The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-16
AN EvENTFUL NIGHT.

AN ENENTFUL NIGHT.
What did 1t mean? Who were they,
and what could they possibly want?
II could see them clearly enough TO disting-
uish that they wore the garments of civil
ization; but they did not belong TO the
I house: Don Manuel had only two men
\ in his service, whereas, so far as ! could
distinguish I'm the uncertain light. there
were five men In the group before me.
II Then. too, their actions were suspicious
their movements were stealthy. and IL
Il looked very much as though they were
/ dogging the footsteps OF the couple ahead
| OF them for no good purpose. / did not
al all like the aspect of affairs so quiet
| ly Remembering myself of the telescope,
which deposited on tho ground l grasped
iffy-sHff, ef4A-steppng into the path
way. shouted warningly TO the second
lieutenant:
Look out. Mr.. smellie, you are being
followed"
Immediately there was shout In Span
fish OF, Come on, men. give II him. and
the group made dash at Smellie and his
companion. Then followed an exclama-
tion OF surprise and anger I'm Smellies
well known voice, a single stifed scream
from Dona Antonia, and a most unmis-
taxable ARRAY.
With a shout dashed up the path, and
In another minute or less plunged into
the thick OF the melee. Smellie was be-
set by three OF the ruffians, who were
flashing viciously at him with long. ugly
looking knives. and he was maintaining
a gallant defense with the aid OF q stout
stick. the assistance of which he had not
up 20 then been wholly able TO discard In
walking | saw that II he was to be
saved from n serious perhaps even fa-
tai stab prompt action was necessary; so
without waiting for further develop
ments. l cooked my gun, and making
lunge with It at the man who seemed to
be Smellie's most formidable antagonist,
pulled the trigger just as the muzzie
struck his side, and pouring the contents
OF the barrel into his body. At such very
close quarters the charge of shot took
effect Ike bullet, and the fellow stag
gered backwards. and fell to the ground
with an oath and an agonized exclama-
ton In Spanish Of:
Help, my men. help me; ! am shotv'
The remaining two who had been at
tacking Smelle turned at this to assist
their wounded companions and the sec
ond lieutenant. and ! thereupon dashed
down the path after the other two. who
were hurrying off the scene with all
speed, oarryin Dona Antonia bodily
away with them A dozen bounds or so
and we were up with them. With an in
articulate cry of rage. Smellie. sprang
upon the man nearest him and brought
his stick down upon the fellows head
with such tremendous force that the
stout cudgel shivered 20 pieces in his
hand. whilst the recipient of the blow
dropped prone without groan or cry
of any kind. upon the pathway. The
other. meanwhile. had dropped his share
OF their joint burden, and seemed in
clined TO resume hostilities. but a we'll
aimed sweep OF the butt-end OF my gun
took all the fight out Of him, and he beat
q hasty retreat, leaving his companion TO
our tender mercies. Smellie. however.
had sonnet thing else 10 think about, for
there. upon the pathway, her white dress
already stained with the blood of the
PROSTATE ruffian beside her, lay the
senseless body OF Dona Antonia. Raising
her In his arms my companion at once
made for the house. despatching Pedro,
who had just put In an alarmed appear
ance, I'm advance 10 summon the assist
ance OF old Madre Dolores, Antonias s
special attendant
| conveyed the pair as far as the door,
and then retraced my steps down the
pathway intent on recovering the tee
scope. and also TO reconnoiter tho scene
of action and ascertain whether or no
the enemy had beaten final retreat.
The ground proved TO be clear; SO l pre-
sumo that the fellow whose head smel-
lie had broken was not after all quite so
seriously injured as he at first appeared
20 be.
ON my return 90 the house found the
whole place I'm confusion. as might nat
urally be expected and Don Manuel
with his damaged hand In sling. anx-
tously inQuirng Of Smellie whether ne
had any idea as TO the identity OF the
perpetrators OF the outrage.
II certainly have an idea who was
the leader" answered Smellie; but
scarcely like TO give utterance TO my
suspicious. Here Games Hawkesley: let
US see whether his opinion upon the mat
ter comedies with mine. Hawkesley. do
you think you ever met either OF those
men before7"
Yes" replied, unhesitatlngly; unless