Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-12-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Last Encounter.

il
A. ! approached the place saw y
ness with military trappings stand.
hS by the back piazza steps. It's
birdie andNirein thrown over the
Aswel post. wondered II 1t had been
there all the time, or why / had not
seen II arrive, but was not greatly
troubled about 1t or it's rider. was
on edge then; one man was as nothing
TO me, and would have fought the
devil himself had he stood betwixt me
and what was after.
But though desperate enough for
anytAing, was not quite fool. and
10 instead Of going at once to the
door, I sneaked up to the window be-
aide Il and looked in.
1As door led not into a hall, but
into an apartment, undoubtedly the
carstakers quarters, and though he
was not present, q girl, probably his
daughter, was. She was buxon
wench Of nineteen or twenty. and she
sat at q table with her elbows on 1t
looking curiously and timidly at the
man on the opposite side who was
drinking from the bottle in front OF
him.
It took me 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
nom q blow; he was wet, hatless, his
hair was disordered, and around his
throat, which had twice gripped, was
wound = handkerchief. The undiscol-
'ored portion Of his face was CHASTITY
white. Though he had been unarmed
when ! had fled from Cherry Hill, he
now had sword, probably the one be-
longing to the officer Agnes had
wounded, and the weapon lay on the
table before him.
And 30 my prayer was about to be
answered. As looked at him drink
ing his wine, his attitude being one of
extreme exhaustion, I saw fairly well
through the run Of events. l was sat
ished that he had quickly recovered
after had gone, and our line Of
fight 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-
unued the pursuit. Undoubtedly Peter
had unintentionally sent the party
astray-all but Melton. who was ex-
hausted and could no longer keep up.
and 30 had stopped for rest and re-
freshment at the Robinson mansion,
where he was undoubtedly known.
was now certain that he did not dream
Of the possibility of my near presence.
It was Gods providence which had
saved US thus far, and l felt that He
would not now desert us; yet l was
far from feeling charitable and for
giving as l marked the willy devil at
the table. With a muttered curse
strode to the door, and selling the
bronze knocker, brought 1t down with
q thunderous bang. There was little
time lost after that.
/ heard scream from the young
woman, and the next moment she
threw open the door, shirking back as
she saw an armed man. AS II owned
the place walked into the room. Wet
through as l 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 a
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 1t was
plain that I was about the last person
he expected to meet in that house. l
marked his eyes spread in astonish-
ment, then he ripped out forcible
oath and stood staring at me. He did
not speak; but I did. Advancing to
him, said:
"Lysander Melton, this is our third
meeting this day! Have you faith in
odd numbers? 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 / have no
time to lose"
Not word did he return, and, in
deed, tn re cauld have been little for
him to say. He knew he had got to
he was perfectly aware that he must
fight for his life. And there were no
other preliminaries besides my few
words; the affair might have been ar
ranged for hours before so quickly did
we engage. The girl gave piercing
scream as our swords crossed, and
with her hands over her ears she ran
from the room.
was aware that Melton knew moth
Ing of my ability as a swOrdsman, but
surely the stigma placed on his lack
Of skill my the man, Merwin, was jus
titled The fellow was an infant at
fencing. might have played with
him all day without myself receiving
. wound, but had no time to waste,
and hated him with an intensity that
was unholy would kill him quickly
and rid the world OF devil
But 1t was not for me to do It. Mel.
ton knew lust enough of the art OF