The evening world., 1916-08-29
word. And this discomoosed him stiil

word. And this discomoosed him still
further.
Before asking your business sir. 1
would beg o n your company to
taste this liquor. which. In the court
OF France"-the old gentleman took
a sip from the mixing ladle-"has had
the extreme honor to be pronounced
divine" He smacked his lips, and
rising to his feet, let his right hand
rest on the silver foot Of the lamp as
he bowed to the captain.
Jacques. bring glasses from the
cupboard yonder! And Della, fetch
up somo chairs for our guests-no.
sirs, pray do not novel"
He had waved his hand lightly to
the door rs he turned TO US: and in an
instant the intention as well as the
bright success Of this comedy flashed
upon me. There was now no one lie.
tween us and the stairs, and as for
Sir Deakin himself. he had already
taken the step OF putting the tables
width between him and h.s s.esta
| touched the g,-'' We
made as IL 20 fetch q coupe 81 chairs
that stood against the wainscote by
the doOr, AS we did so. Sir Deakin
pushed me punch-bowl forward under
the captain $ nose.
"Smll. sir" he cried. airily. land
report ~ your friends on the fore
taste"
Settles nose hung over the steam
ing compound, With q swift pass OF
the hand. the old gentleman caught
up the lamp and had shaken a drop
OF Burning oil into the bowl. A great
blaze leaped to the ceiling. There was
a howlv-a scream OF palm; and as |
pushed Mistress Della through the
doorway and out to tho head Of the
stairs. 1 caught O backward glimpse
Of Sir Deak.n rushing after US, with
one OF the s,outest among the robbers
AT his heels,
Downstairs for your life!" l whis-
percd To the girl. and turning. as her
father tumbled past me, let his pur-
suer run on my sword. as on q spit
At the same instant another blade
passed through the fellow transverse
ly, and jacques stood beside me, with
his back TO the Intel.
As we pulled our swords out and
the man dropped. | had a brief view
into the room. where now the blaz-
ins liquid ran OFF the table In a
stream, Settle, stamping with agony
had his palms pressed against his
scorched eyelids. The fat landlord. In
trying TO beat out the 1ames. had
lUCItdStl lHtIl Wy uPstlilHb tWo pOt-
ties OF aqua vitae n was dancing
about with three fingers in his mouth
The rest stood for the most par
dumfoundcd: but Black Dick had his
pistol lifted.
Jacques and | sprang out for the
landing and round the doorway. Be-
tween the fash ard the report | felt
a sudden s.,ap-, as OF red-hct wire
across my left thigh and Just above
the kne
"Tcnez, camarade," said jacques
voice in my ear; "a moi Ia porte-e
vous 10 maitre, Ia bass" and he point
cd down the staircase, where. By
the glare Of the confagration tina,
beat past us, | saw the figures oil
Sir Deakin and his daughter stand
ing,
"But how can you keep the doc,
against a dozen?"
The F%renchman shrugged hi.
shoulders with a smile
"Mais-comme cal"
For at this moment came a rusl
of footsteps within the room. ] saw
a fat paunch thrusting past us, 4
quiet pass OF steel. and the LANDLORD
was wallowing on his face across tn,
threshold. jacques teeth snapp't
together os he stood ready for an,
other victim; and as the fellows with,
N the room tumbled back. he mo
ion'd me to leave him.