The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-01-20

tried the door of the chamber and,
finding 1t locked. set up a shout. I'm
mediately the providers In the wings,
the searchers in the kitchen and the
stragglers below congregated in the
main hall. Footsteps were heard
ascending rapidly, pausing in doubt at
the head OF the stairway, not knowing
whether to turn to the right or to the
left.
Here they arer' called out the man
at the door.
"You meddlesome foSr exclaimed
Mauville, lifting a revolver and dis
charging 1t in the direction OF the
voice Evidently the bullet, passing
through the panel OF the door, found
its mark. for the report was followed
by a cry Of pain.
This plant was answered from the
distance, and soon a number Of anti
renters fastened TO the spot Mauville,
in vicious humor, moved toward the
threshold. One OF the panels was al
ready broken and an arm thrust into
the opening. The land baron bent for
ward and coolly clapped his weapon
to the member, the loud discharge be-
ing succeeded by a howl from the
wounded leaseholder Mauville again
raised his weapon when an exclama-
ton from the actress caused him to
turn quickly, in time to see a figure
spring Unexpectedly into the room from
the balcony. The land baron stood in
h. IN ~
had appeared 50 suddenly from an I'M
guarded quarter, but before he could
recover his self possession his hand
was struck heavily, and the revolver
fell with a clatter to the floor.
His assailant quickly grasped the
weapon, presenting It TO the breast Of
the surprised landowner, who looked
not into the face OF an unknown anti
renter, but into the stern. familiar
countenance Of Saint Prosper.
"You herer stammered the land
baron as he Involuntary recoiled from
his own weapon.
The soldier contemptuously thrust
the revolver into his pocket. "As you
see" he said coldly, land in a moment
they"-indicating the door-"will be
herew
You think to turn me over to them"
exclaimed the other violently. But
you do not know me. This is no quar-
rel of yours. Give me my weapon and
let me fight it out with them!
"By heaven, | am half minded to
take you at your word But you shall
have one chance, a slender one! There
is the window. 1t opens on the por-
tico"
And if | refuseT
They have brought a rope with
them. Go or hang"
The heir hesitated but as he pom
dered the antirenters were effectually
SCATTERING the heavy door.
The serfs are here! The drawers of
water and hewers Of wood have arisenl
Hang the land baron! Hang the feu-
dial lord."
A Drawer man than Mauville might
have been cowed by that chorus, but
after pausing irresolutely, weighing
the chances of life and death, gazing
jealousy upon the face of the appre-
hensive girl and venomously at the
the heir finally made a virtue I!
IF necessity, and he sprang upon the |
too soon, for a mDmer-
later the door burst open and an in |
.ongruous element rushed into the |
room. Not until then did the soldier |
discover that he had overlooked the |
2 OF Fafr
in the land baron's stead. for the anti |
renters promptly threw themselves up |
)n him. The first to grapple with him |
was a hercuean, thick ribbed man OF |
stature, taller than the
soldier if not so well knit-a Goliath, |
indeed, with arms long as windmills.
"Stand back, lads" he roared, land |
let me throw himr And Dick the toll
man rushed at Saint-Prosper with fu- |
-ious attack. Soon they were chest to !
chest, each with his chin on his OPP |
)onents right shoulder and each grasp |
ng the other around the body with |
Joined hands.
Dicks muscles grew taut like mighty |
his chest expanded with |
power, he girded his loins for great |
,ffort and it seemed as If he would |
make good his boast. Held in the |
grasp of those arms, tight as iron |
bands, the soldier staggered. Once |
more the other heaved, and again Saint |
Prosper nearly fell, his superior agility |
alone saving him.
Then slowly, almost imperceptibly, |
the soldier managed to face to the
right, twisting so as TO place his left |
hip against his adversary-his only |
chance-a trick of wrestling unknown |
10 his herculean but clumsy opponent. |
all his strength in last de-
termined effort, he stopped forward |
suddenly and lifted in his turn. One !
portentous moment-a moment OF
doubt and suspense-and the proud
of the barn burners was
hurled over the shoulder Of the soldier,
landing with a crash on the floor
where he lay dazed and immovable.
Breathing hard, his chest rising and
falling with labored effort, Saint-Pros-
nor fell hack aOainat the wall The