The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-11

had first seen the master Of the Castle
Of Gloom.
The Baron was standing in the middle
Of the room. with his tangled name
bristling like an angry lion. He was,
as have said. huge man. with enor-
nous shoulders. and as he stood there
with his face flushed with rage and his
sword advanced, l could not but think
that in spite OF all his villatnies he had
a proper figure for a grenadier. The
lady lay covering in chair behind him.
A veal across one Of her white arms
and dog whip upon the floor were
a.ough to show that our escape had
hardly been In time to save her from
his brutality. He gave a howl like a
wolf as We broke in. and was upon US
In an instaht, hacking and driving with
a curse at every blow.
I have already said the room gave
no space for workmanship. My young
companion was in front Of me In the
narrow passage between the table and
the wall. 60 that could only look on
without being able to aid him. The
lad knew something Of his weapon. and
was as fierce ard active as a wildcat.
but in so narrow a space the weight and
strength of the giant gave him the
advar:age. Besides, he was an ad-
mirable swordsman. His parade and
reposte were as quick as lightning
Twl:c he touched Duroc upon the
Shoulder and therc as the lad slipped on
lungs he whirled UP his sword to finish
him before he could recover his feet.
/ was quicker than he, however, and
took the cut upon the pommel Of my
sabre. .-.-...
EXCUSE me-" said I, "but you have
still to deal with Etienne Gerard"
He drew back and leaned against
the tapestry covered wall. breathing in
little hoarse gasps, for his foul living
was against him.
Take your BREATH" said I. II will
await your convenience"
You have 10 cause to quarrel against
me-" ne painted.
Il owe you some little attention."
said I. "for having shut me up in
your storeroom. Besides. II all others
were wanticg. see cause enough upon
that lady's arm"
Have your way. then" he snarled,
and leaped at me like madman. For
minute saw only the Blazing blue eyes,
and the red glazed point which stabbed
and stabbed, rasping off to right or to
left. and yet ever back at my throat and
my breast. I mad never thought that
such good sword play was to be found
at Paris In the days Of the revolution. /
do not suppose that In all my little af-
fairs have met six men who had a bet; Z.
ter knowledge of their weapon. But he
knew that was his master He read
death in my eyes, and could read that
he read It, The flush died from his
face. His breath came in shorter and
thicker gasps. Yet he fought on, even
after the final thrust had come, and
died still hacking and cursing with foul
cries upon his lips and his blood clot-
ting upon his orange beard. I who
speak to you have seen so many battles
that my old memory can scarce con-
tain their names, and yet Of all the
terrible sights which these eyes have
rested upon there IL none care to
think Of less than that strange beard
with the crimson stain in the center,
from which I had drawn my sword
point.
1t was only afterwards that I had
time to think Of all this. His monstrous
body had hardly crashed down upon
the floor before the woman in the cor
ner sprang to her feet, clapping her
hands together and screaming out in