The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-01-25
SPUR

! this happened while a man could count
twenty; and in half q minute ! heard the
ring OF steel and was standing in the
doorway.
There was now no light within but
what was shed by the fire and two tai
low candles that guttered on the mantel
shelf. The remaining candlesticks lay in
a pool on the floor. amid broken glasses,
bottles, scattered coins, dice boxes and
pewter pots. In the corner to my right
covered a potboy, with tankard dang
ling in his hands, and the contents spill
ing into his shoes. His wide, terrified
eyes were fixed Oh the far end of the
room, where Anthony and the brute Set
tie stood, with a shattered chair between
them. Their swords were crossed in
t%ierce. and grating together as each
sought occasion for a lunge; which might
have been fair enough but for a dog
faced trooper in a frowsy, black peri
wig, who, as / entered, was gathering a
handful OF coins from under the fallen
table, and now ran across, sword in
hand, to 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 off the sec
ond cur, that's a sweet boy"
Now / carried no sword; but Selling
the tankard from the potboy's hand, |
hurl'd it Mt the dog-fac'd trooper. 1t
struck him fair between the shoulder
blades; and with a yell Of pain he spun
round and came toward me, his point
glittering in a way that turn'd me cold.
| gave back a pace, snatch'd up a chair
and with my back against the door,
waited his charge.
Twas in this posture that, finging q
glance across the room, l. saw the Cap
tain's sword describe a 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 to the w~ainscoting.
"Out with the lights, Dick!' bawid
Settle, Juggling out his point. Quick,
fool-the Window
Dick, with a back sweep of his hand,
sent the candles flying off the shelf, and,
save for the flicker of the hearth, we
were in darkness. / felt, rather than
saw, his rush toward me; leap'd aside;
and brought down my chair with a crash
on his skull. He went down like a 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, | had made my way across
| the room, and found Anthony sunk
1 aoosnot tho x.,au with hio faaf ot1fctratrh-
ed. There was something he held out
toward me, cropping for my hand and at
the same time whispering in a thick,
| choking voice:
Here, Jack, here; pocket it qnick!"
Twas a letter, and as my fingers clos
| ed on 1t 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 itY'
/ CROPPED beside him, found the hilt,
and held Ii up.
"So-'tis thine, Jack, and my mare
! Molly, and the letter to take. Say to
Delia-Hark! they are on the stairs.
Say To-"
With a 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 doublet 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 huddled half a dozen women,
peering, and Master Davenant. his great
face looming over their shoulders like a
| moon.
"Now, speak up. Master Short"
"Aye, that I will-that / will; but my
head is considering of affairs" answered
Master Short-he Of the wryneck. Zone,
| two, three He look'd round the
room, and finding but one capable OF re-
sisting flor the potboy was by this time
in a fit. clear'd his throat, and spoke up:
in the kings name, | arrest you all!
Now, what's the matterY"
Murder" said /, looking up from my
work of staunching Anthony's wound.
'.Then forbear, and don't do it."
"Sirs." said l, laying poor Anthony's
head softly back, "you are too late;
whilst We 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.