Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-06-27

cause my sword is broken? BY the
gods, the weapon deceived me.
Where is the other 20 n
"Deceived thee, Conrad? ?" repeat
ed the surgeon sarcastically. ''By
the Holy Ghost, had thy head but
received a hundredth part of the
blow 'twould not be upon thy shout
ders now!" ,...... F"
But the count was beyond all rea-
son. In his madness he saw not that
his sword had been broken on pur-
pose. He did not see that he had
been at his antagonists mercy. But
his friends saw it all. =. :. ....
cha! Whom have we here ?" cried
Alaric, whose eye had caught a dark
form at the entrance Of the old
building.
1t was Vladimir, the monk.
GLOW now? What seek we here?"
asked Urzen as the fat, burly monk
waddled toward the party.
II heard the clash of arms, my
Son, as I rode by, and I stopped to
see what it was. Surely where the
work of death is going on child of
the holy church, of God may Gomez
"Aye," cried The count. "Come in
and welcome, but NEEDLE not. Now,
my sword, where is t?"
Reluctantly Urzen brought for
ward the second sword, but ere he
gave it up he said:
||Bew@e, Conrad. You had bet
ter
|tPeace, babbler!'' the excited fool
Kissed, snatching the weapon and
then turning quickly upon the gun
maker.
Thus far Ruric had remained ST.
lent, but he felt it his duty to speak
now.
"Sir count" he said in a tone 50
stern and authoritative and with
look so commanding that the other
was held in allegiance by it, 81 must
speak one word. You have provok-
ed a quarrel with me, and you have
challenged me. I have no fear of
death when duty calls for my life,
but I would not die thus, nor would
I Stay fellow being thus. Six sep
arate times today since our swords
first crossed have I spared your
life"-
"Liar!"
-"and twice have I had you be-
fore me unarmed," Ruric continued
without noticing the interruption.
81 had hoped this would have shown
you that I sought not harm to you
and, furthermore, that you were no
match for me at this kind of work."
"Out, fool!" yelled Damonoff, now
fairly frothing with rage. eff you
dare not cross swords again, say SO,
but do not crawl off like cowardw
zone word more," uttered Ruric,
paling for an instant beneath the
unmerciful insult of the senseless
tongue that assailed him, and he
stood proudly erect while he spoke,
''before these men here assembled
and before God I swear that thus
far have spared you, but my own
life may be the forfeit if trife with
you more. So now beware. You
have sufficient warning.'
Perhaps the count really over
looked the facts of which Ruric had
spoken. In his ungovernable rage
he may have fancied that twas only
accident that had worked against
him. However, he started forward
once more and made a furious lunge
at his antagonist.
"Now," he gasped,, <'play your
best, for my swords my own" ,
But Ruric spoke not. He saw that
the count was stronger than before
for his rage seemed to give him a
maniac's power-and that he was
earnest only for life. or death. He
struck quickly and furiously, and
his movements we're strange and I'M
precedented. He threw up all rules
Of exercise and cut and thrust only
in wild madness. Twice Ruric came
nigh being run through: He lost all
run Of his opponents play and
quickly saw that he must put stop
to the conflict or run the risk of
leaving a childless mother in his
home to see that days sun sink.
fFWill you give o'er?" he asked as
he struck the counts point down.
EFNever! Submit to such as you?
Bahw
A few moments more the conflict
lasted. One more opportunity he
had at Damonof's heart, and he
spared him. All present saw it save
the mailman.
"Foolp' uttered the monk, who
trembled from head to. foot with ex-
element, his huge belly shaking like