The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1900-12-20
ARMS AND THE WOMAN.
tContInned from third rade\


the caves. AS the branches rSo1ed 90
1id the light and darkness mSve over
tne mnkeeper's visage. He was silent
and meditative.
An epic?" said.
"An epic"
lnnkeeper," said |, If give you
my word of honor not to molezt YOU or
ieaVe this room will you let me be a
witness?"
He passed into the gloom, then back
into the light This is no trEk?" sus-
plcIously. Il have deal of r5gard for
my old bones. old as they areI
"On my honor
We'll. IH do it. 1t is in thd blood of
us all. But false move on -FOUR part,
and promise you that this knife shall
find resting place in you"
He cut the ropes, and ] Was free.
But my arms ached. The svo Of us
took our stand by the wirslow and
waited for the principals in the drama
about to be enacted in the clfaring. 4
confess that my conscience vas i'll ut
ease. Why knew not l WiaS dread
Ing something, knew not what The
4nnkeeper's hand trembIed orr my arm.
Sh! They come" he whiSS Sered.
As l looked beyond his finger | saw
Tour figures advance over tie sward.
One of them, slight bOyish SOrm, was
new to me. The fellow WALKED briSkly
along at the side of Stahl kerg, who
was built on the plan of SHercules.
When they came to the clearing, they
stopped. The seconds WenL through
the usual fOrmalitieS Of listing the
temper of the swords. Somehow l
could not keep my eyes off H1e young
ster who was going to do hhttle with
the veteran, and could not tfhelp won
derlng where in the world hes had come
from and why in the wOr:5 he had
chosen this place TO settle Els dispute
in There were plenty Of convenient
places in the village in and arOund the
barracks. He took his pOSitiSn, back to
me, so | could not tell what he was
like. The moon shOne squaSely in the
iieutenant's face, upon viii kh was an
expression of contempt miEgled with
confidence. My heart IT, Im!ped, for
had never seen duel before
Il do not know where tyOu came
FROM" heard the IieutenarS say. but
you managed nicely to picl4 a quarrel.
1t is all OH your own head. It is too
had that cur of an English; ban had to
run away"
The innkeeper's knife w$ is so close
that could feel the point O5 it against
my ribs. So gave UP the slid idea of
yelling from the window tlEli hadn't
run away The lieutrnant's opponent
shrugged. He placed himself Oh guard.
That was his reply. Suddenly the two
Sprang forward. and the clash of
swords followed. / cOulI not keep
track of the weapons. but 4 could see
that the yOungster was holding his
own amazingly well, Neither vas
touched the first bout.
Two minutes" murmured the old
rascal ut my side. 1t will be over this
time
YOU seem to have good deal Of
CO.., fence in your man." $ lid l.
here is not finer SwOkdS-sHOrds-
maft in the kingdom. or Oh the CONT
Dent for that matter. Thdre. they are
at 1t againT'
Step by step the IieuGenant gave
ground The clashing had stopped. It
was needlelike work nOwH Gradually
they began to turn arOund,E The blades
flashed in the mOOnShine like heat
lightning. My pulse attuh bed itself to
every stroke. | heard IaRIgh. 1t was
full OF Sc0rn. The Iaugh-st recalled to
me a laugh had heard before. Evi-
IDENTITY the yOunGSter was plaving with
the veteran. became fascinated And
while the innkeepcr and watched a
curious thing happened. Something
seemed to be slipping from the young
ster's head, He tried to pat up his free
hand. but the lieutenant was making
furious passes. A food bf something
Siimly yellow suddenly fill about the
lads shoulders. Oh. then knew! With
Il snarl of rage took the fnnkeeper by
the throat and hurled hibI, knife and
all, to the floor, dashed frpm the room,
thence to the stairs, down which |
leapGd fear at Il time. Q&ick as was
WAS 100 lGte. IHc lieut. FudnC SWOrO
lay Oh the GRASS. and he swas clasping
his shoulder, with the sweat Of agony
on his brow.
n woman he grOandi. A WON
an" Then ne tOttered aid fell in tn;
arms Of his subordinate hIe had faint
ed.
This will make pretty story
cried the young officer is he laid his
superior INn"thwiSp Hbd tried tC
Good Counsel [