The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-02-09
SPUR

tie Stood. with n shattered chair ctwee
them. Their swords were crossed In
tierce. and grating together as each
sought occasion for n lungc: which might
have been fair enough but for n dog
faced trooper In n frowsy, black peri
wig. who, as I entered. was gathering n
handful OF coins from under the fallen
table. and now ran across, sword In
hand. 20 the captains aid.
Twas Anthony that fac'd me. with his
heel against the wainscoting. and. catch
ing my cry OF alarm. he calfd out cheer
fully over the captains shoulder. but
without lifting his eyes:
'Just In time. Jack! Take OF the Sec
ond cur. that's n sweet boy"
Now I carried no sword: but seizing
the tankard from the potboy's hand, 1
hurl'd IL mt the dog-fac'd trooper. IL
struck him fair between the shoulder
blades: and with q yell OF pain he spun
round and came toward me, his point
glittering in a way hat turn'd me cold.
I gave back a pace. snatch'd up q chair
waited his charge.
Twas in this posture that, finging a
glance across the room, I saw the Cap
tnin's sword describe q small circle OF
light. and next moment. with a sharp
cry, Anthony caught at the blade. and
staggered against the wall, pinn'd
through the chest d the wainscoting.
"out with the lights, Dickw bawld
Settle. tugging out his point Quick.
fool-the Window
Dick. with n back sweep of his hand.
sent the candles flying OF the shelf. and.
save for the flicker OF the hearth. we
were In darkness. I felt, rather than
saw, his rush toward me: lcap'd aside:
and brought down my chair with a crash
on his skull. He went down like n nine
pin. but scrambled up In a trice. and
was running for the window. There was
a shout below as the Captain thrust the
lattice open: another. and the two dark
forms had clambered through the purple
square OF the easement, and dropp'd into
the bowling green below.
BY this, I had made my way across
the room. and found Anthony sunk
against the wall. with his feet outstretch-
cd. There was something he held out
toward me, cropping for my hand and nj
the same time whispering In a thick.
choking voice:
Here. Jack. here: pocket Il quick"
Twas a letter. and ms my fingers clos
ed on II they met a damp smear. the
meaning OF which was but too plain.
Button it-sharp-in thy breast: now
feel for my sword. A cheat TO die like
this-could have laugh'd for years yet.
The dice were cogg'd-hast found itT'
I CROPPED beside him, found the hilt.
and held II up.
"So-'ds thine. Jack. and my mare
Molly. aud the letter TO take. Say 10
Delia-Hark! they are on the stairs.
Say to"
With n shout the door was flung wide.
and on the threshold stood the Watch.
their lanterns held high and shining In
Anthony's white face. and on the black
stain where his doublct was thrown open.
In numbers they were six or eight. led
by a small. wrynkled man that held a
long staff. and wore a gilt chain over
his furr'd collar. Behind, In the door
way. were huddlcd half a dozen women.
p~eering. and Master Davenant. his great
face looming over their shoulders like n
moon.
Now. speak up Master Shortr'
AYE, that / will-thnt | will: but my
head is considering Of affairs" answered
Master Short-ke OF the wryneck. "Onc.
two. three" He look'd round the
room. and finding but one capable OF re-
sisting (for the potboy was by this time
In u ht). cleard his throat. and spoke up:
I'm the kings name, ! arrest you all!
Now. what's the matterT'
Murder" said ]. looking MP from my
work OF staunchlng Anthouy's wound.
Then forbenr. and don't do H."
'Sirs." said /. laying poor Anthony's
head softly back. you are too late;
whilst ye were Gambling my friend is
dead"
Then. young man. hot must come
along"
Come alongy'
THE charge Is homocidium. or man.
staying. with or without malice pre-
pense-'
But ! looked around. The pot
boy was ~insensible, and my eyes fell on
Master Davenant, who slowly shook his
head.
I'm say not a word" said he. stolidly
''lost twenty pound. n time. by a law
suit"
Pack OF fools!' ! cried. driven beyond
endurance. The guilty ones have es-
cap'd these ten minutes. Now stop me
who dares!"
And dashing my left ist on the nose of
a Waterman who would have seized me.
l clcar'd n space with Ahthony's sword.
made n run for the easement. and
dropp'd out upon the bowling green.
A pretty shout went M as ! pick'd
myself or the turf and rush'd for the
back door. Twas unbarr'd. and in a
moment | found myself tearing down
the passage and out into the Corn Mar
ket. with a score or 80 tumbling down
stairs at my heels, and yelling TO stop
me.
| knew there was no possibility 10 get
past the city gates. which were well
guarded At night. My hope rcach'd no
further han the chance Of outwitting
the pursuit for a while longer. In the
end | was sure the potboy's evidence
would clear me. Even my certain OK.
pulSion from college on the morrow
seem'd Of a piece with the rest OF events,
For the struggle at the Grown" had
unhinged my wits. rs ! must suppose
aud you must, believe. II you would nm
ders,and my behavior in the ncx half
hour.
\ hright thought had struck me; aud
taking a fresh wind. ] set OF again