The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-01-30
CHAPTER VIII.-(Continued)

n voice was now heard hailing us
+, from the entrance. From the window
we could see the figure of man in the
moonlight; he stood motionless, his
FACE uplifted TO ours, and 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
Tor some minutes on end, In key so
lond 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 II
made complete and clear statement.
III the traitor "Oddlestone" were given
up, all others should be spared; If not,
no one should escape to tell the tale.
We'll. 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 /, at least,
bad supposed him TO be still in faint;
but he replied at once, and in such
tones as have mover heard elsewhere,
save from delirious patient, adjured
and besought us not to desert him.
Enough" cried Northmour, and
then he threw open the window, leaned
out into the night. and in a tone of
exultation, and with total forgetful-
ness OF what was due TO the presence
of lady. poured out upon the ambas-
sador string of the most abominable
raillery, both in English and Italian.
and bade him begone where he had
come from.
Meantime the italian put his flag OF
truce in his pocket, and disappeared. at
a leisurely pace, among the sand-hills
They make honorable war;" said
Northmour. They are all gentlemen
and soldiers. For the credit of the
thing, I wish we could change sides
you and /, Frank, and you too, Missy,
my darling-and leave that being on
the bed to some one else. Tut! Don't
look shocked! We are all going post to
what we call eternity, and may as well
be above-board while there's time AS
far as I'm concerned, IL | could first
strange Huddlestone and then get
Clara in my arms, / could die with
some pride and satisfaction. And as 1t
is, by God, I'll have a kiss!"
Before I could do anything to in
terfere. he had rudely embraced and
repeatedly kissed the resisting girl.
Next moment I had pulled him away
with fury. and flung him heavily
Inc he oil
and long.
1 turned from him with feeling CT
contempt which did not seek to dis
semble.
"As you please" said he. you've
been prig in life; prig you'll die"
And with that he sat down in a
chair, a rife over his knee and
amused himself with swapping the
lock
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 so
imminently overhung our days. But
Just then Mr.. Huddlestone uttered
cry, and leaped from the bed.
asked him what was wrong.
"Fire!" he cried. They have set
the house on firei"
Northmour was on his feet in an in
slant, and he and | ran through the
door OF communication with the study.
The room was illuminated by a red
and angry light. Almost at the mo-
ment of our entrance tower of flame
arose in front OF the window. and, with
n tingling report, a pane fell inward on
the carpet. They had set fire to the
lean-to clubhouse, where Northmour
,nsed to nurse his negatives.
Hot work." said Northmour. Let
us try in your old room."
We ran thither in breath, threw
ND the easement and looked forth
Along the whole back wall of the pa
vilion piles OF fuel had been arranged
and kindled, and 1t is probable they
had been drenched with mineral OIL
for. in spite of the mornings rain,
they all burned bravely. The fire had
taken a firm hold already on the out
house. There was not human being
to be seen to right or left.
"Ah, WELT" said Northmour, heres
the end, thank Cod
And we returned to MY Uncle's
Room" Mr.. HuddlestCne was putting
on mis- boots, still violently trembling,
hut with an air of determination such
ms / had not hitherto observed. Clara
stood close by him, with her cloak in
both hands ready to throw about her
shoulders. and a strange look in her
eyes, as IL she were half hopeful, half
doubtful OF her father.
''WeIl. boys and girls" said North
mour. "how about a sally? The oven
is heating, IL is not good to stay here
and be baked, and, for my part, want
TO come to my hands with them and
be done"
There is nothing else left" l re-
piled.
And both Clara and Mr.. Huddle-