from here. unless you make it a fair fight
and give me fair play
Never fear. my fine gentleman, I'll
give ye fair play enough, {; nd foot of
good steel to the bargaini Here. you,
Gowan," he added turning to the tavern
keeper, who seemed to be surprisingly
sober, of sudden, too. push away these
tables. and you, my friends. II one of you
dares aught to interfere. I'll blow out his
brains!' And he tapped a brace of pis-
tolls in his belt
They obeyed him like lambs and set to
work, pushing the chairs and tabler
against the walls OF the room. while two
dragged the Jolly good fellow by the
shoulders under the bar. So much will a