The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-07-20

the seat Of physical power, were Ru-
RIGS alone to possess. Yet Conrad
Damonoff was accounted a strong
man. In the athletic sports Of the
court club he had few superiors and
not many equals. But Ruric Newell
had never shown his strength there.
Now, for the first time, that con-
temptuous look passed from the
counts face. As his eye caught his
antagonists position, rs he motto
ed the calm, dignifed, quiet ease
Of every limb and as he caught the
deep, mystic fire Of those expressive
eyes he knew that he had no COM
mon amateur TO deal with.
AT length Conrad Damonoff start
ed back, and a quick cry escaped his
lips. His antagonists point had
touched his bosom. 1t had pressed
against his heart and had not been
driven home. Well he knew that his
life was his no longer, for the gun
maker had gained it and spared it.
"You fence WE'LL" he gasped,
struggling to regain his composure.
"You are not a novice" returned
Ruric calmly, at the same time al
lowing his point to drop.
"Come on" the count uttered,
now gathering all his energies for
another effort.
And again the weapons were
crossed. This time DamonoI was
more guarded. Before he had beon
impelled by his own assurance, but
now he was forced to regard his OPP
ponent's power. Ruric quickly
found that the other was more care
full than at first, and he carried his
own point accordingly. At the
twelfth stroke the count made a
feint TO the left, then at the throat,
and then, with a quick, lightning
like motion, he brought his point to
his antagonists heart. But his
meaning had been read from the
first by Ruric. The youth caught
the motion Of the eye, and he saw
that his heart was the place looked
TO. His own movement was almost
instructive. He received his antag-
onist's sword midway upon his own
blade, then moved his arm quickly
forward and caught the point under
his cross guard; then, with all his
power, he wrcnched his arm upward
and backward, and the counts
sword went flying across the build
ing. II struck the opposite wall
with a dull clang, and the next in
slant it was half buried in the snow.
Gear not, sir" said Ruric as the
count started back, with both hands
raised 81 never strike an unarmed
man"
Damonoff's arms fell to his side,
and a deep blush Of shame mantled
his face.
'By St. Paul" cried the surgeon,
"your life is forfeited, sir count,
and now YOU should be satisfied"
''No, no." the discounted man ey-
claimed, starting up with rage and
modification. "That was hut a slip.
Twas false step, a cowardly feint.
am not overcome"
"But, man Of mortality, even now
your life is Neyefs. lie may run
YOU through now if he chooses"
''But he has not" the count cried,
springing to whore his sword had
fallen and snatching it UP.
"Sir count here spoke Ruric
calmly, but with marked contempt,
"you should not blame me for what
have done, for thrice have YOU
tried to break my word
'aThcn try it again. Damonoti
returned. "Takc my sword again il
you can"
sPerhaps not, our hero retorted
But BE sure your sword shall be
used no more after this day"
Ella Brag not, but strike. II
you can
The conclusion Or the sentence
was drowned BY the clash Of steel.
AT the second stroke the count
made another furious thrust at his
antagonists heart. Ruric sprane
quickly aside, and with the whole
power Of his good right arm he
struck Damonoff's blade close to the
haft and broke it in twain.
eMy other sword, my other
swordp the count shouted, now
blinded by absolute madness. ooh
give mo my other
"Holdp cried both the surgeon
and Stephen Urzen in concert. .'You
are mad, Conrad"
"Mad? Oh, | shall be mad
Where is my sword" the reckless
man yelled, casting the bladeless
pommel down.
'eBut will you not listen one
"Away, ! sayl Shall ] give up be
cause my sword is broken? BY the