The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-12-16

VlOuS morning had leaned in tho CHIN.
ney corner. AS Colonel John crossed
oh, i%nsolence incredible, that in the
hour OF his triumph he should soil that
threshold!-she lunged with all the
force OF her strong young arm at his
heart with such violence that the hilt
struck h breast and hurled him bodily
against the %doorrost, while the blade
broke on. shivering by contact with tho
hard wood.
Uncle Ulick uttered a cry Of horror,
You have killed hint"
His blood
She stopped. on h e,word, for instead
OF falling Colonel John was reRaininp
his balance. .Flavia!!" no cried-the
blade had passed through his coat.
missing his breast by a bare half
inch-'Flavia! Hold. Listen! Listen a
moment"
But IN q frenzy OF rage. as soon as
she saw that her blow had failed. abe
struck at him with the hilt and the
ragged blade that remained-struck Mt
his face, struck at his breast. with
Wretch!" she cried. pie! II they are
towards I am not! Die"
Inc scene was atrocious and Uncle
Ultck. staring open mouthed, gave NO
help. But Colonel Sullivan mastered
her wrists. though not until he had
sustained a long bleeding cut on the
Jaw. Even then. though fettered, and
weapon. she struggled desperately
with im-as h had struggled when
he carried her. through the mist. "Kili
him! Kill hint" she shrieked, "Heini
Help!"
The men would have killed him twice
n thrice IL The McMurrough, with
voice and blade and frantic impreca-
tons and the ~interposition Of his own
o 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
through the doorway, but one fell short
and the other James McMurrough par
RED. For a moment the peril was Of
the greatest. The girls cries. the sight
OF her struggling in Colonel Johns
grip wrought the men almost beyond
James holding. Then the strength
went out Of her suddenly. she ceased to
fight. and but for Colonel S%ulliyan's
grasp she would have fallen her length
On the floor.
and he thrust her into the neares
chair. He kicked the broken sword
the table. stanched the blood
tina trickled fast from his cheek: last
OF all he looked al the men who were
contending with James in the door
way.
Gentlemen" he said, breathing a lit
tie quickly. but in no other way be-
traytng the strait through which he
a passed. II shall not run away. I
shali be here to answer you tomorrow
as fully as today. In the meantime 1
beg to suggest"-again he raised the
handkerchief to his cheek and stanched
the blood-"that you retire now and
hear what The McMurrOugh has to say
to you-the more as the cases and the
arms I see in the courtyard lie obnox-
ious to discovery and expose all to risk
while they remain So"
His surprising GOODNESS did more to
check them than The McMurrough's
efforts. They gaped at him in wonder.
Then M uttered an imprecation:
The McMurrough will explain, IL
you will go with him." Colonel John
answered patiently. II say again, gen.
tlemen. I shall not run away"
IF you mean her any harm"-
y mean her no HARM"
Are you alone?"
Il am alone"
So far Morty. But Phelinh O.Beirne
was not quite satisfied. IF a hair Of
her head be hurt"-he growled. push
ing himself forward. IT tell you. SIR
And ! tell you!" James McAiur-
rough retorted, repelling him. What
are the hairs of her head to you,
Phelim O'Beirne? Am I not him that's
her brother? A truce to your pratink,
curse you. and be coming with me. I
understand him, and that is enough!"
But his reverence"-
His reverence is, as safe as you or
me-" James retorted. IF it were not
50. are you thinking I'd be here? File
on you!" he went on, pushing Phelim
through the door: you are good at the
talking now, when it's little good it
will be doing. But where were you this
morning when a good blow might have
saved all?"
Gould he be helping 1t when"-
The voice passed away. still
wrangling across the court yard. Uncle
Ulick stepped to the door and closed
it. Then he turned and spoke his
mind.
John Sullivan" he said, the hardness
of his tone bearing witness to his hor-
ror Of what had happened. TT is no
thanks to you h a your blood is not
on the girls hands, and the floor Of
grandfather's house! You're a
bold man, 1 allow. But the fox made
too free with the window at last, and,
take my word for 1t, there are a score
of men, who's hands are surer than
this child's, who will not. rest till they
have your life! Be bid. and 60, then.
Be bid, and go while the breath is firm
In you"
Colonel John did not speak for a
moment. n when he did answer it
with a severity that overbore
Ulick's anger III the breath be firm
in those whom you, Ulick Sullivan"
he said, "and you fellows would ave
duped. It is enough for me! For my
self. whom should I fear? The plot
ters whose childish plans were not
proof against h simplest stratagem?
The conspirators"-his tone grew more
cutting in its scorn-"and took it in
hand to pull down a throne and were
routed by q sergeant's guard? The
poor puppets who played at a game
too high for them and danced to others.
pipings? Shall I fear them?" he con-
ttnued. the tail Of his eye on the girl.
who. sitting low in her chair, writhed
i~nvoluntarily under his words-"p6or
devils, poor creatures. only q little less
ignorant. only a little more guilty than
the clods they would have led to the
crows or the hangman? It is these I
am to fee from? Ulick Sullivan? I
am not the man to fee from shadows!"
His tone. his manner, which were i'm