The morning call., 1891-05-03

his breast. On the walls of the spacious
roou hung weird-looKing trophies skulls.
| pictures of dead men CHASTITY and liyid. pis-
tolls, swords and strange banners. Thefoor
was carpeted with heavy Persian tapestry.
thicky padded underneath.
Coleman stood gazing while the file of
armed men-perhaps platoon would be
more cOrreet-went through some silent
but intricate evoluti0ns after beating their
shields together ana threatening him
with their swords. When the movements
were ended one of the maskers came up to
him aud struck him lightly with the flat of
his weapon across the cheek, saying in
loud whisper:
'.Bewarel you are in imincnt danger"
Coleman took him at his word and in
stantly let go q blow from the shoulder.
His close set fist met the masker's Jaw with
sound OF crushing Dashboard, and down
went the mani out-Stretched at full length
on the floor, his shield and sword giving
forth muffied clang as they crossed upon
the soft carpet.
Quick as a cat Coleman leaped forward
and picked up the sword, beautiful rapier,
and assuming defensive attitude cried out
boldly:
Come one a time and 1 will fight You
all ~
The fantastic figures looked at one another
with evident questioning, though not word
was said
Meantime the fallen one scrambled to his
feet and swore two or three bitter French
oaths. The leader rebuked him with ges-
lures.
Come one at a time you eowardIy vii
lains," repeated Coleman, land FL soon
finish you all. Come on, the first one, if you
| dare meet mani"
He was terribly angry but his yoica was
| steady and even.
There was a space of silence, then the
leader said something to one of the men, who
| Immediately east aside his shield and adj
| vanced with his rapier.
Ii was short conflict Coleman disarmed
| his antagonist with ease in less than a
| minute.
Another man came on and shared the
| same fate, with the addition of a prick
| through the wrist of the sw0rd arm.
| This was exhilarating to Coleman in his
exasnerati0n at being made the butt Of some
mysterious trick.
Come next p he cried, st want the best
| OF you-and the best is coward. Come
on!'
Evidently the mystic band now felt the
| gravity that the occasion was assuming
| The maSkerS looked to their leader
Don't stand there afraid" sneered Cole
man, come on and get your turn. Who's
neXt?"
Oae after another responded. only to fare
badly As yet, however. all had escaped
without deadly hurt, when the leader HIM
self made ready to fight Those who had
come TO grief were quietly cared for by
Others and all seemed to treat the proceej-
lngs as by no means startling or even I'M
usual.
When the leader threw aside his shield
| and took off his tall plnme-covered hat
Coleman was able to recognize Judge Favart
de Caumartln more by his form and bear
ing than by any disclosure Of his features,
As the Judge handled his rapier all the
company OF maSkerS, even the sorely
wounded ones, came forward to look on
with eager expectation. His was steel that
never yet had failed to find the vitals of his
opponent; but on the other hand there
stood Coleman, steadfaSt aud alert the
very picture of strength and will the EN-
bOdiment of quickneSs and certainty his
sword bearing at its point tiny red eliot of
blood.
They looked with strainng eyes and did
not feel sure Of the result even with their
Captain as their champion.
Come on, sir, and take your punish
ment, you cOwardly leader of c0wardsP
exclaimed Coleman in most eXasperating
tone. Don't stand there dreading it:
pluck up little nerve and come onI'
1t is useless tosay that Judge Favart de
Caumartin needed no bullying of this sort to
urge him into combat. With beautiful swift
ness and grace he sprang forward and at
once took the offensive.
Then followed swOrd-play that was amaz-
ing TO look at. Each combatant showed that
mastery of the fencing art which makes the
weapon appear to be part of the man. So
swiftly leaDed the shining shafts Of. steel
that the eye saw only fine symmetrical fig
ures shimmering between the fighters, while
Spangles of FIRE leaped from the crossing
edges. Coleman felt at once that he had
met his match; the Judge ting led with the
discovery that here at last was a master.
From the first it was q fight to the death if
possible. Neither could hope to dsarm the
other, nor was there probability of any
mere disablement ending the contest The
w no n N in hrpa
heard with intensely straining ears the
almost magieally rapid climbing Of the
blades
Coleman fought as if with the energy of
all the accumulated romance of his recent
experiences. half-recognizing, as he parried
and thrust and tented and recovered guard,
the vivid picturesquenesS. the melotramatfc
unTeallty, aud vet the deadly intensity of
the situation. He did not know where he
was or why he had been brought there; the
whole affair had mystery enough in il to
have destroyed the will-pOwer of any weaker
man, but TO him, while the strangeness
affected his imagination, there was nothing
in the matter to make him falter or 10
weaken the force of his arm. A fine glow
OF enthusiasm flashed indeed into his blood,
and with it an access of cunning, grace and
swift certainty of hand and of eve. The
feeling prevailed that he had in some
strange way, stepped out OF the real world
into the world OF romance, and as he fought,
the charm of heroism fell upon him, and,
like the knights of old. he felt the strength
Of a glorious desperation. All round him
the vague spirit of dreamland seemed to
hover, though the hideouS pictures Of skele-
tons and cadavers cleaned real enough in
the glare of the chandeliers What inspired
him most, however, was the knowledge that
he was trying his force with that of the
greatest duelist in the world and one that
had always killed his man.
There was something more that gave spirit
and courage to Coleman; he was in some in
direct way remembering the beautiful girl
who had appeared at the door of his room,
and he half imagined that he was doing
battle for the right to know more Of her.
Youth is mystery in itself, and love knows
no law of origin or Of progress. BY some
cerebral sleight some trick of thinking under
a Thought. so to sly, Coleman was making
love dream keep tine to the ringing strokes