Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
Copyright, 1907, by
EMMUSKA ORGY.
All Rights Reserves.

enet? a lively sight-wnat?-four GAL
lants frightening two ladies'"
Instinctively every one had turned in
the direction whence the voice had come.
man was standing some dozen yards
away. with mantle tightly drawn round
him. mis- tall figure stopping 90 pat and
fondle a powerful looking boar hound
which, chung closely TO his side.
He had spoken very quietly. apparently
to the dog whose great ears he was
gently stroking.
Without taxing any further heed of the
somewhat discounted gentlemen, he came
toward the little group.
Ladies, your way stands clear" he
said, with that same pleasant irony Sun
apparent in his voice, and without casting
more more than eursory GLANCE at the close
| he could see of the ladies. whom he had
SO incontinently saved from an unpleasant
position.
Sir" murmured Ursula. under her
breath, and without attempting To move.
for sne felt as if her knees would give
way under her 4f
Nay, madam rejoined the newcomer
! lightly. If my interference has angercd
you. L pray you forgive me and | n with
draw, as these gentlemen here obviously
desire me, 10 do But if you really wish
to escape my friend here will assure
you that you can do so ,unmolested.
Eth, Harry? what say Sou?" he added
once more turning his attention to the
dog.
The boarhouhd, as if conscious OF this
appeal to his chivalry. TUNED a knowing
eye on the two girls. g.
The four men had been taken 90 ahso-
lutely unawares that during the few sec
onds while this brief co,loaIy took place
/ they had scarcely realized that an inter
fering and unknown stranger was trying
to hamper them in their amusements
They had remained quite speachless
more astonlshed at the newcomers inn
pertlnence than wrathful at the inter
| ruption; and when the next instant Y -rsula
and Margaret suddenly fled with uuaf-
Iected precipitancy no one attempted to
stop them. ~
Harry Plar agenet's Intelligent ewes
followed the retreating figures until they
were out of sight. Then he yawned with
obtrusiVe incivility and plainly Showed
ms master that the present company no
longer Interested him
Wen, Harry, old man. shall we go?"
said the stranger calmly turning on his
| hell.
But at this final piece of cool insolenee
| Don Miguel de Suarez at last recovered
from his establishment This tame end
ing to an hnwarrantable intrusion was
certainly not to his liking and he, for
one, was unaccustomed to see his vAims
or capriceS thWarted.
In these days tempers ran high hot
blood was allowed free rein and at a Bord
or a smile out of place swords and
ponards were soon out of their sheaths
and friendships of yesterday changed to
deadly altagoHism in the space of a few
minutes.
"Carramba!'' swore the young spaniard,
! this passes belief. What say you. gen.
| tlemen?"
And drawing his long. tapering sword.
| he barred the way threatenlngly to the
stranger.
The silence, thus broken, seemed to re-
store at once to the other three gallants
the fun measure of their wrath. One
and all. following Don Miguets example,
Aye! unmask. stranger" SAID Lord
Everingham peremptorily.
"Unmask! unmask!" came in threaten
ing accents from all
"Unmask Or
"Or by our LADY," rejoned the stranger
| lightly. you'll all run your blades into
my silken doublet and thus end pleasantly
| chivalrous escapade. Eh?"
| One could divine the pleasant, ironical
smile lurking behind the thick curtain of
the mask. The Spaniard's blood was
boiling with vexation. Harry Plantagenet
gave an impatient whine.
! Your name, stranger, fifkt,'' COM
manded Don Miguel haughtfly. then
your sword if you are not a coward after
that l and these gentlemen will deal with
| There was a moments silence; the
stranger whistled to his dog.
My sword is at your command" he
said; mine impudenee you shall deal
with as you list. My name is Wessex,'
he added with a sudden hauteur which
| seemed to tower above Don Miguel as the
gigantic oak of the glen towers above the
busting willow Seneath.
And he removed the mask from his face