Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-12-07

l gave back a pace, snatch'd up a chair
and with my back against the door,
waited his charge.
Twas in this posture that, Ainging a
glance across the room, / saw the Cap
tain's sword describe small circle Of
light, and next moment, with a sharp
cry, Anthony caught at the blade, and
staggered against the wall pinnd
through the chest to the wainscoting.
'Out with the lights. Dickw b Wild
Settle, tugging out his point. Quick,
fool--the window"
Dick, with back sweep of his hand
sent the candles flying off the shelf, and
save for the flicker Of the hearth, we
were in darkness. l felt. rather than
saw, his rush toward me; leap'd aside
and brought down my chair with a crash
on his skull. He went down like a nine
pin, but scrambled up in trice, and
was running for the window. There was
a shout below as the Captain thrust the
lattice open; another, and the two dark
forms had clambered through the purple
square of the easement, and droppd into
the bowling green below.
By this, | had made my way across
the room. and found Anthony sunk
against the wall, with his feet outstretch-
ed There was something he held out
toward me, cropping for my hand and at
the same time whispering in a thick,
choking voice:
Here. Jack, here; pocket it quick"
Twas a letter. and as my fingers clos
ed on it they met a damp smear, the
meaning Of which was but too plain.
Button it-sharp-in thy breast; now
u H. ~
this-could have laugh'd for years yet.
The dice were eogg'd-hast found it:'
l greped beside him, found the hilt,
and neld il up.
"So-'tis thine Jack. and my mare
Molly, and the letter to take. Say 10
Delia-Hark! they are on the stairs.
Say To-
With a shout the door was flung wide.
and on the threshold stood the Watch,
their lanterns held high and shining in
Anthony's white face, and on the black
stain where his doublet was thrown open.
Ia numbers they were six or eight. led
by a small, wrynkled man that held
long staff. and wore a gilt chain over
his furr'd collar. Behind, in the door
way. were huddled half dozen women.
peering, and Master Davenant, his great
face looming over their shoulders like
moon.
Now, speak up. Master Short"
AYE. that | will--that | will: but my
head is considering Of affairs" answered
Master Short-he of the wryneck One.
two. three" He look'd round the
room, and finding but one capable of re-
sisting flor the potboy was by this time
in a fit. clear'd his throat, ana spoke up:
In the kings name. arres you all.
Now. what's the matter?'
Murder" said l. looking up ON my
work OF staunching Anthony wound.
Then forbear, and don't do it.
"Sirs,' said |. laying poor Anthony's
head softly back. you are too late;
whilst We were Gambling my friend is
dead"
''Thep. young man, thou must come
along"
Come along?"
THE charge IS homocidium. or man
| Staying with or without malice pre-
I pc 1se---"
| But | looked around The pot
/ hoy was insensible, and my eyes fell ON
Master Davenant, who slowly shook his
head.
IL >
lost twenty pound, one time. by law
suit
Pack of fools cried. driven beyond
endurance. The guilty ones have es-
cap'd these ten minutes. Now stop me
who Ia resi'
And dashing my left fist IN the nose of
Waterman who would Lave seized me,
| clear'd space nth Anthony's sword.
made a run for the easement, and
| dropp'd out upon the bowling green
\ pretty shout went up as | pick d
| myself off the turf and rushd for the
| back door. Twas unbarr'd and in a
| moment | found myself tearing down
! the passage and out into the Corn Mar
| ket. with a score or so tumbling down
| stairs at my heels, and yelling to stop
me.
l knew there was no possibility to get
/ past the city gates, which were well
guarded at night Ny hope reachd no
further than the chance of outwitting
/ the pursuit for while longer In the
/ end was sure the potboy's evidence
+ would clear me- Even my certain ex-
/ pulsioa from college on the morrow
seem'd of a piece with the rest Of events
! I
unhinged my wits. as must suppose
and you must believe, il you would I'M
derstand my behavior in the next halt
hour
\ bright thought had struck me; and
taking n fresh wind | set OF again
round the corner Of Oriel College and
down Merton street toward Master rim
othy Carriers house. my mothers cousin
This gentleman-whO was town clerk {,
the Mayor and Corporation Of Oxford
was also in a sense my guardian, holding
in trust about 600 and spending til,
same jealousy on my education. He wal
a very small, precise lawyer, about sixty
years old. shaped like a pear. with
prodigious self-important manner tha
came of associating with great men; an'
all the knowledge I had of him wal
pick'd up on t.c rare occasions that
dind ut his table lie had early married
and lost an aged shrew, whose money
had been the making of him; and ha'
more respect for law and authority thar
any three men in oxford So that I re
flected. with kind of desperate hilarity
on the greeting lie was like to give me
This kinsman of mine had n fine hous
ut the east end OF Merton street as 70,
turn into Logic Lane; and | was ter
yards from the front door. and running
my fastest, when suddenly l tripod an,
fell headlong. Before | could rise,
hand was on my shoulder. and a voic
speaking in my ear:
Pardon. comrade. We are two of
trade sec"
Twas fellow that had ben lurkin
| nj the corner Of the lane. and had thruS