It was full of scorn. The
laugh--it recalled to me a laugh I had heard before. Evidently the
youngster was playing with the veteran. I became fascinated. And
while the innkeeper and I watched a curious thing happened. Something
seemed to be slipping from the youngster's head; he tried to put up his
free hand, but the lieutenant was making furious passes! A flood of
something dimly yellow suddenly fell about the lad's shoulders. Oh,
then I knew! With a snarl of rage I took the inn-keeper by the throat
and hurled him, knife and all, to the floor, dashed from the room,
thence to the stairs, down which I leaped four at a time. Quick as I
was, I was too late. The lieutenant's sword lay on the grass, and he
was clasping his shoulder with the sweat of agony on his brow.
"Damnation!" he groaned; "a woman!" Then he tottered and fell in the
arms of his subordinate. He had fainted.
"This will make a pretty story," cried the young officer, as he laid
his superior lengthwise, and tried to staunch the flow of blood.
"Here's a man who runs away, and lets a woman--God knows what
sort--fight his duels for him, the cur!"
I never looked at him, but went straight to Gretchen.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171