Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

WHITE HEATHER WEATHER. answered the coachman as he hastily com- plied with Samson’s directions. ‘‘ What’s wrong?” \. ‘‘T saw four men whispering with mine host in the hall; they paid him money and he directed them to the sleeping-rooms above. They were armed to the teeth.” ‘Hell and furies!” ed the coach- man softly. ‘‘ Where? ere? Four, said you?” “Four! This way!” They were instantly in the hall and stood listening, but not a sound came from the dark stairway above them. ‘“‘ Northam,” whispered the coachman, “you have dreamed.”’ “Never! Help me close these doors and drop the bars. We must keep those fellows in the tap-room.” Luckily the broad doors shut without sound and the heavy bar was dropped into its socket. Geoffrey whined from the dark- ness at their feet. “ Among those you expect to follow you,” said Northam, ‘“‘ was there one large man with a narrow, pointed gray beard?” * “ Old Malvern himself! Now God ’a’ mercy!” ‘“ Courage, man!” pleaded Samsdn Integ- rity, mistaking the import of that whispered outbreak of emotion. ‘‘ They are two to one, but we'll take ’em by surprise.” “Do your own part and care not for me,” answered the coachman, “ and this night’s work will make you. Up the stairs, and we'll take ’em in the hall!” So saying, he unsheathed his sword and started up into the darkness; at the same instant, a muffled cry sounded from the regions above. It was as if a spur had been driven into the flesh of Samson Integrity. In a single bound he passed the coachman, and sprang up to the level of the hall above. This was a long gallery which extended down the whole length of that wing of the tavern with the doors of numerous rooms opening off from it. Several windows looked upon the courtyard on the other side, and through these apertures streamed the grow- ing but uncertain light of the new dawn. As Samson reached this hall, through one of the doors to the left and toward the 3” farther end of the corridor, two black figures forced out a third form in white between them, and almost immediately a second trio issued in the same manner and turned down the hall. : : ‘On them!” called a voice at Samson’s shoulder; and whipping out his sword as he ran, Samson Integrity raced toward his first combat. ‘Two of ’em!” shouted one of the men before him. ‘‘ Tom, mind the women! Har- chester, Grantley, at ’em, lads!” And three swords flashed in the dim light of the gallery. It was the big man of the pointed gray beard who gave the ‘com- mands, and he stood now, a little in advance of his companions in the full shaft of morn- ing light which broke through a near-by window. He was to the left of the others and therefore more on a line with the coach- man who raced not a step behind Samson; so the latter bore straight down upon the central figure of the trio. To run blindly upen two bare swerds, however, was certain death which skill could not avoid, and though a red passion half blinded Samson, the glitter of the steel brought him to his senses when he was almost within lunging distance of the two. Without slackening his speed he leaped far to the left, his shoulder crashing into the wall, and thrust at the man directly before him. In spite of the unexpected change of direction the fellow had presence of mind and speed of hand to parry. His blade rang on that of Samson and forced it up. An ounce more of pressure in that parry would have saved him. As it was, he deflécted the point from his breast, but it entered his shoulder; and with the lunge of Northam’s body behind it drove through to the very hilt. The fellow screamed terribly as he fell and clutched at his wound, while his rapier rattled on the floor. ‘“Let the wenches be, Tom!” he cried, writhing where he dropped. “ Here am I dying! Help!” His fall had disengaged the blade of Sam- son Integrity in the very nick of time, for the central man of the trio thrust full in Samson’s face and he was only able to knock the danger above his head by jerking COnmmiclboolks (©