The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-08
BY ARTHUR T. QUILLEE COUCH.
v.
(Continued.)

nutmeg, wiped his thin fingers on {
napkin, and addressed the Captain
sweetly:
Before asking your business, Sir
I would beg you and your company
to taste Of this liquor, which, in thu
court of ~France'-the old gentleman
tool q sip from the mixing ladle-
"has had the extreme honor to be
pronounced divine" He smacked his
lips and, rising to his feet, let his right
hand rest on the silver foot of tho
lamp as he bowed to the Captain.
Captain Settles bravado was plainly
oozing away before this polite audac'
ity, and seeing Sir Deakin taste the
punch. he pulled off his cap in a
shamefaced manner and sat down by
the table with q word Of thanks.
Come in, sirs-come in" called the
old gentleman. land follow your
friends example. Twill be a compli'
ment to make me mix another bow
when this is finished" He stepped
around the table to welcome them,
still resting his hand on the lamp as
if for steadiness. l saw his eye
twinkle as they shufled in and stood
around the chair where the Captain
was seated.
Jacques, bring glasses from the
cupboard yonder! And, Della. fetch
up some chairs for u gucsts-no
sirs, pray do not move"
He had waved his hand lightly to
the door as he turned to US; and in
an instant the intention as well as the
bright success of this comedy flashed
upon me. There was now no n be-
tween us and the stairs, and as for
Sir Deakin himself, he had already
taken the step of putting the tables
width between him and his guests.
I touched the girls arm, and we
made as if to fetch a couple Of chairs
that stood against the wainScot by the
door. As we did so, Sir Deakin pushed
the punch bowl under the Captains
nose.
Smell, sir" he cried airily, land
report to your friends on the fore
taste"
Settles nose hung over the steam
ing compound. With a swift pass OF
the hand the old gentleman caught up
the lamp and had shaken q drop of
burning oil into the bowl. A great
blaze leaped to the ceiling. There was
a howl-a scream Of pain, and as l
pushed Mistress Della through the
doorway and out to the head Of the
stairs, I caught a backward glimpse of
Sir Deakin rushing after us, with one
of the stoutest among the robbers at
his heels.
Downstairs, for your life" I whis-
pered to the girl, and turning, as her
father tumbled past me, let his pur-
suer run on my sword, as on q spit.
At the same instant, another blade
pass'd through his fellow transversely,
and Jacques stood beside me, with his
back to the Intel.
IN AS we pulld our swords out and the
man dropp'd, 1 had a brief view into
the room, where now the blazing
liquid ran off the table in a stream.
Settle, stamping with agony. had his
palms press'd against his scorched
eyelids. The fat landlord, in trying
to beat out the flames, had increased
them by upsettinG two bottles Of aqua
vitae, and was dancing about with
three fingers in his mouth. The rest
stood for the most part dumbfound-
er'd; but Black Dick had his pistol
lifted.
Jacques and I sprang out for the
landing and round the doorway. Be-
tween the flash and the report I felt
a sudden Scrape. as of 4 red-hot wire.
across my left thigh and just above
the knee.
"Tenez, camarade," said jacques
voice in my ear; "a moi Ia porte
n vous lie maitre, la-bas;;' and he
pointed down the staircase, where, by
the glare of the conlagration that beat
past us, l saw the figures of Sir Dea-
kin and his daughter standing.
But how can you keep the door
against q dozen"
The Frenchman shrugged his shout
der with 4 smile.
"Mais-commc car
For at this moment came q rush of
footsteps within the room ! saw
a fat paunch %thrusting past us, a quiet
pass of steel, and the landlord was
wallowing on his face across the
threshold. Jacques's teeth snapp'd to-,
gether as he stood ready for another
victim: and as the fellows within the
to leave him.
L sprang from his side, and catch
ing the rail Of the staircase, reach'd
the foot in a couple of bounds.
Hurry" ! cried, and caught the old
baronet by the hand. His daughter
took the other, and between us VIC
hurried him across the passage for the
kitchen door.
Within, the chambermaid was or
her knees by the settle, her face and
apron of the same hue. saw she was
Incapable of helping, and hasten'(
across the stone floor, and out toward
the back entrance.
A stream Of icy wind blew in oul
faces az we stepp'd V e the thresh
old. The girl and / bent Il heads tc
1t. and stumbling, tripping and pant
ing, pulled Sir Deakin with us out into
the cold air.
The yard was no longer dark. II
the 0 above one had push'd thu
easement open. letting in tie Wild
and by this twas very evident thu
room was on fire. Indeed. the curtain!