The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-07-31

man kept crying out: Down with him
 Down with him.
 Now comes in what is to me thu l queerest part of the whole business
 Considering, I wasn't armed and con
 sldering that neither of the men had 6 pistol, what l ought to have done was
 clear enough. Any man brought up as
 l was in a community where rough and
 tumble fighting was the national
 amusement, as you might say, would
 nave thrown the first thing that came
 mandy into the big mans face and then
 knocked him and his companion down before he could have used his sword
 but 1 didn't do anything of the sort
 sprang into the corner of the rom where
 the figure in armor stood and snatched
 the sword that it had in it's hand. Then 1 put my back against the wall and pull
 ed one of the marble topped tables i'll
 front of me and said very quietly to the
 man, Unless you beg this ladys par
 don, and mine on your knees I shall do
 you the unmerited honor of killing you Well, the big man came on, and for the next five minutes we had some of 1 the prettiest fencing you ever dreamed of. l told you I had never had sword
 in my hand before yet there l was fencing as if I had been at it all my life, and I felt just as confident that the fellows sword would never touch
 me, and that I should kill him, as ever felt of anything sinca I was born food gracious, how did enjoy that fight! Presently the man stopped to
 tp1 ie. h,rO, T i+o ly to him and said that perhaps his
 comrade would take his place while he
 was resting However, the little man didn't seem to banker after fighting and he kept in the background and contin- ed himself to telling the other to cut my heart out, which was an easy line of policy for him.
 "We went to fencing again and I could see in the mans eye that he was getting frightened This time, however, l didn't waste any time in airs and graces Before we had fenced two min- utes I ran him clear through the body, and he was dead before I could fairly draw out my sword. Then I turned and bowed to the woman, not as a free and independent American citizen bows, but after the style of some ridiculous French dancing master, and saying to the smaller man, Follow, open the door and show the light.' I walked out The man did as I ordered him. but before had gone down the first flight of stairs the door was hut and I was in darkness again.
 I climbed down so slow and cautious, holding my sword in my hand with the point in front of me. Suddenly there was a gleam of light which instantly disappeared. I knew what it meant. Some one had opened the door of the room where we had been fighting and had shut it again. Probably the little man had plucked up courage enough to pursue me and stab me in the dark.
 T waited where I was with my back up against the side of the house, for I calculated that if the man was follow ing me he would keep hold of the ban isters. After a bit I distinctly heard some one coming down the flight above, but making hardly any noise. The man had evidently taken off his boots. which would help him to move faster than could, besides preventing him from making any noise.
 II waited, hardly allowing myself to till I judged he was close to me, and then I lunged with my sword. l felt the sword point strike him and 1 pierce deep into him. There was q yell and the man fell heavily on the l stairs, while his sword went rattling ! 1own to the bottom.
 ''I wasted no more time with him, but l 1rawng out my sword I wiped it as l we'll as I could in the dark on the in- 'ide of my coat. It seemed to me that | hose stairs had multiplied since I climbed them. which of course they hadn't and that would never reach the street again. However, I came to the bottom at last and out into the street. Not a soul was to be seen. I ran at the i op of my speed down the dark street i'll I came to the little open square. l made q few more turns and found my elf in a we'll lighted and crowded treet, where I soon picked up cab nd got back to my hotel, carrying the word hid under my overcoat
 "The neXt morning I did my level est to find the house where I had been hat night, but couldn't find it, though
 walked till I was dead tired. Then, milking that had better get out of ,ouong before the police should hear of he affair, I took the noon train to 'aris.'
 My idea" said I, "is that you reamed the whole thing"
 EueLuck got up, and unlocking T Ioset brought out an old fashioned apter. "There.'' said he, ''is the sword
 brought away with me- I couldn't luld l?
 I looked at the weapon. On the hit as a coat of arms partly obliterated ith rust. I rubbed 1t with my hand