The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-12-16

ney corner. AS Colonel John crossed
the t~hreshold-oh, dastardly audacity
oh, insolence incredible, that in the
nour or his triumph he should soil tina
threshold!-she lunged with all the
lorce or her strong young arm at his
heart with such violence that the hilt
struck the breast and hurled him bodily
against the doorro st, while the blade
proke on, shiverins by contact with the
hard wood.
Uncle Ulick uttered a cry of horror,
You have killed him!"
His blood
She stopped on the word, for instead
OF falling Colonel John was regainine
MS balance. 'F1avia!" he cried-the
blade had passed through his coat,
missing his breast by a bare half
inch-"FIavia! Hold. Listen! Listen a
But in a frenzy Of rage, as soon an
saw that her blow had failed, she
struck at him with the hilt and the
ragged blade that remained-struck at
MS race. struck at his breast. with
cries OF fury almost animal. wretch!
Wretch!' she cried. die! II they ara
towards l am not! Diet"
The scene was atrocious and Uncle
Ulick, staring open mouthed, gave no
heip. But Colonel Sullivan mastered
her wrists. though not until he had
sustained a long bleeding cut on the
Jaw. Even then. though fettered, and
though he had forced. her to drop the
weapon, she struggled desperately
with him-as she had struggled when
ne carried her through the mist. skill
him! XIII him!" she shrieked. Help!
Helpi"
The men would have killed him twice
and thrice IL The McMurrough. with
voice and blade and frantic impreca-
tons n the interposition OF his own
BODY, had not kept the O'Beirnes and
the others at bay-explaining, depre-
eating, praying, cursing. all In a breath.
Twice a blow was struck at the colonel
hrough the doorway, but one fell short
and the other James McMurrough par
ried. Fol- a m the peril was Of
the greatest. The girls cries, the sight
or her struggling in Colonel Johns
wrought the men almost beyond
James holding. Then the strength
went out of her suddenly, she ceased to
fight, and but for Colonel Sullivan's
she would have fallen her length
on the floor.
He knew that she was harmless then
and he thrust her into the nearest
chair. He kicked the broken sword
the table. stanched the blood
trickled fast from his cheek; last
Or all he looked at the men h were
contending with James in the door
way.
Gentlemen" he said. breathing a 1T
lie quickly. but in no other way be-
the strait through which he
lad passed. II shall not run away. I
be here to answer you tomorrow
rs fully as today. In the meantime
beg to suggest"-again he raised the
erchief to his cheek and stanched
ne biood-"that you retire now and
lear what The McMurrough has to say
% you-the more as the cases and the
see in the courtyard lie obnox-
to discovery and expose all to risk
While they remain So"
His surprising GOODNESS did more to
neck them than h McMurrough's
Efforts. They gaped at him in wonder.
one uttered an imprecation.
THE McMurrough will explain, II
'ou VIII go with him." Colonel John
answered patiently. II say again, gen
lemen, I shall not run away"
IF you mean her any HARM
Il mean her no HARM"
Are you alone?"
Il am alone"
So far Morty. But Phelim O,Beirne
vas not quite satisfied. IF a hair OF
Ter head be hurt"-he growled, push
himself forward. Il tell you. sir
ough retorted, ~repeliing him. what
re the hairs Of her head to you,f
helm O'Beirne? Am I not him that's
Ter brother? A truce to your pratinr.
urse you. and be coming with me. 1
him, and that is enourhr~
But his reverence"-
HIS reverence is as safe as you or
ne!" James retorted. III II were not
are you thinking I'd be here? Fie |
n your he went on, pushing Phelim
the door: you are good at the
liking now, when it's little good it
'ill be doing. But where were you his
corning when a good blow might have
aved alp"
Gould he be helping 1t when"-
The voice passed away, stfll
angling across the court yard. Uncle
lick stepped to the door and closed
lind. ~
You were wrong to come back.
ohm Sullivan he said, the hardness
I his tone bearing witness to his hor-
or of what had happened. TT is no
hanks to you that your blood is not
n the girls hands. and the floor OF
old man. l allow. But the fox made
10 free with the window at last, and.
Ike my word for 1t, there are a score
{ men, who's hands are surer than
his child's. who will not rest till they
ave your life! Be bid, and go. then.
bid, and go while the breath is firm
/ you'll"
Colonel John did not speak for a
and when he did answer it
as with a severity that Overbore
ticks anger. IF the breath be firm
| those whom you, Ulick Sullivan"
e said, "and your fellows would have
1T Is enough for me-! For my
Elf, whom should 1 fear? The plot
RS whose childish plans were not
against the simplest stratagem?
conspirators"-his tone grew more
itting In its scorn-'and took II fn
and to pull down a throne and were
by a sergeant's guard7 The
Dor puppets who played at a game
20 high for them and danced to others,
Shall I fear them?' he con-
nued, the tail Of his eye on the girl
no, sitting low In her chair, wrfthed
under his words-"poor
evils. poor creatures, only a little less
%,norant. only a little moro guilty than
lie clods they would have led to the
or the hangman? 1t is these I
m to flee from? Ulick Sullivan? I
m not the man to fee from shad0wst~
His tone, his manner, which were in
to open the girls eyes, but did
fact increase her northumberland
ven Uncle Ulick's pride. "Whisht.
he said bitterly. Its plain
pure thinking you're master here!"