The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-12-16

siouS morning had leaned IN the Ch1m-
ney corner. AS Colonel John crossed
On, 1nsolence incredible, that in the
nour of his triumph he should soil that
tnreshold!-she lunged with all the
force Of her strong young arm at his
neart with such violence that the hilt
struck the breast and hurled him bodily
against the doorpost, while the blade
proke off, shivering by contact with the
hard wood.
uncle Ulick uttered a cry of horror.
You have killed hint"
His blood
She stopped on the word. for instead
OF railing Colonel John was regaining
MS balance. "Flavta!" he cried-the
blade had passed through his coat.
missing his breast by a bare half
inch-"Flavia! Hold, Listen! Listen a
moment"
But in a frenzy Of rage, as soon as
she saw that her blow had failed. she
struck at him with the hilt md the
ragged blade that remained-sruck at
MS race, struck at his breast, with
cries of fury almost animal. "Wretch!
wretch" she cried. Die! If they are
towards I am not! Diet"
The scene was at%rocious and Uncle
Olick, 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
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. Kill
him! XIII him." she shrieked. Help!
Helpi" 1872
The men would have killed him twice
and thrice If The McMurrough, with
voice and blade and frantic impreca-
lions and the interposition of his own
body, had not kept the O'Beirnes and
n 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
ana the other James McMurrough par
r1ed. For a INT the peril was of
the greatest. The girls cries, the sight
or her struggling In Colonel Johns
James holding. Then the strength
went out of her suddenly. she ceased to
fight, and but for Colonel Sulliyan,s
n would have fallen her length
on the floor.
He knew that she was harmless then
ana ne thrust her into the nearest
chair. He kicked the broken sword
under the table, stanched the blood
that trfckled fast from his cheek; last
or all he looked at the men who were
.contendtng with James in the door
way.
=. GeilleileH, ne SAID, breathing a lit
tie quickly. but in no other way be-
traying the strait through which he
had passed. Il shall not run away. I
shall be here to answe you tomorrow
as fully as today. In the meantime I
peg to suggest"-again he raised the
handkerchief to his cheek and stanched
plood-"that you retire now and
near what The McMurrough has to say
to you-the more as the cases and the
arms l see in the courtyard lie obnox-
lous to discovery and expose all to risk
while they remain So"
His surprising GOODNESS did more to
check them thar The McMurrough's
aLiorts. ihey saped at him in wonder.
Then one uttered an imprecation.
THE McMurrough will explain. r.
you viii go with him." Colonel John
patiently. Il say again, gem
tlenen, l shall not run away"
If you mean her any harm"-
- mean her no harm"
Are you alone?"
Il am alone"
Sc far Morty. But Phelim o'Beirne
not quite satisfied. IF a hair of
Ter head be hurt'-he growled, push
-ns himself forward, Il tell you. SIR
And I tell you!" James McMur-
retorted, repelling him. What
Ire the hairs of her head to you.
helm O'Beirne? Am l not him that's
"A t1uce 70 your prat1nE,
curse you, and be coming with me. 1
Understand him, and that is enoueh!~
But his reverence
HIS reverence is as safe as Won or
James retorted. "If It were NOT
20. are Q thinking I'd be here? Fie
IN you!" he went on, pushing Phelim
through the door: you are good at the
alKlng now. When it's little good it
VIII be doing. But where were you his
when a good blow might have
ayed all?"
Gould he be helping 1t whenn-
The voice passed away. still
vrangl1ng across the court yard. JTncle |
Jllck stepped to the doo and closed
mind. spoke ms
you We're wrong to come bach
Ohm Sullivan" he said, the hardness
II his tone bearing witness to his hor-
or OF what had happened. ut is no
hanks to you that your blood is not
n h girls hands, and the floor OF
our grandfather's house! You're ;
old man, / allow. But the fox made
90 free with hi window at last. and
axe my word for It. there are a score
men. whose hands are surer than
his child's, who will not rest till thew
Y your life! Be bid, n so, then.
n you'll"
Colonel John did not speak for q
moment. and when he did answer II
vas wfthe a severity that
Ticks anger. IF the breath be Arm
n those whom you, Ulick Sullivan
le said, "and your fellows would have
It is enough for me! For NV
elf, whom should I fear? The plot
ers whose childish plans were not
against the simplest stratapem9
h conspirators'-his tone grew more
,utfing In its scorn-"and took 1t In
and to pull down q throne and were
by q s~ergeant's guard? The
'oor puppets who played at a game
90 high for them and danced to others
Shall / fear them 2, he CON
inued, he tail Of his eye on the girl
Who, sitting low in her chair, wrttheS
nde his words-Apoor
lewis, poor creatures, only a little less
gnorant, only a little o guilty thar
he clods they would have led to 80
rows or the hangman /? It Is these /
I'M to fee from? Ulick Sullivan? I
I'm not the man to Nee from shadows,.
His tone. his manner. which were In
.ended to open h girls eyes, hut did
n fact increase her resentment-shnr
TySlr1n& TYYfn1rHcE va v~-Aa~ go ~ .I-N.lA1