Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-03-14

fend myself without seeking to pass the
guard of practiced swordsman
1t was simply that would use rapier of
greater weight than my opponent (which
would be but natural, and at the proper
time throw my guard wide open by lowering
my hand. On the instant of the onset which
would be sure to follow, had but to step
back pace and bring up my weapon with all
strength and speed, the fairly sure result be-
ing that the sword of my adversary would be
driven from his hand or the blade fly to
pieces by the force of the blow Whether
this trick is allowable save under the rule
that "all's fair in war" / scarcely know, but
III sport had tried it often, and with never
failure, even though my opponent knew my
intention.
With the hint of Scammelrs light hand
which had been given me by Belden, was
sufficiently without worry to take with full
zest the apparent good luck which had come
to me, and, with no thought of an untoward
Sip III my fair prospects, / returned 70 the
Kings Arms, and there wrote a note in
set terms inviting Scammell and his second
20 meet me the day and hour on which had
determined
This being dispatched to his room to await
his coming, 1 ate my evening meal, and then
sailed to the shipyard for my usual look at
the Phantom.
She still swung in the old spot, with an
ccsy grace and an apparent unliftng of her
furefoot, an effect caused by the sheer OF her
deck lines. My soul went out to her, for she
seemed to know me and strain at the cable
like high-mettled steed that only needed
the word to take the bit and be off. Rusty
she was, and foul besides, but, rusty and foul
she could outpoint half his majesty's heavy
going cruisers, and l waved my hand at her
as L would have done to my lady had one.
swearing to give the word ere that dav fort
night.
How little l knew we would both be well
tried by then.
waved my hand 10 her and turned to CO.
when my eye caught huge coil of black
smoke rising from near the rivers edge far
down the city. That it was fire on shore
l made out at glance, nor did give it more
tnan passing notice until. on entering the
streets again, / became aware of the con-
course pouring in that direction. Soldiers
by companies, disarmed and bearing buckets,
were hurrying toward the conflagration, but
not until reaching the Kings Arms and as
ccndlng to the fine cupola that surmounted
it did / know that the fire was of vast OK
tent. And even as / looked it spread from
rouse to house, threatening to assume the
before.
Now with interest well sharpened made
haste to get to the scene of the burning and
be OF use-a thing not so easy to do, owing
tc the press of a mass of people who stood
about useless and curious, watching the play
of the great sheets of flame, and giving ex-
ercise to their voices when their hands might
have been of better service
l soon saw, however, that there was no
organized effort to suppress the flames and
without order my arm was no better than
the weakest. But of this second mighty fire
III New York, in which upward of three
hundred buildings were destroyed, 1 have lit
tie to do. Looking back from these later
days (for | am an old man now. it seems as
though the smoke had beckoned me to its
source that / might take my next step in the
quickening drama of my life, the plot of
which was to lead me through travail and
bloodshed, that in the end might be fitted
TO enjoy the great happiness it has been the
will of God to vouchsafe me-