Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-09

as tney ran nred some DarrelS or my | revolver in the air. The alarm in- | creased their panic, and, turning the
 corner, they flung themselves in con ! fusion on the ropes that connected 1 with the sycamore. heard Sercombe's voice cursing, but where in the melee I he was had no notion, for at that | moment there arose before us, can i not say whence, a tall figure, very
 1.-the and active, that grappled with | me, gurgling strange oaths Two strong
 arms were braced about my back, and it was with the utmost difficulty that l kept my feet Together we swayed
 and rocked, drawing nearer to the edge | of the parapet. With all the strength at my con-
 mand l flung my body forward. and, twisting my legs about my opponents, 1 I bore him sideways toward the roof. l As I did so he wriggled hand free i and snatched it to him. fumbling in 1 his coat. I bent him backward, and i suddenly his hand stood out before / my eyes, with all the light of the gray i dawn gleaming upon steel. Death cer- ! tainly affronted me in that second, but i I hardly knew it, for quickly an arm . was thrust over mine. where 1t gripped { the ruffian round the loins, and the ] next instant his hand fell and his head went back, and, slipping through my grasp. the body rolled oyer the para pet and dropped. with splashing l plunge. into the waters of the moat. 1 It was some seconds ere could look round, and when I did Sheppard was 1 standing by my side. long Persian
 dagger in his hand. gazing vacantly , over the stone coping, and the ram- parts were clear of the enemy
 You saved my life. old man."
 gasped. 'I believe I did he returned slowly, but seemed to be pondering something. so remote and abstracted was his air. He stepped forward and severed with
 his knife the ropes which bound the
 sycamore.
 You must chop that down." he said. !. Suddenly q great glow lit up the
 eastern heavens, and the trees and the time worn ramparts rose green and gray in the morning. The dawn broke over us. No living soul was visible in i that early light. and only the water
 rocked faintly against the masonry of the castle, carrying on it's surface that inert body
 Sheppard's hand opened in a spasm, and the knife fell. cutting an arc of light. He looked up at me and smiled
 wearily. T think I'll go to bed, old chap
 You have had no rest for forty eight hours" said I. Don't be a fool; sleep before you think" ....s /. "Yes; l believe I'll take your ad-
 vice" he replied mechanically and, turning slowly. marched with dull and sober step toward the drum tower.
 I watched him go, and then I turned
 to the others.
 Any damage?' I asked.
 Montgomery showed his teeth.
 "Poohw he said. They didn't show
 fight.'
 Williams shook his head. T have
 bad knuckle," he said.
 I positively yelled with laughter.
 Somehow the hilarity would not be
 denied T owe you both thanks"
 said presently. Montgomery; you're |
 a brick. and I won't forget it." He hung his head in a sheepish fashion,
 but doubt not was very well pleased.
 "Now get you gone" I resumed.
 "There will be nothing further tonight. and if there is I will let you know"
 For my own part sleep was imprac- ticable, worn and jaded though I was. ! The events of the night and of that : sharp struggle clamored in my brain. 1 arresting every sense to attention. I 1 leaned over the parapet and watched : the dawn come up for the second time. ] but today it rose in different clrcum- ! stances. flushed and lurid. menacing ! storm. The sky was red as with blood, !! and black cloud fringed the margin i of the horizon. My thoughts flew about | like whirling wheel. leaving upon me l dim impressions. The light grew | apace and struck the castle walls with | fire. I was aware of something in the | moat below. but my mind made no ! Inquiries. It rested palpitant and turn ing upon itself in idle revolutions. The ' sounds of the dawn erept out across | the quietude. and the trees waved and | shook in a gust of air. Disturbed by i this Aux of the wind. or overbalanced ! by its own weight. jagged stone top pied on the parapet and fell. It struck | the water with a crash. and my eyes followed it. Then it was that for the first time knew what had been beat ing at the door of my brain.
 Suddenly. and at the instant sight of 1t. the confusion of my wits precipi- tated. and they settled clear and sharp. The cloud passed from me. and stared with open eyes and a dreadful appre- citation at the body.
 The water was tossed into undula- tions started by the fallen stone. and the body. supported across a fallen branch. rose and fell with the water Drawing back. I moved to another part of the battlemenf But the thought pursued me in my flight Had Shep pard struck too soon; Was it. indeed. inevitable. For the first time there grew into solid fact the horror of the suppositiOn I had several times enter s.E-