The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-02-08
CHAPTER VII.

/ looked around. Sir Deakin had pick
ed up the lamp and was mixing his bowl.
humming to himself without the least
concern.
Hand me the nutmeg yonder," he
said, and then, "why, daughter, what's
this trembling hand"
And all the while the footsteps were
coming up. There was a loud knock on
the door.
Come in!" called Sir Deakin.
At this, jacques, who stood ready for
battle by the entrance, wheeled round,
shot n look at his master, and dropping
his point, made a sign to me to do the
same. The door was thrust rudely open,
and Captain Settle, his hat cooked over
one eye, and sham drunkenness in his
gait, lurched INTO the room, with the
whole villainous crew behind him, hud-
died on the threshold. jacques and /
stepped quietly back, so as TO cover the
girl.
Would you mind waiting Il momentT'
inquired Sir Deakin, without looking up,
but rubbing the nutmeg calmly up n
down the CRATER: "a fraction too much,
and the whole decoction will be spoiled"
1t took the Captain aback, and he
came to a stand, eying us, who looked
back at him without saying a word. And
this d~iscomposed him still further.
There was a minute during which the
two parties could hear each others
breathing. Sir Deakin set down the nut
meg, wiped his hin fingers on a napkin
and addressed the Captain sweetly:
Before asking your business, sir, '
would beg you and our company to
taste of this, which, in the court Of
France'-the old gentleman took a sip
from the mixing ladle-"has had the ex-
trcme honor to be pronounced divine"
He smacked his lips and, rising to his
feet, let his right hand rest on the silver
foot of the lamp as he bowed to the
Captain.
Captain Settles bravado was plainly
oozing away before this polite audacity,
and he pulled off his cap in a shame
faced manner and sat down by the table
with a word of thanks.
"Come in, sirs-come mr. called the
old gentleman, "and follow your friends
example. Twill be a compliment to make
me mix another bowl when this is fin.
ished." He stepped around the table to
welcome them, still resting his hand on
the lamp rs if for steadiness. ! saw his
eye twinkle as they shufled in and stood
around the chair where the Captain was
seated.
Jacques, bring glasses from the cup
board yonder; And, Della, fetch up
some chairs for our guests-no, sirs,
pray do not move"
He had waved his hand lightly to the
door as he turned to us; and in an in
slant the intention as well as the bright
success Of this comedy flashed upon me.
There was now no n between US and
the stairs, and as for Sir Deakin him
self. he had already taken the step of
putting the tables width between him
and his guests.
touched the girls aTnl, 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 forward under the Captains
nose.
"Smoli, sir" he cried airily, ''and re-
port t. your friends on the foretaste.'
Set; a's nose hung over the steaming
compc md. With a swift pass Of the
hand he old gentleman caught up the
lamp md had shaken a drop Of burning
oil into the bowl. A great blaze leaped
to tn ceiling. There was a howl-.a
screa.a of pain, ard Gs i pushed Mis-
tress Della through the doorway and out
to til head of the stairs, j caught a
BACKYARD glimpse of Sir Deakin rushing
after us, with one of the stoutest among
the robbers at his heels.
Downstairs, for your life!' I whis-
per'd to the girl, and turning, as her
father tumbled past me, let his pursuer
run on my sword, as on a spit. AT the
same instant, another blade pass'd
through the fellow transversely, and
Jacques stood beside me. with his back
TO the Intel.