The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-02-23
CHAPTER VI.

half M the wall In some dark wool. aud
In daytime liz by one window only. which
now was hung with red curtalns. By
the fireplace. where brisk wood fire
was cracking. leaned a young gentle
woman who. M she now turned her eyes
upon me. ceased lingering the guitar or
mandolin that she held against her waist.
and raised her pretty head not without
curiosity.
But twas on the table In the center of
the chamber that my gaze settled, and On
two men beside IL. OF whom l must speak
more particularly.
The elder. who sat In n hiGh-hacked
chair. was a little. frail. dcformed gen
tleman of about fifty. dressed very rich
ly In dark velvet and furs. and wore on
his head a velvet skullcap. around which
his white hair stuck up like n ferret's
But the oldest thing about him was
complexion that any maid OF sixteen
would give her ears for--of pink and
white so transparent that IL seemed
soft light must DO glowing beneath his
skin. On either cheek bone this deli
cato coloring ccntered In a deeper flush.
His eyes were very bright and sharp, and
his chin stuck out like n vicious mules
The table before him was covered with
TASKS, In the middle OF which stood
silver lamp burning. and over u silver
saucepan that sent up n rare fragrance
rs the liquid within IL simmer'd and
bubbled. so eager was the old gentle
man in watching the progress OF his mix
ture that he merely glanced up at my
entrance. and then. holding mp hand for
silence. turn'd his eyes on the saucepan
again.
The second man was the hroad-shoul.
dercd lackey, aud stood over the sauce.
pan with n twisted Task is his hand.
from which he pour'd red syrup very
gingerly. drop by drop, with the tail OF
his eye turn'd on his masters face. that
he might know when to cease.
Now IL may be that my entrance upset
this experiment. At any rate. had
scarce come TO a stand about three PAGES
inside the door, when the little old gen
tlcman bouuccs up in a fury. kicks over
his chair, hurls the nearest bottles TO left
and right. and sends the silver saucepan
spinning across the table 10 my very
feet, where Il scalded me clean through
the boot. and made me hop with pain.
"SpDiid spoil'd" he screamed:
"drench'd In filthy liquor. when II should
have brcath'd but a taste
And. 60 my amazcment. he sprang on
the strappins servant like n Wild cat.
and began TO beat. cuff aud belabor him
with all the strength Of his puny limbs.
Twas like scene out OF Bcdlam.
Yet all the while the girl lcan'd quietly
against the man,cl.shelf. and softly
touched the strings Of her instrument,
while the servant took the rain OF blows
and slaps rs though 'twerc a summer
shower grinning all over his face. and
making no resistance at oil.
Then. ms l stood dumb with perplexity.
the old gentleman let go his hold OF the
fellows hair. and. dropping on the floor.
hsSan 20 roll about in ~ OF coughing.
the like OF which no man can imagine.
Twas kidcous. lie bark'd. and writhed.
and bark'd again. till the disorder seem'd
90 search and rack every innermoSi inch
OF his small frame.
Hes dying." ! cried. and ran forward
% help.
The servant pick'd mp the chair. aud
together W. set him in IL. By degrees
the violence OF the cough nbated. and
ne las back. iivid In the face. with his
~ tN hthHtIs aaAA AAAh AaAAN AthNAAAAN inv
knobs os the chair ! turn'd 20 the girl.
She had neither spoken nor Stirr'd. but
now came forward. and calmly nsk'd my
business.
Il think" said /, that your name Is
killigrewG
Il am Della Killisrew. and this is my
father, Sir Dcakin."
"Now on his way TO visit his estates
in CornwallT'
She nodded.
Then | have 90 warn you that your
lives are in danger" Aud, gently as pos
siblr. told her what | had seen and
heard downstairs. In the middle OF my
tale, the servant sicpp'd 10 the door. aud
rrturn'd quietly. There was no lock on
the inside. After a minute he went
across and drew the red curtains. The
window had n grating within, Of iron
bars rs thick as n mans thumb. strongly
clamp'd In the EtonewOrk. Clearly. he
was a man OF few words: for. returning.
he merely pull'd out his sword. and
waited for the end 81 my tale. The girl.
also. did not interrupt me. but listen'd
In silence. As | ceas'd. she said:
lis this all you know
NO" answered !. Iii II not. But the
rest promise 10 tell YOU IL we escape
from this place alive. WIN this content
youT"
She turn'd 10 the servant. who nodded
Whercupon she held out her hand very
cordially.
"Sir, listen: we are travellers bound for
Cornwall. as you know, and have some
small possessions. that will poorly re.
ward the greed OF these violent men.
Nevertheless. we should be hurrying on
our Journey did we not await my brother
Anthony. who was 10 have ridden from
oxford to Join us here. but has been de.
layed. doubtless on the Kings bust.
ness---
started: for below I heard the main
door open, and Captain Settles voice In
the passage. The arch villain had re.
turn'd.
Mistress Della" I said hurriedly,
"thc twelfth man has entc='d the house
and unless we consider our plans az once
alls up with u.s."
"Tush." said the old gentleman in the
chair, who, IL seems. had heard all. and
now sat up brisk rs ever. II. for my
part. leave Il all to Jacques. Come. iii
10y me. sir. and you shall sec some pretty
play. Why. Jacques is the neatcst rogue
with a small sword in al France"
Sir" | put In. they arc a round dor.
eli In all and your life ut present is