Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-04-26
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We were scarce in hiding, with the
door well drawn back to screen us,
when the cautious footsteps came
slowly into the out-cellar. Peeping
through the crack behind the door we
saw Pengarvin-alone.
What brought him there without his
6aie of armed men at his back no man
will ever know; but since his ways
were always crooked and devious, l
guessed he would not wish to appear
In the matter in his own proper per-
son, and yet could not deny himself a
'forehand peep to see If the trap were
still safe shut and ecure.
Twas evident he was much discon-
certed at finding the door open and the
wine vault apparently empty. At first
he would start and dodge as If to run
away; then his rage got the better OF
his caution and he had one of his
senseless fits of raving and promising
all manner of fiendish recompense to
Mistress Margery whom he should have
her in his power.
A little longer dwelling upon this
variation of the theme-ravings in
which Dick learned for the first time
of the factors design to marry my
widow and the estate-and l do think
the lad would have gone out to make
him sing another tune. But now the
factor left off suddenly to cock his ear
and listen, and afterward to come tip-
toeing into the cellar, all eyes to spy
and legs to run If mouse should but
squeak at him.
He was muttering to himself as he
passed eur hiding place.
The candle was burning brightly
now. and he crept catlike around the
cask to peer into the bin beyond it.
Just then the shutter to the little win
dow of espial fell open with shrill
cr<aking or its rusty hinges, and
bfae glare Of lightning came to prick
out every nook and corner of the cell
lar. Being almost within a blades
length of the factor, l saw him plain
Iy; saw him start back and put his
hands to his face and drop down all of
a tremble on the bins edge, where
had been sitting when he discovered
me.
To second the flash prolonged
drum-roll of thunder dinned upon the
still air of the vault, and mingled with
the thunder came other flashes, soaring
the eye and making the candle fame
appear as a sickly orange halo in the
blue white glare. What with the play
of the storm artillery we could nei-
Their scs nor hear for the moment; but
when the candle-light came to it's own
again the scene had changed as if by
magic Under cover of the thunder
din a squad of dragons had come to
ring the factor in where he sat upon
the edge of the wine bin.
"Soho!" said my good friend Tybee,
with a little strident laugh, Its you 1
am to take out and hang, is 1t, Master
Lawyer? / thought hayhap you'd dou-
BILE on your track once too often, and
SO it seems you have. Up with you
and come along"
All in flash PeHgarvin was up and
bursting out in a trembling frenzy-fit
OF protestation.
"Oh, tits all a mistake my good sir
a trap! IL am not the man; l pledge
you my sacred word! Hands off,
you cursed villains, or I'll have the
law on you!" this last when one of the
men cast the moose of a rope over his
head whilst a second drew his arms TO
his sides in the looping of another
cord. You shall all smart for this:
all. say! Take me to Colonel Tarle-
ton. The king has no staneher friend
in all the province than l. Why. twas
/ who"
A trooper came behind and gagged
him with the loose end of the rope;
and Tybee held the candle to light the
knotting of it. And so they marched
him out, with Tybee muttering be-
tween his teeth that it was rat-catch-
ers work. and no soldiers. this killing
of vermin, and bidding his men make
haste.