Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-02

Some Splintcrs lodged in my hair.
bound. while I. for standing still and
saying nothing. was scientifically feiled
TO the floor.
/ cannot have been many moments
without my senses. When l recov-
eret. them there was a great 10 do in
the garden. but had the drawing
room 10 myself l sat M. RoSenthall
and Purvis were rushing about outside.
cursing the Kafiirs and naggiug at
each other.
over that wall. tell yerl'
IL tell you it was this one. Can't
you whistle for the police?"
police be dashed! I've had enough
of the blessed police"
Then we'd better get back and make
sure of the other rotter."
oh. make sure o yer skin. That's
what you'd better do. Jala. You black
hog. if | catch you skulkin' -
never heard thA threat. ( was
creeping from the drawing room on
my hands and knees. my own revolver
swinging by its steel ring from my
teeth.
For an instant | thought that the hall
crrpt upon Il kuflir on all fours.
Poor devil | could not bring myself
to deal him base blow. but | threat
enCd him most hideously with my re-
voivcr ana left the white teeth chat
tering in his black head as / took the
stairs three at time. Why 1 went
upstairs in that decisive fashion, as
though it were my only course. can
not explain. But garden and ground
door seemed alive with men. and
might have done worse.
l turned into the first room | came
to- 1t was a bedroom-empty. though
lit up. And never shall | forget how
started, as l entered. on encounter
ing the awful villain that was myself
at full length in Il pier glass. Masked.
armed and ragged. l was indeed fit
carrion for bullet or the hangman,
and to one or the other l made up my
mind. Nevertheless, l hid myself in
the wardrobe behind the mirror. and
there | stood shivering and cursinS
my fate. my folly, and Raflles most OF
alI-RafHes first and last-for l dare
say half an hour. Then the wardrobe
door was flung suddenly open. They
had stolen into the room without
sound. and l was hauled downstairs,
an ignominious captive.
Gross scenes followed in the hall.
The ladies were now upon the stage.
and at sight OF the desperate criminal
they screamed with one accord. In
truth, / must have given them fair
cause, though my mask was now torn
away and hid nothing but my left ear.
Rosenthall answered their shriekS with
Il roar for silence. The woman with
the bath sponge hair swore at him
shrilly in return. The place became
a babel impossible to describe. 1 re-
member wondering how long 1t would
be before the police appeared. Purvis
and the ladies were for calling them
in and giving me in charge without de-
lay. Roscnthall would not hear OF il.
lie swore that he would shoot man or
woman who left his sight. He had had
enough of the police. He was not go
ing to have them coming there to spoil
sport; he was going to deal with me
in his own way. With that he dragged
me from all other hands, flung me
against a door and sent bullet crash
ing through the wood within an inch
OF my ear.
You drunken fool! Itll be murderr'
shouted Puryis, getting in the way a
second time.
VIVA do 1 care? He's armed. isn't
he? | shot him in self defense. tn
be a warnin' to others. Will you stand
aside, or dye want it yOurself"
You're drunk" said Purvis, still be-
tween us. II saw you take a neat
-. Il
made you drunk as a fool. Pull your
self together, old man. You amt
going TO do what you'll be sorry for"
Then / won't shoot at him. III only
shoot roun' and roun' the beggar.
You're quite right, ole Teller. Wouldn't
hurt him. Great mishtake. Roun' and
ronn' There-like that"
His freckled paw shot up over Pur-