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before he could reach it, I stood upon the threshold He

regarded me for a moment beneath his hat briood fellow," said he at last, "I will buy your cottage of

you--for to-night--name your price"

I shook my head Hereupon he drew a thick purse fro, to uineas, bu, he flung open the door

Obediently I stooped, and, taking up the purse, rolled it in the

coat which I still held, and tossed both out of the cottage

"Sir," said I, "be so very obliging as to follow your property"

"Ah!" he murmured, "very pretty, on ht me fairly between the eyes, and he

was upon me swift, and fierce, and lithe as a panther

I relint of his eyes and the flash of his bared

teeth, now to one side ofthe chairs, and crashing into unseen

obstacles In that dim and narrow place small chance was there

for feint or parry; it was blind, brutal work, fierce, and gri the

table crashing with him, and I saw him wipe blood from his face

as he rose; and once I was beaten to h the fire upon the hearth spun

giddily round and round, and the floor heaved oddly beneath my

feet