Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-09-17

Hnd1ng that i was assuredly alive, his
terror seemed to abate
"Heathcote! Heathcote!" heard my
name shouted hither and thither in
Owains ringing voice, and just as
began to collect my wits he flew up 10
the place.
What has happened?" he cried.
I am not quite sure replied slow
ly. but fancy musket ball has fur
rowed the top of my head"
IA nusket BALI" said Owain. "Who
should fire at you? They had no mus
turned to speak to Sir Arthur, but my
uncle was slipping back toward the
house
Did You get into the line of f1re?"
went on Owain. yet that would be
strange, for Evan and Mocyn are sure
shots and would never lay their pieces
toward YOU"
could give no help in solving the
mystery, and upon reaching the house
farther in the matter at present. Half
o dozen dogwood torches had been
hastily lighted and stuck about the hall,
and my uncle was now busily enga ged
In summing up the light. He seemed
to avoid my eye at first, then he lifted
his finger and beckoned me. l was now
pretty we'll myself again, and ] crossed
the hall toward him.
Nephew" said he, in a high, gay
voice, was ever such luck as this bat
tie? have lost but three men out
right. the others will mend, for they
are as healthy as hill cattle. We have
killed five of the rogues and have their
bodies to show, and do you hear that?
say, do you hear that? There's music
for you." He lifted his finger and lis
tened, with his ear close to the panel
~ Il. Il f..1& 4,
uncles elbow was u small man with
keen, twinkling black eyes, looking as
proud as peacock.
"Shinkin did it, Shinlln did It," cried
Sir Arthur in dry chuckling voice ooh,
but I'll thin out their band for them"
He became silent again, listening
eagerly, and listened too. Pit-pit, pit
pat, 1T sounded as if a number of gigan-
tic rats We're imprisoned there, and
We're scurrying over the floor with UNI
iceasing, unresting haste.
What have you in there?" ] asked.
Some more of the rogues," cried my
uncle, In high glee. '"They cut off Shin
kin In this doorway here; he slipped in,
and they streamed after him, whole
string of them. he says. 1t was dark
inside and he doubled behind the door.
slipped out again and shot the bolt on
them. Oh, noble-noble.'
Escape" cried SIR Arthur, land
how? There is no chimney, and the
wallis are four feet thick. There are
two windows to the room and one door.
Here is the door, and the windows are
ironed with inch bars. Newgate is no
safer.'
what are you going to do with
them?"
Set a guard to watch the room till
morning, and then take such measures
as may seem best" replied he
MY head was paining me in such a
fashion that | now began to feel a
little confused and l turned away and
crossed the hail. along which men We're
already dashing buckets of water to
cleanse away the stains of the fight,
and went up the stairs.
Midway on the long gallery above 1
came full upon Enid Vaughan, as she
stepped swiftly from chamber,
whence came Il melancholy grooming as
of the wounded. She had a candle in
her hand, and as the light fell upon me
She stopped, with a whitened cheek and
Q. sharp cry.
"Oh. Master Heathcote." she said
and the concern in her voice was sweet
to my heart. What has happened?
You are wounded"
l bethought myself then that my face
was daubed with blood and no comedy
sight, and I assented to reassure her.
lit is nothing, Miss Vaughan | re-
Piled "a Craze upon the head from a
passing bullet. which has cost me more
hair than blood"
sit down here" she said, and sat
down obediently OH a chair close at
hand. She raised her voice and called
on Sianl. who came upon the spss and
then fetched bowl of water.
indeed I said, you giva yourself
far too much trouble. Had bat u
bucket of water to dip my head xnd
face in, You would scarce know / ia
been touched"
But she would not suffer me to essdRs
thus, and with the help of siani, rs
hair was clipped from the WOULD t1e
blood washed off, and bandage viii
some healing ointment placed upon it.
l felt ashamed to occupy her so long
over such q trivial matter, and yet
would have been willing TO sit thrice
as long, to feel the play of her soft.
light fingers about my head. Siahi
held the candle, and she gazed upon the
wound and met my eye more than once
with look OF queer, mysterious UNI
Outstanding, of which, at the time,
could make nothing.
Miss Vaughan was just making an
end of her task, when there was a clat-
ter of feet upon the stairs, and up
bounded Owain
Il was looking for you. Heathcote,"
he explained, but find you in good
hands,
In most excellent hands," / replied.
II am ashamed to give Miss Vaughan
so much trouble for so slight n cause"
Enid is q soldiers daughter,
laughed her brother, land does not
finch from Wounds or the sight of
blood. But ! am puzzled to know how
you came by your hurt The men de-
clared they fired every shot up the
hill"
AT time Of such tumult and con-
fusion, 1T is hard to account for every
ball. / returned. II am thankful that
it was not an inch lower. was foolish
to pursue flyers SO nimble."
A woman who was attending upon
the wounded now came to seek direc-
tions from Miss Vaughan, and she was
called away. receiving my thanks with
a Smile as she went. Then Sir Arthur
called upon Owain to find and set
guard over the prisoners, and was left
alone. / went to my own chamber,
and, still feeling somewhat dizzy, lay
down, wrapping my cloak around me,
when | soon fell fast asleep.
Upon my awalsing, the room was In
darkness and the house silent, save for
a faint. measured football below, that
of the guard over the prisoners | lay
staring into the gloom around me for q
While. and then a faint, gray glimmer
upon the pane told me that the day was
breaking, and / sprang up. / had lain
down with my head too confused to
think clearly about things | rose up
with d firm conviction, however, how
reached / know not, unless in my
which had fired the shot against me.
went down to the hall md for,ld ftpo