Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-11-07
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FINNIhoRE. copyright 1899, by 8. g. Mcclure Coz

the eyes OF my adversaries / could not
see, and 1t Is the eye which tells every
thing to one who knows how to read
his enemy's intention.
I fell back slowly a couple of yards,
for the passage narrowed as II ap-
preached the inner door. My foes
pressed on me together and eagerly
striking and shouting In triumph as I
retreated. Then the lessening room
warned them that they could not come
on abreast, and both, eager to deal, as
they expected, the finishing blow, the
two of them bounded out at the same
moment to take the lead.
AS 1 had calculated, they clashed
with and jostled each other roughly.
For the instant neither would give way
and the advantage vas mine IL swiftly
followed up. / promise you / made no
laggard business of II. l had not for
gotten the duellist's advice to his
brother when / lay under Whitesock,
and, knowing he was the more danger
Gus enemy, l gave him the point with
my full weight behind 1t, running him
clean through, and %slashing the other
severely across the shoulder of his
sword arm.
Down went the first, all In a heap,
and the second staggered back. The
big fellow with the torch sounded at
me like a wolf, striking madly at me
with the blazing brand. So sudden was
his attack that the leaping flame was
at my eyes before 1 could pull myself
together to meet this new mode of war
fare.
l raised my arm and he struck It fur
iously with the great splinter of burn
ing bog-wood. The light, flaky wood
shattered into a thousand fragments,
covering me with suarks and flaming
finder, while repaid him with a thrust
which drove him bowling back. With
a few hasty sweeps OF the hand, l
freed myself from the shreds Of the
torch, and stood to my guard again.
1t was some moments before l could
see clearly, for the glare of the flame
had dazzled my eyes. Where my enem-
les were l Knew not, n l swung my
sword from wall to wall, high n low
before me. to be sure that all was clear
In my front. AS my eyes began to do
their wonted service / heard a drag
ging noise, and saw the torch-bearer
drawing away the body Of the duellist,
who began to utter choking groan as
he was moved. The other man had al
ready retreated and, though II would
have been easy for me to cut off the
two at hand, yet I could not find 1t
In my heart to attack the faithful fell
low, who, wounded himself, was succor-
ing his master.
- Nh'SAAABANA ia lliS blON illB lilSAANo
which Uttered the floor, drew a deep
breath, and thought gratefully of the
stout-hearted Slam guarding the win
dow within. But for her my case would
be hopeless. A single assailant In the
rear would make a swift end Of the bus
mess. The day was now wearing on,
and the light grew fainter In the gal
lery, and in consequence my narrow
fortress became duskier than ever.
Five fen rninIItnG no SGnl on1 No
fresh attempt was set on foot. 1 posted
myself at the angle and kept a keen
lookout, but saw no one A continued
mutter Of voices warned me that plenty
OF foes were lurking neal the narrow
entrance to my den, but they gave no
other sign Of their presence.
Suddenly l jumped in sheer fright.
My nerves were strained to expect but
II thing and that was a rush from the
gallery, when a LOUD hollow stroke rang
at my. elbow on The other side Of the
wall upon which / leaned, l shook with
surprise. Several dull sounding blows
were given, and then Clang! clang! an
iron bar rang upon stone. l was at no
loss to explain their movements, and
bit my under lip till the blood ran, as 1
cudgelled my perpleXed brain for some
way Of meeting this clever plan. My
enemies were within a couple of feet
of me, knocking a hole in the wall.
They had skilfully chosen a point
which would rake the lower end OF the
passage. Once Il gap was made they
had but to thrust the muzzle OF q mus
ket through, and m lank was turned,
fortress untenable.
Luckily, the partition walls Of hat
stout old house were soundly build Of
quarried stone, and the clinking bar
had a good twenty minutes work be-
fore it ere the plaster on my side would
be reached.
To retreat to the room behind me
was useless. 1t was big enough to ad-
NIT a score to hack at me, and 1 dis
missed the idea instantly. l sent my
thoughts out and ran in mind over the
whole house, with which l had become
quite familiar. The gallery, the wide
stairs, the hall, the ponderous door, the
hillside without, these strung them
selve before my inner eye, and / Won
dered If a dash were possible. But l
could not help shaking my head as l
the risks. OF q sudden my
thoughts, as it seemed of their own
Will, turned II ran upstairs. I saw
the flights of broad shallow steps, the
long corridor on the next floor, with
it's rows of doors opening to the gar
rets where slept servants and retain
ers, a clumsy ladder leading to q trap
which gave entrance to q cham
Der In the roof, and | caught my breath
at the idea which flashed into my mind.
A impregnable fortress" thought
could l but reach 1t, an impregna-
bic fortress. They dare do nothing but
me out Of 1t, n much might
happen before then"
1 felt a burning eagerness to try my
fate at once. / slipped out Of my boots,
tied my sword to my wrist by a kerr
chief, for fear it should be struck from
my hand, took a tight grip Of my loaded
pistol and made a cautious step or two
down the outer end of the passage.
Inch by incl l drew on until I was but
a yard from the mouth, and 1 felt sure
that none of the guard was very close
to the opening. Then, like a hare from
her form, l darted out at full speed.
A great roar Of surprise went up, and
dozen men sprang at me at once.
Two or three pistols were fired at ran
dom, but the balls went wide of me,
and l passed clean through the crowd
to the further side of the gallery. Ev-
cry one of the band stationed here was
at once filled with the same idea.
They never dreamed but that l was
rushing for the stairs and hall, and
they swung in a yelling wave to the
to cut me off. This played
game to a nicely, and left fully
open the flight On the opposite side
leading to the next floor. Up I went,