The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-02-17
.THE WILD GEESE
~ BY Stanley j. Meyman.-

I GOODNESS of long tried skill. BY this time
Asgill, forced to keep his blade In mo-
ton, was beginning to breathe quickly
The sweat stood on his brow, he struck
more and more wildly and with less
and less strength or aim. He was aware
lit could be in the glare Of his
eyes-that he was being reduced to the
defensive. and he new that would be
fatal.
An oath broke from his painting lips
and he rushed in again. even more
recklessly. more at random than before
his sole object now to kill the other, to
t him at close quarters, no matter
what happened to himself.
Again Payton avoided the full force
OF n rush. but this time after a diff
ferent fashion. He retreated a step
Then with a flicker and a girding OF
steel on steel. Asgill's sword few from
his han n at the same instant-or SO
nearly at the same instant that the dis
arming and the thrust might have
seemed to an unframed eye one motion
-Payton turned his wrist and his
sword buried itself in Asgill's body. The
unfortunate man recoiled with q gasp
ing cry, staggered and sank sideways
to the ground.
"By the powers!" O'Beirne exclaimed,
springing forward, a foul stroke! BY
heaven. a foul stroke! He was dis
Have a care what you say!" Pay
ton answered slowly, and in a terrible
tone. You'd do better to look to your
friend, for he'll need It,"
It's you that struck him after he
was disarmed." Morty cried, almost
weeping with rage. mot a bit of a
chance did you give him! YOU
a fierce tom of authority. II know my
duty, and IL you know yours you'll look
to him."
He turned aside with that and thrust
the point of his sword twice and thrice
into h sod before he sheathed the
weapon. Meanwhile Morty had cast
himself down beside the fallen man,
who, gpeechless, and with his head
hanging, continued to support himself
on his hand. A patch of blood, bright
colored, was growing slowly on his vest
and there was blood on his lips.
oh, whirra, whirra, wnat'll I do?''
the Irishman exclaimed, helplessly
wringing his hands. "Whatll / do for
him? He's murdered entirely!"
Payton, aided by n of the troopers,
was putting on his coat and vest. He
paused to bid the other help the gentle
a Then with a cold look for the
fallen man, for whom, though they had
been friends, as friends go in the world,
he seemed to have no feeling except one
of contempt, he walked away in the
direction of the rear of the house.
By the time he reached the back door
the alarm was abroad, the maids were
running to and fro and screaming, and
on n threshold he encountered Flavia.
Pale as the stricken man, she looked
on Payton with an eye Of horror. and,
as he stood aside to let her pass. she
drew her skirts away, that they might
not touch him.
He went on, with rage In his heart.
Very good, my lady" he muttered;
very good! But I've not done with
you yet. I know q good way to pull
your pride down. And I'll 60 about
it,"
He might have spoken less confident
ly had he, before he retired from the
scene of the fight, cast one upward
glance in the direction of the house;
had he marked an opening high up in
the wall of the yew, and noticed
through the opening a window, SC
placed that 1t alone of all the windows
in the house commanded the scene OF
action. For then he would have dis
covered at that easement a face he
knew. n a pair Of stern eyes that
had folio we'd the course Of the struggle
throughout, noted each separate attack,
and judged the issue-and the man.
And he might have taken warning.