Charlevoix county herald., 1917-11-23

In bloodred splashes.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Last Encounter.
As / approached the place l saw q
horse with military trappings. stand.
ing by the back piazza steps. its
bride and rein thrown over the
newell post. wondered II II had been
there all the time. or why ! had not
seen It arrive, but ] was not greatly
troubled about 1t or its rider. ] WAS
on edge then; one man was ss nothing
to me. and ] would have fought the
devil himself had he stood betwixt me-
and what ] was after.
But though desperate enough for
anything. was not quite fool. and
so instead OF going ut once to the
door, l sneaked up to the window be-
side 1t and looked In.
The door led not into . hall, but
into an apartment. undoubtedly the
caretaker's quarters. and though he
was not present. 4 girl. probably his
daughter, was. She was . buxon
wench of nineteen or twenty, and she
sat at q table with her elbows on II
looking curiously and timidly at the
man on the opposite side who was
drinking from the bottle In front Of
him.
1t took me q moment to recognize
him; but that man was Lysander Mel
ton.
He was considerably the worse for
the way he had been handled that day.
Both his eyes were blackened as II
from a blow: he was wet. hatless, his
hair was disordered, and around his
throat. which had twice sripped, Was
wouna a handkerchief The .undiscol.
ored norton - his face was CHASTITY
white. Though he had had been unarmed
when l had fled from Chez y an he
now had a sword, probably the one be-
longing to the ofiicer Agnes had
wounded, and the weapon lay on the
table before him.
And SO my prayer was about to be
answered. As I looked at him drink.
ing his wine, his attitude being one of
extreme exhaustion, ! saw fairly well
through the run of events. / was sat.
isfed that he had quickly recovered
after l had gone. and our line of
flight was easily guessed at by the
absence OF the chariot He had arrived
at the barrier too late to catch us.
but with an increased force had con.
tinued the pursuit.. Undoubtedly Peter
had Internationally sent the party
sstray-all but Melton. who was ex.
hausted and could no longer keep up.
and so had stopped for rest and re.
freshment at the Robinson mansion.
where he was undoubtedly known.
was now certain that be did not dream
of the possibility OF my near presence.
1t was Gods providence which had
saved US thus far. and felt that He
would not now desert US; yet was
far from feeling charitable and for.
giving as marked the willy devil at
the table. With q muttered curse I
strobe to the door, and seixing the
bronze knocker. brought 1t down with
a thunderous bang. There was little
time lost after that.
l heard q scream from the young
woman, and the next moment she
threw open the door, Sinking back as
she saw an armed man. AS IL I owned
the place walked into the room. Wet
through as ! was. bedraggled and
mud-spattered, do not believe Mel
ton knew me at once. especially as my
back was against the weakening light;
but when he saw me stride In with q
drawn sword he jumped to his feet
and grasped the weapon on the table.
And then he knew me. even before
he drew his blade; aye, and It was
plain that was about the last person
he expected to meet In that house. I
marked his eyes spread In astonish.
ment. then he ripped out q forcible
oath and stood staring at me. He did
not speak; but did. Advancing to
him, I said:
"Lysander Melton. this II our third
meeting this dsyl Have you faith In
odd numbersi Look you, sir. am
about to settle with you. Defend your.
self, sir. for. by the Lord Of Israel, ]
shall try to kill you, and l. have no
time to lose"
Not q word did he return. and. In
deed, T., re cauld have been little for
him to say. He knew he had got to
fight for more than my mere capture;
he was perfectly syars that he must
fight for his life. And there were no
other prsliminaries besides my few
words: the a6sir might have been at.
ranged for hQnzl lAafQEA 10 quickly did