The Argosy, January 1906 — page 84: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

266 back upon his elbow, but the others re- turned the fire. The bullets began to hum through the room again. ~ “You had better get down; no need to get a bullet through the head out of mere curiosity,’ said Von Werner shortly. Bosworth was about to make an ap- propriate reply when two things hap- pened. He felt a sharp sting over his right ear, then everything seemed. to give way beneath him, and with Von Werner he went crashing to the floor. The table had refused longer to per- form the office of a grand-stand. The Prussian was the first to free himself from the tangle. “Golt verdammt!” he growled. Then, looking down at Bosworth: “You are hit—do you feel any- thing?” Bosworth was rubbing his head, which had come in violent contact with the floor. “TI feel as though I had been hit by a ton of brick, but———” He looked at his fingers, which felt sticky; they were covered with blood. Von Werner bent down and pulled him upon his feet. “Ah!” he said in a relieved tone. “Tt has only cut the skin.” “It was a bullet, then, which knocked me off the table?” Bosworth asked. The Prussian smiled. “No,” said he, “it is only that the table is French and refused to assist tS. Two of the Uhlans had turned to see what had happened to their officer, but the others were firing Fapidly down upon the French soldiers. Von Werner went to the window. He saw that the dozen of the enemy who had at first approached the L were rein- forced. A crowd numbering forty or more were directly opposite him, but most of the new-comers were peasants. Bosworth wiped the blood from his face and joined the others at the win- dow; the fire on both sides had slack- ened and he stood for several moments looking upon the crowd below. Suddenly a ery came from the gather- ing of Frenchmen: “A bas Vespion! A bas le Prussien!” THE ARGOSY. It was the ery he had heard the night before, and the tongue which uttered it was the same. Among the Frenchmen looking up at the window was the Franc-tireur Le Béte. A pecuhar sensation crept along Bosworth’s spine. He suddenly saw a startling possibility before him. What if the French overcame the Uhlans and obtained possession of the chateau? It would probably mean that he, Bos- worth, would not long remain a pris- oner. Even did they spare the Prus- sians, he could hope for no leniency. He would be taken out and hanged, because they would believe him to be a German spy. That Mademoiselle de Luynes might intercede in his behalf must count for hittle—a woman’s word did not go far on such oceasions. Le Béte would have his say, the French officer would believe him, and afterward, when he learned the truth, he could not unhang the man he had executed. In a few words the situation to pointed. out Le looked grave. “It is certainly something which is unpleasant,” said he. Then, in a de- eided tone: “But they are not going to take us, my friend; not to-day, any- way.” Bosworth was thinking that he would Bosworth explained Von Werner, and Béte. The Uhlan gain no great advantage even if the hanging was postponed “until the mor- row. A look of determination came into his face. “See here, Von Werner,’ said he shortly, “get me a gun. [ didn’t in- tend to take any part in this mix-up, but now I’m going to help keep those fellows off.” A volley from without checked the Uhlan’s reply. One of the men at the other window sank in a heap below the sill; a few drops of blood trickled from a small round hole above his right eye. “Gott im Himmel—fire!” shouted Von Werner. The five remaining Uhlans began eracking away again. Suddenly the doorway of the room was darkened by a blond-bearded giant, who crossed the floor and saluted Von Werner. (ef) m cComichoo