Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-06-17
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
"\HESE were Peggy and the little
baronet. Her ladyship. mind
made up to flee in the darkness,
leaving sixpence on the table
70 pay for her lodgings, even now stood,
latch in hand. bundle once more under
arm, still man, not having dared to
change her garments.
Sir Robin lay ensconced betwixt the
quilts, the realizing sense that his NOR
tai enemy. one who sought his life.
who coveted his lady-from whom he
was running away, to be veracious-
lay not many yards off him, seeming
to Danish that restful repose that had
seldom hitherto forsaken this worthy
and exemplary little person.
A mouse squeaked, and Sir Robin
shivered; beetle battered across the
hearth. his hair stood on end.
Surely fOotstep sounded in the hall
way. the boards creaked. something
metallic struck against the panel Of his
door. and he sprang from his couch
and Chartered to his sword.
Lady Peggy's blade had struck the
woodwork as she made her way
rtealthily down in the darkness. While
Sir Robin shook she gained the lower
end of the hall. but. not being acquainted
with its ways and turnings, above all.
having forgot the two broad steps that
cut the straight road to the entrance in
two, her ladyship, with much clanking
Of her weapon on the brick flooring
fell sprawling, her bundle shooting off
into the unseen, she up on hands and
knees. hither. yOn, seeking it; Sir Robin
beating on his wainscot such a tattoo
as was fit to wake the dead. shrieking.
from the safe shelter of the mufiling
pillows where he huddled:
Murder! Thieves! Ho, there! Land
lord! Tom! James! Ho, there, say!
Help! Help!"
Sir Percy is out Of his four post up
stairs in flash, finder struck, door
flung open. in nightrail and cap, with
rapier drawn, hanger uplifted.
"'Sdeatb! What's the matter?' cries
he at the top of lung. Speak or I'll
fire" And down the stair he plunges to
Sir Robins very SILL
This one, having successfully sum.
mOned those more doughty than him
self to cope with the supposed danger
now recognizing Sir Percy's voice. shiv
ers and sweats as he covers and pulls
the Counterpart over his head, graspine
his purse in his sharp little fingers
wisely never undOing his door.
Speak or I'll firev' repeats Sir Percy
whose candle has been blown out by
the draft. He takes a few steps down
the hallway where he hears the curious
scratching noise her ladyship is max
ing as she distractedly feels around for
the bundle
At last she grasps it and creeps up
unwittingly to Sir Percy's very side.
De factO her arm grazes his as she now
raises herself to a standing posture, ex.
actly as her lover, no answer being
vouchsafed him, pulls his trigger and
the ball goes a-whizzing through Sir
Robins door panel and finds lodgment
in the chimney bricks.
Peggy, her customary compOsure be-
ing much the worse for hunger and the
general excitement, jumps when the
shot pops and thus inadvertently now
palpably touches Percy's elbow. He
turns upon her and seizes her wrists
in grip Of steel. She, as tightly hug.
ging the bundle under her armpit, ut.
tiers no sound, but wriggles and twists
to such a purpose that she is about to
get free when her opponent renews his
endeavors with an oath.
Speak" says he, ''or I'll brain your
making to hold Pegs two hands pris.
oner in one Of his, the while he may
seize his rapier and put a finish to the
matter.
She does not speak, but to the scene
Jump now the heavy, cumbrous country
folk, ratified out of their deep slumber
by Sir Percy's ball and no less by the
piercing and prolonged shrieks Of Sir
Robin, each Colin Clout and DOwsabel
Of 'em armed with whatever they
could catch, yet, luckily for her lady
ship. no one Of them with sense enough
to fetch a candle.
"A light, a light. you idiots" cried
Sir Percy, while her ladyship makes a
final twist to free herself, fruitless as
before. She feels her ebbing strength
at its last pinch and feels, too, the bun
die looSening in her hold
Then as landlord stumbles to his tin.
der box amid an uproar from all the
travellers, especially the new made
bride and her spouse, Peggy finds her
self let go, nay. almost thrust aside as
her captOr calculates testify:
POUNDS. girl, why did you not pro.
claim your sex, and not leave me to find
it out by long wisp of woman's hair
between my fingers? Lights. lights,
say, and we'll get the fellow yet! He
must be In the house, for no ones left
it."
Sir Percy has been for the moment
meshed in his lady's long tresses which
in the skirmish have broken leash OF
the bundle and dangle out yards
length.
For an instant she stands on the
landing at bay. To unbolt the big door