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

man dropp'd, ! had q brief view into the
room, whore now the blazing liquid ran
of the table in a stream. Settle, stamp
ing with agony, had his palms press'd
against his scorch'd eyelids. The fat
landlord, in trying to beat out the flames,
had increased them by upsetting two bot
ties OF aqua vitae, and was dancing about
with three fingers in his mouth. The
rest stood for the most part dumbfound-
er'd; but Black Dick had his pistol lift
ed.
Jacques and spring out for the land
ing and round the doorway. Between
the fash and the report | felt a sudden
scrape, as of a redhot wire, across my
left thigh and just above the knee.
Jacques pointed down the staircase.
where, by the glare Of the confagration
that beat past us, l saw the figures OF
Sir Deakin and his daughter standing.
But how can you keep the door
against a dozenT'
The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders
with a smile. At this moment came a
rush of footsteps within the room. | saw
a fat paunch thrusting past us, a quiet
pass of steel. and the landlord was wal
lowing on his face across the threshold.
jacques teeth snapp'd together as he
stood ready for another victim; and as
the fellows within the room tumbled
back, he motion'd me to leave him. /
sprang from his side, and catching the
rail of the staircase, reach'd the foot i'll
a couple OF bounds.
Hurry" l cried, and caught the old
baronet by the hand. His daughter took
the other, and between us we hurried
him across the passage for the kitchen
door.
Within, the chambermaid was on her
knees by the settle, her face and apron
OF the same hue. i saw she was in
capable of helping, and hasten'd across
the stone floor, and out toward the back
entrance.
A stream of icy wind blew in our faces
as we stepp'd over the threshold. The
girl and l bent our heads to it, and
stumbling, tripping, and painting, pnlfd
Sir Deakin with us out into the cold air.
The yard was no longer dark. In the
room above some one had push'd the
easement open, letting in the wind; and
by this twas very evident the room was
on fire. Indeed, the curtains had caught,
and as we ran, n pennon of flame shot
out over our heads, licking the thatch.
LII lHC SldIc VI IL the NdIu Site Slouu
clearly out from the Right. l heard the
trampling Of feet, the sound OF Settles
voice shouting an order, and then a dis
NAL yell and clash of steel as we flung
open the gate.
~"Jacques!" scream'd the old gentle
man; my poor Jacques! Those dogs
will mangle him with their cut and
thrust"
Twas very singular and sad, but as If
in answer to Sir Deakin's cry, we heard
the brave fellows voice; and a famous
shout it must have been to reach us over
the roaring flames. And after that only
a racket of o~utcries reach'd us. Without
doubt the villains had overpower'd and
slain this brave servant. In spite of our
peril, twas all W. could do to drag the
old mar from the gate and up the road;
and as he went he wept like a child.
We found a hiding place in the woods,
where we remained all night, but the
great exertion and the exposure to the
cold was too much for the old gentleman.
When morning broke Sir Deakin had
breathed his last.
l delyed his grave in the frosty earth,
close by the spot where he lay. Some
how, / shiver'd all the while, and had a
cruel shooting pain in my wound that
was like TO have mastered me before the
task was ended. But / managed to
lower the body softly into the hole and
to cover it reverently from sight; and
afterward stood leaning on my spade and
feeling very light in the head, while the
girl knelt and pray'd for her fathers
soul
And the picture of her as she knelt is
the last i remember, till / open'd my
| eyes, and was amazed to find myself on
my back, and staring up at darkness.
What has h~appen'd!"
IL think you are very ill.," said a voice;
"can you lean on me, and reach the hut
yonderT'
why, yes; that is, / think so. Why
is everything dark?"
1.-THE sun has been down for hours.
You have been in a swoon first, and
then talk'd-oh, such %nonsense! Shame
on me, to let you catch this chilli"
She help'd me to my feet and stead
led me; and how we reach'd the hut l
cannot tell you. 1t took more than one
weary hour, as ! now know; but at the
time hours and minutes were one to me.
ITO be continued.i