Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-11-12

opyright 1899, by 8. 8. Mcclure Coz
he came up to the spot where the due
was fought and though, nominally
there was no dispute between US, ye
felt sure that he saw where matter:
stood, and why ] was haunting Nant
y-Bryn. Half an hour passed and ther
heard a couple of fellows talking
thickly together on the lower stairs
and the sound of unsteady feet pound
ing up.
In moment two men came in sight
Both Wore bloody bandages about then
heads, and We're, believe, the pikemer
who had charged the wall In the pas
sage, and whose crowns l had slashet
there. Upon reaching the gallery they
came to pause and looked earnestly
up to the darkness which hid me- One
shook a fist in my direction, tllei
tapped his comrade on the breast III
drunken gravity and held earnest con
/ yersation with him.
AS this passed in their own tongue
\ l knew not it's purport, but the other
fellow, too tipsy to stand upright with
4 out support leaned against the oakcr
gallery rail and nodded his head tc
1 every observation. 1t looked as IL they
We're coming In potvalant mood to beat
up my quarters and avenge their sliced
/ polls. Their weapons testified to the
state of their wits. The one who was
/ llaranguing carried short sword, the
other held a heavy stick in his right
! hand and great leathern jack in his
right
Presently the jack went up to his
/ lips, back went his head, and he 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 solemnty of
| face, began to strike thunderous blows
| upon the stout rail and to below a
resounding stave. Almost with the first
| words OF his song, Siani rushed up to
/ him and began to speak excitedly He
| took not the least notice of her, and, In
another moment, Enid stood before him.
| pointing downstairs, and commanding
| him to leave the gallery.
| With n cry of drunken fury he turned
short upon her and aimed a blow with
his fist. Slant was between them like
| lightning and received the blow upon
her shoulder. Its force was such, how
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
stairs and flew upon thes ruffian, now
swinging up his club to strike at the
PROSTATE and defenseless women.
The carbine was i'm my hand. but at
such close quarters / dare not use shot.
| reversed it as l ran, gripped the bar
rel in my right hand few Inches be-
low the trigger and dashed the stock
into the face of my foe.
The crashing blow took him squarely
across the law and cheek and down
he went, the blood spouting from nose
and mouth and ears. ] turned upon
the second fellow, who was just rails
ing his sword in slow, tipsy fashion.
Him struck a butting blow which took
him i'm 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 half lift
ing her mistress.
j flung away the carbine, sprang for
ward, took the dear burden from her,
and hurried to my lair as a shouting,
furious crowd sprang ON us from be-
low. | made two steps along the upper
gallery. laid Enid down In the shelter
of the wall, and jumped back to hold
the stair head. Siani had followed at
my heels and ran to her MISTRESS
A noisy mob was gathered in the gall
lery about the fallen man, several reel
Ing on their feet. all shouting one
thing or another at the top of their
Voices wrangling. yelling, shaking fists
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 / would have slain the
whole batch of rogues at n blow had 1t
lain in my power | poured into the
crowd every shot i could muster, the
swan shot and the bullets from the
second pistol.
They howled i'm alright at this sud-
den shower of lead and ran to cover.
two or three groaning dismally, as IL
the bullets had found their billet, Il
thing likely enough at so short
range, and the place was clear again.
How is She, Siani?" / 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 ALP
mot u scratch said I; IT have had
the most wonderful fortune"
And your head?" she asked.
ut smarts little" l replied, "noth-
ing more"
Was not an attempt made a while
back to do something's" asked Enid.
] laughed, and told the story of the
two handluls of swan shot.
Il was sure of IT." she said. II was
in The kitchen giving some orders to
the women there. and Slanl was with
me. when the door WAS suddenly
slammed to and held against us. | felt
sure 1t was to prevent any warning be-
ing given to you of some plan, but
SIAM screamed as loudly as she could.
and took off her shoe and beat the
door With the heel"
II heard Il plainly" 1 replied: plain
ly. There was distinct sound OF warn
ing in 1t, too. though / had already
seen them and was prepared"
II think it was that" went on Enid,
(which made the strangers angry with
us
And it is all my fault" said /.
"Oh. no. no." she cried, st is I who
should beg your forgiveness for leading
you Into all this
And pray" said I. what would my
case be at this moment II you had not
eXerted your influence to save me? Had
YOU left me on the hillside I should
have been shot or stabbed within a
minute of your back being turned.
Whitesock could not fend off bullets.
and | had been an instant target but
for your goodness to me-"
She drew n long breath and there