Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-17

| IA entrance 10 lue CdSllG luy
across the drawbridge and by
way of great stone archway running
through the width of the easterly wing.
| This passage, which was not more than
| ten feet across, was in effect vault
| twenty feet high and thirty feet long.
| It was here that the noise attracted
| me, and into this narrow channel
ran, breaking unanimously upon the
aggregated knot of men that seemed
o struggle in the uncertain light. Stars
| lumined the sky very family, but in
! hat passage the gloom was heavy, and
could perceive very little. AS | was
casting about, tossing among the sway
ag bodies, | saw Immediately to my
.sht the fair head Of Sheppard rise,
ruc!l with The evening glow from
rithout. Forthwith l dashed the body
| 3earest ne 10 the ground and with my
| 4st dislotlgci another man in front OF
ne. Then | heard Sercombe's voice
raised in angry remonstrance.
| s.,thered noting, neither words nor
5ense, from 1t. but, occupied merely
With the physical lust of battle, drove
light through the press of the melee to
Sheppard. 1T seemed to me then that
here were dozens of people crowded
| within those narrow walls, but believe,
rs matter of fact, that there were only
some eight of us. Sheppard rose and
fell and rose again.
Ned! Ned!" he called, and at the
sound, plunging upon human bodies, /
| A CT In
of feet seemed to rush over me. l felt
| battered and bruised; the wind was all
out of my lungs; but, slowly edging on
my stomach toward the wall, drew
out of the press. AS did 80 heard a
great dull noise, thud, thud, interven-
| ing upon the sounds of the struggle,
and presently. my eyes being now ac-
customed to the darkness, l caught
sight of Montgomery's tall form, his
arms uplifted and welding a heavy
bar of iron.
"Bravov' / cried and, struggling to
| my feet, pushed toward him.
"Turn, you fools! Curse you, turn!'
said Sercombe's voice.
l was conscious then Of white teeth
and a grotesque screw neck that rose
up before me, and even while I put UP
my hands to choke it I felt the warm
sting of knife in my shoulder blade.
| BY some magical thought, .dawning ut
the moment, l recalled Montgomery's
revolver, which carried in my breast
pocket, and. producing 1t, fired at the
bestial form before me- There was
sharp cry. the enemy appeared to re-
COIL and then Montgomery's fail de-
scended in pitiless shower of blows.
OF Sheppard there was no sign.
Seeing that the affray was turning
in our favor, sprang to the side, and,
opening small doorway in the south
erly drum tower, rushed up the stairs.
1t was fortunate that l had made SO
complete study of the castle. l found
the crank l wanted and turned the
wheel, putting forward all the strength
l had in nay muscles. Slowly the
! mighty portcuiHs descended, shrieking
as it fell, but this, as had hoped, fol-
lowing upon the report Of my revolver,
and accompanied as it was with Mont
| gomery's continuous and powerful
blows, proved the turning point for our
enemies. AS the grooming gate de-
scended there were cries uttered in
foreign tongue, and rush ensued for
| the gateway. Leaving the machine to
revolve by it's own impetus, few
down into the archway. Sercombe
stood in the light expostulating. Mont
gomery's weapon stretched some one
fiat upon the stones as entered, and the
man crawled Off fred another cham
Der of the revolver aimlessly, and the
fash lit up the passage while the
sound reverberated duly from the
groined vault. The portcullis fell low
err and Sercombe was driven across the
drawbridge by his retreating allies.
dead or living, they shall have him."
said some one in my ear. and beheld
Sheppard. his face smeared with blood.
dragging body in his arms. Togeth-
er we thrust it forth, and it lay half
way across the threshold. The port
cullis dropped inexorably and was now
within a foot Of the ground. The man
lay under the range Of it's iron spikes.
The wheels creaked above, and the
distance shortened Montgomery ran
forward and showed the body outward
But it still hung halfway. And then
Sercombe came rapidly back and,
STOPPING. by swift movement drew
the inanimate form from beneath the
iron spikes of the drawbridge. He
said no word, but merely glanced at
us as we stood behind the grille.
AS Sercombe's figure faded blackly
into the night I turned and peered
into the gloom Of the archway where
my companion stood.
Sheppard struck match, and the
tiny fame cast precarious light upon
the three of u.s. Two streaks Of blood
crossed Sheppard's forehead.
First blood and first honors," he
said.
Montgomery breathed like a black
smith.
1T was mean trick" he observed.
An acute pain struck suddenly
through my shoulder. ''The foreigners
use their knives aptly," remarked.
"They do that" said Montgomery
fiercely. Zone devil has pierced my
stomach through"
LET us go back to the house." said
and, setting the example, turned.
Sheppard's light went out, and as the
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