The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1889-01-23

both.were strong, determined men. While
Aliens opponent was taller and heavier
than himself, the latter had an advantage
in activity and skill in wrestling and box
ing From their knees the struggling men
rose to their feet.
The dagger fell to the ground and neither
could get it. The contest became one of
endurance. The men were fighting for life.
They struggled, turned and twisted, and
fought with maddened desperation until
Allen finally struck his antagonist on the
head, Tho blow staggered him, and another
brought him to his knees.
Following up this momentary advantage,
Allen struck three or four moro blows and
fclled him to the earth Enraged and furi-
Gus at the sudden attempt on his life, the
young editor seized the dagger which lay
on the ground at his side, and raising the
cleaning blade to drive it to the heart of
his assailant, he cried:
Nov we'll see which dog shall dep
A piercing shrek rose on the air, and a
slender form clad in spotless white flew to-
ward them and seized the uplifted arm.
ooh, don't, don't in Heavens name,
ont murder himl'' cried the beautiful
..iri. at whose solicitation he had gone to
rroncbtown.
"Bcrtha Bertha you herer' gasped AL
~. starting back in surprise, not I'M
Mingled with horror, when he reflected
'lut he was about to take tho life of a hui
}an being.
..Oh, spare him, spare him. In the name
Virgin let there be no blood shed!'
:,lc;ld J;crtha, wringing her hands in agony.
A lion stood transfxed and dumb with
nla1ement, while tho darl1-Whiskered man,
80 whom her appearance was not such an
lnexplicable mystery, rose to his feet anC
in voice of suppressed thunder said:
ut is very kind of you to save my life
after plotting so long to take it''
ooh, HeaVen-I never-never dreamed it
would come to thisl" groaned the beautiful
girl, still wringing her hands in agony.
The master turned upon her much as a
cruel father or master might upon child OF
servant, and in tone of muffled thunder
said:
"We've had enough of this-go home"
In his excitement and rage Allen could
distinguish a strong foreign accent in his
language, which on ordinary occasions was
not perceivable
"Not while you threaten each other" she
answered, sobbing bitterly.
"Why did you follow me? Did not tell
you to stay within re house,"
II know-I know; but if | had not come
you would have been killed." she answered,
still sobbing.
cit makes but little difference" he an
swered, with an oath. Turning upon Allen
an eye which in the darkness blazed with
the fire Of an angry tiger, he said in tone
which trcmbled in it's earnestness: {" 1t
would be better if you leave this country
and never come back. Young man, you be
very foolish, very rash not to have followed
the advice of the village, and let the mys-
terry of Turkeys Point alone"
He wheeled about, taking the arm Of
Bertha, and was gone, leaving Allen gaz-
ing after them in wonder and amazement.
Will wonders never cease!'' he asked
himself. 60 This strange mystery will drive
me to madness, and how am to solve it?"
He happened to think of the dagger which
had doubtless fallen from his hand when
Bertha had come SO suddenly upon them,
andfhought he would take it, as it might
provo clew to this strange mystery.
He stopped to pick it up, but it was no
where to be found, it was gone. Where,
how had it managed to slip away? Either
the tall stranger or Bertha had taken the
knife, and he was satisfied it could not have
been the former With all his soul on fire
with jealousy, and torn and racked by a
hundred conflicting emotions, he started
down the hill toward the village.
ooh, Bertha, Bertha, gone, left me with
out a word, after all l have done and suf-
fered,'' he groaned, as he hastened 10 the
village.
TO BE CONTINUED.