Hard cash; a matter-of-fact romance . stled and rushed afterAlfred. Alfred bounded up the next flight of stairs ; but,even as he went, his fighting blood got up ; he remem-bered his pistol; he drew it, turned on the upper land-ing, and levelled the weapon full at Rookes man recoiled with a yell, and got to a respectful dis-tance on the second landing. There he began to , Mr. Hardie, sir, said he, that is past a joke ;would you murder a man ? Its no murder to kill an assassin in defence of lifeor liberty; and Ill kill you, Rooke, as I would kill awasp, if you lay a finge
Hard cash; a matter-of-fact romance . stled and rushed afterAlfred. Alfred bounded up the next flight of stairs ; but,even as he went, his fighting blood got up ; he remem-bered his pistol; he drew it, turned on the upper land-ing, and levelled the weapon full at Rookes man recoiled with a yell, and got to a respectful dis-tance on the second landing. There he began to , Mr. Hardie, sir, said he, that is past a joke ;would you murder a man ? Its no murder to kill an assassin in defence of lifeor liberty; and Ill kill you, Rooke, as I would kill awasp, if you lay a finger on me. Do you hear that ? shouted Rooke to some onebelow. Ay, I hear, replied the voice of Hayes. Then loose the dog. And run in after him. There was a terrible silence ; then a scratching washeard below; and, above, the deadly click of the pistol-hammers brought to full cock. And then there was a heavy, pattering rush, and Vulcancame charging up the stairs like a lion. He was half-muzzled ; but that Alfred did not know: he stepped. Ill kill you, rooke ... if you lay a fingek on me. HARD CASH. 205 forward and fired at the tremendous brute somewhatunsteadily, and missed him by an inch; the bulletglanced off the stairs and entered the wall within ayard of Rookes head: ere Alfred could fire again, thehuge brute leaped on him and knocked him down like achild, and made a grab at his throat; Alfred, with admir-able presence of mind, seized a banister, and, drawinghimself up, put the pistol to Vulcans ear, and fired theother barrel just as Rooke rushed up the stairs to securehis prisoner ; the dog bounded into the air and fell overdead with shattered skull, leaving Alfred bespatteredwith blood and brains, and half blinded; but he strug-gled up, and tore the banister out in doing so, just as aheavy body fell forward at his feet; it was Rooke stum-bling over Vulcans carcass so unexpectedly thrown inhis path; Alfred cleared his eyes with his hand, and asRooke struggled up, lifted the b
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