The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-01-31
CHAPTER vIII.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER VIII.-(Continued.)
A voice was now heard hailing us
from the entrance. From the window
we could see the figure of a man in the
moonlight; he stood m%otionless, his
face uplifted to ours. and a rag of some
thing white ON his extended arm; and
as we looked right down upon him,
though he was a good many yards dis
tant on the links. we could see the
moonlight glitter in his eyes.
He opened his lips again, and spoke
for some minutes on end, in a key so
loud that he might have been heard in
every corner Of the pavilion, and as far
away as the borders Of the wood. 1t
was the same voice that had already
shouted "Traditore!" through the shut
tiers of the dining-room; this time It
made a complete and clear statement.
II the traitor "Oddlestone" were given
up. all others should be spared; If not,
no n should escape to tell the tale.
"Wel Huddlestone. what do you say
to that?" asked Northmour, turning to
the bed.
Up to that moment the banker had
given no sign Of life, and I. at least,
had supposed him to be still in a faint;
but he replied at once and, in such
tones as I have never heard elsewhere,
save from a delirious patient. adjured
and besought us not to desert him.
Enough" cried Northmour, and
then he threw open the window, leaned
mt fnfn thu ninht ord In a tnnn nf
ex~ultation. and with a total %forgetful-
OF what was due to the presence
OF . lady, poured out upon the ambas-
sador q string Of the most abominable
raillery. both In English and Italian.
and babe him begone where he had
come from.
Meantime the italian put his nag OF
truce in his pocket, and disappeared. at
. leisurely pace, among the sand-hills.
They make honorable war;" said
Northmour. "They are all gentlemen
and soldiers. For the credit Of the
thing. l wish we could change sides
you and l, Frank, and you too. Missy,
my darling-and leave that being on
the bed to some III else. Tut! Don't
look shocked! We are all going post to
what w call eternity, and may as well
be ab0ve-board while there's time. As
far. - I'm concerned. II I could first
strangle Huddlestone and then get
Clara In my arms, / could die with
some pride and satisfaction. And as 1t
II, BY God. I'll have q kiss!"
Before I could do anything to in
terfere. he had rudely embraced and
repeatedly kissed the resisting girl.
Next moment l had pulled him away
with fury. and hung him heavily
against the wall. He laughed loud
and long.
turned from him with a feeling al
contempt which I did not seek to dis
Semble.
AS you please" said he. you've
been Z prig in life; q prig you'll die"
And with that he sat down in q
chair. I rifle over his knee, and
amused himself with swapping the
loek.
All this time our assailants might
have been entering the house, and we
been none the wiser: we had In truth
almost forgotten the danger that sc
imminently overhung our days. But
1ust then Mr.. Huddlestone uttered a
cry, and leaped from the bed.
asked him what was wrong.
sFire!" he cried. ''They have sc,
the house ON fire!s
. NorthmOur was On his feet in an In
slant. and he and I ran through the
door OF communication with the study
The room was illuminated by q red
and angry light. Almost at the mo.
ment OF our entrance a tower OF flame
arose In front Of the window, and. with
.tingling report, . pane fell inward or
the carpet. They had set fire to thu
leaa-tO clubhouse, where Northmoul
used to nurse his negatives.
ssHot work!" said Northmour. "Let
u Try n your old ROOM"
we ran thither In Z breath, threw
IN the easement and looked forth
Along the whole back wall Of the pa.
vilion piles OF fuel had been arranged
and kindled. and 1t IL probable they
hskd been drenched with mineral Oil
FOR. in spite OF the mornings rain,
they Ill burned bravs7y. The fire had
taken : arm hold already on the out
house. There was not q human being
10 be seen to right or left.
"Ah, Welt" said N0rthmour. "here'
the end, thank God"
And we returned 70 my Uncle'i
Room" Mr.. Huddlestene was putting
ON his boots. still v~iolAatly trembling
but with an air Of determination sucl
q / had not hitherto Observed. Clar,
stood close by him. with her cloak il
both hands ready to throw about he
shoulders, and q strange look IN he
eyes. 8 II she were hall hopeful. hal
doubtful Of her father.
We'll, boys and girls" said North
mour. how about q sally? The oveI
is heating, It Is not good to stay her
and be baked. and, for my part. I wan
to come to my hands with them AM
be DONE"
There is nothing else left" I re
piled.
And both Clara and Mr.. Huddle
stone. though with a very different in
tonatton, added, "Nothing!" .
Az we went downstairs the heat wa