Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-02

seconds went to fetch their respective prin-
clpals to the spot Adlron and Adolf ex-
changed word or two as they waited.
1.-THE Englishman took It very we'll" re-
marked Adiron.
"Devilish we'll" iisped little Adolf; "he
made rather a favor OF it, just to satisfy
4 Unzlar, you know! He's too sure OF him
self, this Rallywood II he kills Unfair,
| which is unlikely, / shall have to finish
! the affair myself" with a frowning inn
portance that sent Adiron into one OF his
ready roars of laughter.
The cloister was still echolng with the
sound when Rallywood accompanied by
| Jenard, arrived from the other side OF the
palace, where the state rooms were situated.
on the way Jenard explained to Rallywood
that the procedure decided upon as being
best suited to the requirements OF the case
was simply alternate shots at twenty PAGES.
Rallywood and Unziar being placed, one
OF the men sent coin spinning UP into the
air. Then followed a long minute of ST.
! lence.
| st. Anthony's closter looks inward to-
ward a quadrangle; the outer side border
ing the river has been glazed in, but in
the interval OF waiting Rallywood could
hear the water FLASHING and sobbing against
the foundations of the old walls and the
wild song of the tsa, sweeping down from
the snowy frontier above Kotnford, as 1t
walled and howled drearily along the dark
water. He almost started when Adiron,
approaching him, said:
"You have won the first shot, Captain
Rallywood."
| Then | am afraid I must beg of you to
do me the great favor OF rearranging the
affair."" replied Rallywood; "for If l should
be unfortunate enough to kill Lieutenant
| Unziar, or even to disable him, the question
| at issue between us must remain undecided
for at the best an indefinite time and possi-
bly, forever. If you recollect, the matter
over which he was pleased to differ with me
was my expressed opinion that though a
good shot may bring down swallows to per-
fection, he might miss a man at moderate
distance"
"You have won the toss" demonstrated
Adiron.
"Yes, unluckily. But I feel sure that
Lieutenant Unziar will be kind enough not
to hold me to that, since 1t is evident that
the first shot should be his
Adiron grinned. 1t was his way Of show
ing many mixed emotions.
II like your way OF conducting dispute,
Captain Rallywood" he said; "but as your
second must warn you that it is the worst
luck in the world to refuse luck You have
won the toss. In declining to profit by
1t you are paying court to DEATH
Rallywood shrugged his shoulders.
'I may prove my point" he retorted,
smiling.
GAS for that, It might be decided on
different basis later on" urged Adiron
For the second time that night Rallywood
looked at his watch.
"I have an engagement In seven minutes"
he said. II shall be glad If you will con-
vey my meaning to Lieutenant Unziar."
'As you WISH" said Adiron; "but in case
of accident I should wish to take the op-
portunity of saying to you now that In
the whole range Of my experience l have
never derived moro pleasure from the atti-
tude of a principal than l have on this
occasion from yours"
Adiron concluded with a bow and re-
crossed to the other seconds. Since the
Englishman was determined to go to his
grave in so excellent and gallant fashion,
by heaven, it was Victor st. Just Adlron
who would escort him to its brink with all
the honors of fine and hereditary courtesy!
He was a man quite capable of losing him
self in a cause; therefore, as he approached
the other seconds, he came as partisan
Of Rallywood's, resolved that his man should
have his will in spite of all or any oppo-
stion.
"My principal" he began, "has just
pointed out that this meeting Is rather OF
the nature of the justification Of an opinion
than a quarrel in the ordinary sense;" then,
repeating Rallywood's contention, he added:
"You will see that 1t remains for Lieutenant
Unziar to prove himself in the right
Colendorp threw out a bitter oath, Adolf
objected softly, and Jenard stood silent and
in dismay. What could Rallywood mean by
throwing away his life? But Adiron backed
I'D Rallywood; he was going to bring this
thing to pass! Rallywood should have a
last satisfaction in this life. because he was
worthy of it.
"If Lieutenant Unziar chooses to with
draw his opinion" he said, "of course Cap
tain Rallywood will not go any further into
the matter For the rest, he has an appoint
ment in less than seven minutes. On his
behalf l can but insist that his suggestion
affords the only possible way out OF the
difficulty"
Reluctantly the other men yielded. Rally
wood had gained a moral advantage. IL ne
| were destined to die, he would die in man
ner that would go down into the history of
the guard Hastily and in accordance with
| the request of Rallywood the change OF pro-
| cedure was explained to Unziar.
The two opponents stood absolutely still,
| Rallywood's face wearing the expression Of
| one who is politely Interested in something
that is happening to somebody else.
At the signal Unfair raised his pistol and
| fired.
Rallywood stood in his place for some
thirty seconds, while there was sound OF
splntering glass as the bullet rushed out
into the darkness above the river; then he
advanced, smiling.
at seems" he said, that was right"
Unziar stared at him.
Ralywood handed his pistol to Jenard,
and bowng to the assembled men cere-
moniousy, he went on:
81 hope we may consider the affair con-
cluded, and as / am engaged for the dance
that is about to begin, trust you will ex-
cuse me-
And, with another bow, he was gone No
one spoke for a little while, then Unziar
walked toward the others with no very
pleasant face. That Rallywood had done
thing above reproach, and in a manner above
reproach, made 1t none the easier for his
pride to accept the result. But he was above
all considerations true to himself-to An
thony Unziar.
Captain Rarlywood has made his point