CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1901-08-22
THE dUNMAKER OF MOSCOW.

vessels. I think, with proper care,
he may recover.
''Thank Godp' fervently ejaculat-
ed Ruric, with his hands clasped.
''Ba: why SO anxious ?" asked Ur-
zen. "Yol were ready enough to
accept his challenge"
"Aye, else you would have called
me coward" returned the gunmak-
er, with a flashing eye. Had | re-
fused to meet him that fatal word
would have met me at every fnrn. l
knew that such man as he was no
cope for me at any game where
strength of arm and sleight of hard
were required. So l meant to dis
arm him and then give him up his
life, believing that such a move
would erd the combat. You know
how labored to spare him. But
could not. Yet would not have the
life of fellow being, a countryinan.
upon my hands in such quarrel.
Nv father died fighting for his coun-
try, and so would ] die If INV death
must come from the hand of man.
But 10 die thus would he curse
upon my name, and TO infiict such
death upon another would be a curse
IN my memory"
81 believe you, nv son." the monk
said. "Only if the count dies you
should not allow such feelings as
You mention TO overcome you In
no way are you to blame for this"
"True, father. You speak truly"
added the surgeon. "The young
man has acted most nobly, and no
blame can be attached to him"
Ruric seemed somewhat relieved
BY these assurances, and, having
seen the counts wound dressed and
assisted in bearing the insensible
form TO the sledge, he took Alaric's
proTered arm and proceeded TO his
own team.
"Who is that monk - asked the
lieutenant as they entered their
sledge.
81 only know that he is called
Vladimir" returned Ruric. Il have
only seen him once before. Have
you ever seen him ere this ?"
"Yes; several times about our bar
racks. He has been there when
some Of our poor fellows have been
sick and diving. He seems TO be
good hearted man and, / judge,
quite intelligent"
81 agree with YOU there" our hero
said. q think he is a good man, but
there is nevertheless a mystery
about him which | cannot solTe.
His counienance is far,iliar to me,
and vet cannot tell where nor when
! have seen him"
"Aye," added Alaric quickly and
eagerly: that is precisely the case
with me. am very sure that have
seen that man under different cir
eumstanccs. And others of our COM
pany have thought the same"
The two men watched the move
ments of the monk while they thus
spoke. and they noticed that he en-
tered his sledge and drove of to-
ward Borodino.
"Ruric," said the lieutenant after
they had ridden some little distance
and at the same time gazing won
deringly into his companions face,
'you handle the sword ike a magi-
clan. BY my soul, I'd give all own
at this present moment, my commits
sion and all. II | could handle the
sword as you can
81 do understand the weapon
passing WE'LL" returned the youth
mojestly. but have worked hard
TO gain the science
"Ah. It's not all science" the off,
Ger added. "That wondrous strength
OF yours is a host in itself"
"And vet" said RurIc, Il have
seen weaker men than myself who
would overcome me easily or. at
least, who might overcome me.
"But they were not in this city,"
suggested orsa. with a peculiar
shake of the head.
''True, Alaric. / am not in the
habit OF mentioning my own powers,
but yet may say that there is no
man in Moscow who is my superior
in the use of any sort of offensive
arms"
The lieutenant readily admitted
the truth of this. and then the con-
versation turned upon the subject
of the count and the course he had
pursued with respect to the event
which had just transpircd. This
conversation lasted until they reach
ed the door of Ruric's residence,
and, having thanked his friend for
his kindness and expressed the hope