Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-11-14
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FINNM0RE. Copyright 1899, by S. 8. Mcclure Coz


ne came up to the spot where the duel
was fought, and though. nominally,
there was no dispute between us, yet
1 felt sure that he saw where matters
stood. and why I was haunting Nant-
y-Bryn. Half an hour passed and then
/ heard a couple OF fellows talking
thickly together on the lower stairs,
and the sound of unsteady feet pound
ing up. -,
In q moment two men came In sight.
Both wore bloody bandages about their
heads, and were, / believe, the pikemen
who had charged the wall In the pas
sage. and whose crowns / had slashed
there. Upon reaching the gallery they
came TO q pause and looked earnestly
up to the darkness which hid me. one
shook a fist in my direction, then
tapped his comrade on the breast In
drunken gravity and held earnest con-
v~ersation with him.
AS this passed in their own tongue
I knew not It's purport, but the other
fellow, too tipsy to stand upright with
out ~ppo leaned against the oaken
gallery rail and nodded his head TO
every observation. 1t looked as IL they
were coming In p~otvaliant mood to beat
up my quarters and avenge their sllced
polls. Their weapons testified to the
state of their wits. The one who was
ndTdIl III CdlIlOu n oAAchN
other held a heavy stick In his right
hand and q great leathern jack In his
right.
Presently the jack went up to his
lips, back went his head, and ne TOOK
a hearty draught. Then he handed the
vessel to his companion with an en-
phatic nod, and shook his stick at me
in turn. While the man with the sword
drank, the fellow with the club pre-
serving an ~immovable solemnity or
face, began to strike thunderous blows
upon the stout rail and to below a
resounding stave. Almost with the nrst
words Of his song, Siani rushed up TO
him and began to speak excitedly. lie
took not the least notice or her, ana, III
another moment, Enid stood before niin'
pointing downstairs, and
him to leave the gallery.
With a cry Of drunken fury he turned
short upon her and aimed a blow with
his fist. Siani was between them ike
lightning and received the blow upo
her shoulder. It's force was such, now
ever, as to hurl her violently against
her mistress and both went headlong
TO the floor, Enid striking her head
against one of the heavy clumsy chairs
with which the gallery was furnished.
Choking with rage, l darted down the
stairs and flew upon the ruft1an, now
swinging up his club to strike at the
PROSTATE and defenseless women.
The carbine was in my hand, but at
such close quarters l dare not use shot.
l reversed 1t as l ran, gripped the par
rel in my right hand a few inches pc
low the trigger and dashed the STOCK
into the face Of my foe.
The crashing blow took him squarely
across the jaw and cheek, and down
he went, the blood spouting from nose
and mouth n ears. l turned upon
the second fellow, who was just rails
ing his sword in slow, tipsy fashlon.
Him / struck a butting blow which TOOK
him in the chest and sent him spinning
down stair after stair till he reached
the flags of the hall. Turning, l found
SIAM already on her feet and a lift
ing her mistress.
/ flung away the carbine, sprang for
ward, tool the dear burden from her,
and hurried to my lair as a shouting,
furious crowd sprang on us from be-
low. l made w steps along the upper
gallery, laid Enid down in the shelter
of the wall, and jumped back to hold
the stair head Slam had followed at
my heels and ran to her mistress.
A noisy mob was gathered in the gal
lery about the fallen man, several reel
ing on their feet, all shouting one
thing or another 1t the top of their
voices, wrangling, yelling, shaking lists
toward the darkness that hid me, full
of the rage Of drink, yet none daring
to set foot toward my hold. My anger
was such that l would have slain the
whole batch of rogues at a blow had 1t
lain In my power. / poured into the
crowd every shot l could muster, the
swan shot and the bullets from the
second pistol.
They howled in alright at this sud
den shower of lead and ran to cover,
two or three grooming dismally, as II
the bullets had found their billet, a
thing likely enough at so short a
range, and the place was clear again.
How Is she, Siani?" l whispered anx-
iously.
"She is quite WELL" answered the
sweetest voice In the world. II was
only giddy for the moment. Have they
hurt you at all?'
mot a scratch said I; II have had
the most wonderful fortune"
And your head?" she asked.
at smarts a ~little." l replied, moth
ing more"
WAS not an attempt made a while
back to do something's" asked Enid.
1 laughed, and told the story OF the
two handfuls of swan shot.
II was sure OF it," she said. II was
in the kitchen giving some orders to
the women there, and Siani was with
me, when the door was suddenly
slammed to and held against us. l felt
sure 1t was to prevent any warning be-
ing given to you OF some plan. but
Siani screamed as loudly as she could,
and took off her shoe and beat the
door with the heel"
II heard It plainly" ! replied; plain
". There was a distinct sound OF warn
ing in 1t, too, though / had already
seen them and was prepared"
Il think It was that" went on Enid
| (which made the strangers angry with
US"
And 1t is all my fault" said i.
"Oh, no, no." she cried, 1T is 1 who
should beg your forgiveness for leading
you into all this"
And pray" said I. what would my
case be at this moment If o had no
exerted your influence to Save me? Had
you left me on the hillside 1 SHOULD
have been shot or stabbed within {
minute of your back being turned
Whitesock could not fend off bullets
and had been an instant target bu'
for your goodness to me-"
She drew n long breath and there