The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-01-25

Some spltntcrs lodged in my hdtr.
bound, while I, for standing still and
saying nothing, was scientifically felled
to the floor.
l cannot have been many moments
without my senses. When l recov-
cred them there was great to do in
the garden, but l had the drawing
room to myself. sat up. Rosenthall
and Purvis We're rushing about outside,
cursing the Katfirs and nagging at
each other
''Over that wall, ! tell yer!'
Il tell you it was this one.
you whistle for the police?" e.
"Police be dashed! I've had Sx,,yes
of the blessed police"
''Then we'd better get back and make
sure of the other rotter'
'.Oh, make sure o. yer skin. That's
what you'd better do. Jala, you black
hog, il catch YOU skulkin' y
never heard the threat was
creeping from the drawing room on
my hands and knees, my own revolver
swinging by it's steel ring from my
teeth
For an instant thought that the hall
also was deserted. l was wrong, and
crept upon a kattir on all tours.
Poor devil could not bring myself
to deal him a base blow, but l threat
ened him most hideously with my re-
yolver and left the white teeth chat
tering in his black head as l took the
stairs three at time. Why l went
upstairs in that decisive fashion, as
though it We're my only course, can
not explain. But garden and ground
floor seemed alive with men, and 1
might have done worse.
l turned into the first room | came
to. 1t was bedroom-empty, though
lit up. And never shall forget how
I started, as l entered, on encounter
ing the awful villain that was myself
at full length in pier glass. Masked,
armed and ragged. was indeed fit
carrion for Il bullet or the hangman,
and to one or the other l made up my
mind. Nevertheless, l hid myself in
the wardrobe behind the mirror, and
there stood shivering and cursing
my fate, my folly, and Rafles most of
all-Rattles first and last-for 1 dare
say half an hour. Then the wardrobe
door was flung suddenly open. They
had stolen into the room without a
sound, and l was hauled downstairs,
an ignominious captive.
Gross scenes followed in the hall.
The ladies We're now upon the stage,
and at sight Of the desperate criminal
In,
truth, l must have given them fair
cause, though my mask was now torn
away and hid nothing but my left ear.
RoSenthall answered their shrieks with
roar for silence. The woman with
the bath sponge hair swore at him
shrilly in return. The place became
babel impossible to describe. re-
member wondering how long it would
be before the police appeared. Purvis
and the ladies We're for calling them
in and giving me in charge without de-
lay. Rosenthall would not hear Of it.
He swore that he would shoot man or
woman who left his sight He had had
enough of the police. He was not go
ing to have them coming there to spoil
sport; he was going to deal with me
in his own way. With that he dragged
me from all other hands. flung me
against door and sent bullet crash
ing through the wood within an inch
Of my ear.
You drunken fool! It'll be murder!"
shouted Puryis. getting in the way
second time.
''Wha' do care? He's armed, isn't
he? shot him in self defense. Itll
be warnin' to others. Will you stand
aside, or dye want it yourself?"
you're drunk" said Purvis, still be-
tween US. II saw you take a neat
tumblerful since you come in, and it's
made you drunk as fool. Pull your
self together. old man. You amt