Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-02-13
BY ROBERT
LOUIS
STEVENSON
[COntinued from last week

" ~ ~ ~ ~ 49, ~
'5'. CONTINUED from last week.
1T is now time, gentlemen" said he,
to explain my purpose in decoying
you from your amusements. trust you
did not find the evening hang very
duly on your hands, but my object, I
will confess it, was not to entertain
Eour leisure, but to help myself in an
unfortunate necessity. You are all gen.
Hemen. Your appearance does you
that much justice, and 1 ask for no
better security. Hence I speak it
without concealment. I ask you to
render me a dangerous and delicate
seryice-dangerous because you may
run the hazard of your lives, and deli
cate because l must ask an absolute
discretion upon all that you shall
see OR hear. From an utter stranger
the request is almost comically extrav-
agant. l am well aware of this and l
would add at once if there he any one
present who has heard enough, if
there be one among the party who re-
coils from dangerous confidence and
q piece of Quixotic devotion to he
knows not whom, here is my hand
ready, and shall wish him good night
and godspeed with all the sincerity in
the world
4 very tall, black man, with a heavy
stoop, Immediately responded to this
appeal.
Il commend your frankness, sir"
said he, land, for my part l CO. I
make no reflections, but cannot deny
that you FL me with suspicious
thoughts. I go myself, as I say, and
perhaps you will think have no right
70 add words to my example,
ION the contrary" replied Mr.. Nor
riS Il am obliged to you for all you
say. 1t would be impossible to exag-
gerate the gravity of my proposal"
well, gentlemen, what do you say?'
Rafd the tall man. addressing the 9TH
ars. 1--WE have. had our evenings frol-
ic. Shall we all go homeward peace
ably in body? You will think well
al my suggestion in the morning when
you see the sun again in innocence and
safety"
The speaker announced the last
words with~an information which added
to their force, and his face wore a
singular expression, full Of gravity and
Significance. Another of the company
rose hastily and, with some appear
Iance of alarm, prepared to take his
leave. There were only two who held
their ground, Brackenbury and an old
Fed nosed cavalry major. But these
evo preserved a nonchalant demeanor
md, beyond a look Of intelligence
which they rapidly exchanged, appeared
entirely foreign to the discussion that
mad just been Terminated.
Mr.. Morris conducted the deserters
as far as the door, which he closed
upon their heels. Then he turned
nound, disclosing countenance of
mingled relief and animation, and ad-
dressed the two officers as follows:
4 have chosen my men like Joshua
ia the Bible" said Mr.. Morris, land
z now believe have the pick of Lon
don- Your appearance pleased my
hanson cabmen; then it delighted
me. l have watched your behavior in
a strange company and under the most
unusual circumstances. 1 have studied
how you played and how you bore your
losses. Lastly. have put you to the
pest Of staggering announcement, and
you received it like an invitation to
dinner. 1t is not for nothing" he
cried, that I have been for years the
companion and the pupil of the bravest
and wisest potentate in Europe"
AT the affair Of Bunderchang." OBJ
served the major. Il asked for twelve
volunteers, and every trooper in the
ranks replied to my appeal. But a
gaming party is not the same thing as
regiment under fire. You may be
pleased, l suppose. to have found two,
and two who will not fail you at a
push. AS for the pair who ran away,
u count them among the most pitiful
hounds l ever met with. Lieutenant
R1ch." he added, addressing Bracken-
bury, Il have heard much of you of
late. and / cannot doubt but you have
also heard of me. / am Major
0'Rooke."
And the veteran rendered his hand.
which was red and tremulous, to the
young lieutenant.
Who has not?" answered Bracken-
bury. -. ::
when this little matter is settled"
aid Mr.. Morris, "you will think l have
sumciently rewarded you, for could
of1er neither more valuable service
than to make him acquainted with the
other"
1And now" said Major O'Rooke, lis
It . duel?" !,
! "A duel after fashion" replied Mr..
Norris "a duel with: unknown and dan.
gerous enemies. and, as gravely fear,
duel to the death. must ask you,''
he continued. Ito call me Morris no
longer; call me, If you please, Hammer:
smith. My real name. as well as that
Of another person to whom hope to
present you before long. you will graft.
~ me by not asking and not seeking
TO discover for yourselves. Three DAYS
AGO tho nprcOn nj v,hov,o e,>ocJ; <1;oo.