Cañon City record., 1901-08-29
CHAPTER VII.
A STARTLING TRIAL.

brought before the emperor II VIII
be necessary to go back few hours.
The autocrat had occasion TO send
for the surgeon, Kopani, who had
attended at the duel, and as he was
some time in answering the sum
mons he was questioned when he did
come concerning his tardiness. His
answer was that he had been attend
ing the Count Damonof.
"And what ails the count ~ asked
the emperor. "He was well yester,
day."
''Yes, but he met with an accident
today"
aLook ye, Kopani," the young
ruler cried, who saw in an instant
that something unusual had hap
pened, "think not TO conceal any
thing from me. What is it, now p
"Sire. meant not TO hide any
thing from you. The count has been
engaged in duel.'
1Hai Was he challenged 2"
"No, sire. He was the challenger
$50, so. And who was the other
party"
"a humble gunmaker, sire, nam
ed Ruric Newell"
"Nevel. Newell" soliloquized Pc
ter. "The name is familiar
"His father was a captain in the
last war with the Turks. He rose
from the ranks under Feodor and
was one OF the brayesi of the brave"
Captain Newell All. yes. ! re-
member now. He and Valdai were
the two who first mounted the ram
parts al lzium. So the old dispatch
es read"
"Yes, sire. Poor Novel was shot
month afterward while leading his
brave company against whole
squadron of Turkish infantry, while
Valdai came home and got colo
nel's commission"
"And afterward received a title"
added Peter
"Yes. sire"
"And this gunmaker is this cap
tain's son 2"
"Yes, sire"
"And methinks vnldai left a
child"
ale did. sire. a daughter, who is
now with Olga. She Is his ward.
"Nes. ycs. And the count fought
a duel with young Nevel and got
beaten. eh 2"
Before the surgeon could answer
a page entered the chamber and an
nounred that the nuke Of Tuln
wished to see his imperial master,
The emperor directed that he
should be admitted, and ere long
afterwari the proud d. Ike entered
the apartment. He was tall, stout
man, with light hair and blue eyes,
and not far from five and forty years
of age. His bearing was naughty,
though he was forced to show of
respect now that he was before his
master.
'"Sirc." spoke the duke after the
usual salutstions had passed, u
have come to demand justice at thy
hands. My young friend the Count
Conrad DamonoT has been most
brutally murdered
"lla! Say ye so, olgar"
"Yes, sire"
"But how was il z"
"Thus il was, sire: On the day be-
fore yesterday sent the count with
message to one Ruric Neyci. who is
gunmaker in Sloboda. He went as
/ wished, and while there the gun
maker, who is huge fellow, proyok-
ed a quarrel and knocked the noble
man down. OF course the count was
offended. and as the ruflian threat
ened to repeat the oifense and as he
furthermore grossly insulted no.
Bile lady whom the count held most
dear he could hardly help challeng-
ing him. The fellow accepted the
challenge and has succeeded by the
most cowardly maneuvering in in
flicting upon him mortal wound"
"This is serious affair." said the
emperor, who had not failed to note
the astonished look of the surgeon
while the duke was telling his story.
at is most serious, sire, and sure
ly the rufiian should be at once exc
cuted."
"But did you not say that the
count challenged him ?"
81 did, sire, but you must remem-
Der that il was an instinct Of self
preservation with the noble count,
The fellow would have undoubtedly
murdered him had he not taken this
course"
"Were you present at the duel, my
lord 2"
al, hut har frtap1