Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-15

man-servant. A few minutes after
wards, under banner of blue smoke.
the young officer took one or two turns
on the lawn among the flower beds,
and then, as if obeying Ronald's fierce
desire, conveyed to him telepathically,
he turned into the walk leading down
to the spring. He moved easily, with
lazy, swinging stride, ruthlessly cut
ting at the nearest flowers with cane
which he poised on his shoulder like
sword or swung in front of him as if
fencing.
No sooner had Ronald seen the di-
rection he was taking than he vaulted
over the fence and made his wav
through the dewy grass and weeds into
the wood which interviewed between
him and the spring.
He came upon Wrinkle as that worthy
stood on the fiat stones round the
spring. The officer wore his eye
glasses, and had his cigar between his
liups. The grass muffled Ronald's
steps, and as Wrinkle was look
ing towards the. house as if expect
ing some one, he did not notice our
hero's presence till he stood beside him.
"Ah!" CALCULATED Wrinkle, as he
turned, and then through his glasses he
eyed Ronald coldly from head to foot.
"Ah!" he repeated, and then he took
puff at his cigar and blew the smoke
towards the house as he locked again
up the walk. One familiar with the
tricks of Wrinkles sallow face might
have found hint of uneasiness there
as Ronald caught his eye and held it
steadily for a second.
There is matter that you and I
must settle, SIR said our hero, calmly.
For moment Wrinkle gazed almost
defiantly at the speaker, then his glance
wavered just little.
"a matter that you and I must set.
tle?" he echoed, with a, faint sheer,
land what is that, my good fellowo''
"You deliberately drove your horses
against me last night in the road and
have COM" to demand satisfaction"
The officer sent another glance up the
walk towards the house; it was as if he
were hoping some one would arrive to
prevent what seemed inevitable. He
did not like the expression of the face
before him; he dreaded the awful
threatening tranquility of it.
He removed his cigar from his lips
and held it in his fingers, that quivered
nervously.
Il don't want to have trouble with
you" he said.
Then you should not have driven
over me-" answered Ronald, "for moth
ing under high heaven can avert the
consequences of that cowardly act.'
IL am not good driver, Mr.. Fen
shawl believe that isyour name, sir.
Just as I passed your brother my hand
slipped, and"
'You are a deliberate liar!" Ronald
interrupted him.
Wrinkle started, paled a little and
made half threatening gesture with
his right hand, but as he gazed into
our hero's eyes his arm sank slowly
down to his side and he made lame
pretense of trying to restrain his an
ger.
'You must not use insulting words to
me-" he said.
Ronald smiled. "You would not be
SO inartistic as to deny that you lied,
Wrinkle, but the fact that you tacitly
admit you are liar does not satisfy
me. l tell you we. have got to settle
this matter right here and now
Il don't know what you mean," Win
kle found himself saying. 81 do not
want any trouble with you. I've said
that the-the thing was an accident,
and"
"And have said that it was not an
accident, and that will fight you or
have the satisfaction of knowing you
are coward. If you are coward I
would not soil my hands with you.'
Wrinkle was very white now; his ci-
gar fell from his lips and be caught it
against his breast. II am unarmed,
and" Che looked Ronald over again)
you are physically stronger than I
am"
Thereupon Ronald drew the two re-
volvers from his pockets and held them
out. II thought that pistols would be
fair" he said. ''You may take your
choice; they are practically the same.
This is a quiet place; we can have it
over in a few minutes. have thought
out plan that will be perfectly fair
to both of US. The plantation bell will
ring in few moments; we can get
ready and at its. first stroke we may
turn and fire till the revolvers are
empty or one of us is down."
Wrinkle stared fixedly.
'Why, that would be deliberate MUIR
der" he gasped, shrinking back step
or two from the extended revolvers.
ut would not be any more murder
than death in any duel would be, Capt.
8 j ~: 3
Ns~raaS@A 49,