The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-20
lain just as his companion had ra@s-
ed his club. "W hat noise is that =:

lam Just as his companion had rNs-
ed his club. "3Ehat noise is that ::
'I suppose they're coming to see
if we've finished the job" returned
the other, "and, by the saints, We
ought to have done it ere this. But
they shall find it donep'
The ponderous club was raised
again, and, with quick, decisive
movement, the man advanced. Ru-
ric made movement of the body as
though he would bow his head for
the stroke. Every nerve and muscle
of his frame was set for the trial,
and for the instant his heart stood
still. Quick as thought his body
bent-his right knee was brought
almost to his chin-and then, with
all the force he could command, ne
planted his foot in the pit of the
assassin's stomach. The effect was
electrical. The wretch bent like a
broken stick and sank down without
asingle sign Of life.
The second man uttered an oath
and sprang forward with uplifted
club. bat Ruric easily lodged the
blow. ard then, as the thought for
the Grct time flashed upon his mind.
he dsr:c1 10 where the lantern stood
and overturned it. He had noticed
an o.>>22:1 passage close at hand which
<ce.:ed to lead to some sert of "a
dressing room. and, guided by his
memory alone, for it was now dark
as Erebus there, he glided swiftly
into it. When he knocked over th"
lantern, he had upset column and
all, and just as he reached the pas
sage he heard a heavy fall, and he
knew that his enemy had stumbled
over the fallen column. He heard
the curses, loud and deep, which
dropped from the lips of the bafied
man as he picked himself up, and in
a moment more he was edited by
conversation between the two, for
villain No. 1 had revived, though
the tone of his voice plainly indicat-
ed that he had severe pain still
lingering with him.
Michael, Michael!" groaned No.
/, and as he spoke Ruric could hear
him scrambling up on his feet.
eli, Orielp' returned No. 2.
"Have you dropped him."
ElNo!" cried Michael, with curse
which we do not choose to tran
scribe. "He's a perfect deyil!' p
SBut where's the lantern?"
''He put it out
'.But you ought to have knocked
him down, you clown"
$50 had you"
sNIe? Why, he kicked me over"
"Well, he lodged by me and kick
ed over the lantern"
"But where is he nov" "
''He's gone. Hark! Ha, I guess
they've caught him. Don't you
hear?:"
eyes; they've caught somebody"
"And OF course it's him. He went
that way. Let's go and fnd"-
He did not finish the sentence, for
at that moment voice came up in
thunder tones, and it said:
':Ruric! Ruric."
"Good' Godr' gasped villain No. 1.
"What is that %
SRuric! Ruric."
"By the living gods, that is not
from any Of our menp' uttered the
second rufiian. cha, they are COM
ing this way.'
,sRuric. Ruric!!"
''There is but one place." return
ed Oriel. "Here in the little draw
ing room. Come, let's find it. Oh,
curses on that gunmaker's head! If
he be not the very devil, then he's a
bound partner Of his. Have you
found the entrance, Michael" "
"No. It's near you somewhere.
Can't you- Ha! In, in"
At that moment the glare of a
flaming torch flashed through the
gloom Of the place, and the two vii
lains stood revealed. A dozen stout
men, all well armed, appeared in the
only passage by which they could
escape, for to have fed into the
drawing room of which they had
spoken would avail them nothing.
clio, villains" shouted Vladimir,
the monk. raising his flaming torch
high above his head with his left
hand, while in his right he waved a
heavy sword. 'sWhere is Ruric Ne
vel l?''
"Here, here!" cried our hero.
starting forward into the larger
room.