The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-07-13

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every well. sir" returned the
gunmaker proudly, Il am ready to
receive il. =
Thereupon Urzen drew a sealed
note from his pocket and handed it
to Ruric, who took il and broke the
seal. He opened it and read as fol-
lows:
Rurie Nevel-An insult q the most aggravating
nature has for the time leyeled all distinctions Of
caste between US. Your blood alone can wash out
the stain. ] would not murder you outright. and
In no other way but this can | reach you. Ny
friend. the bearer q this, will make al arrange
ments. II you dare not meet me. say 80. that all
may know who is TIC coward, nAaosoFr.
When Ruric had read the missiye,
he crushed il in his hand and gazed
its bearer some moments in the face
without speaking.
"Will you answer?" asked Urzen.
He spoke more softly than before,
for he saw something in the gun
makers face which he dared not
provoke.
"Are you acquainted with Alaric
0rsa, lieutenant of the guard ?"
eyes, sir; | know him we'll"
'"Then let me refer you TO him.
He will make all necessary arrange
ments, and / shall hold myself
bound by bis plans. ] trust that is
satisfactory"
eyes, sir"
"Then you and ] need have no
more to say"
"0nly on one point" said Urzen,
with some little show Of confusion.
'You are the challenged party, and
you will have the choice OF weapons.
The count has not mentioned this
mind YOU, he has not, but ] as
his friend deem it no more than
right to speak of It'll trust you
will choose a gentleman's weapon.
In the use Of the pistol or the gun
he is not yersed."
"While you imagine ! am" said
Ruric, with a contemptuous curl of
the lip, for he knew that the man
was lying. He could see by the fell
lows very looks that Damonoif had
commissioned him TO breach this
matter.
"Of course you are" returned Or
zen.
"And the count is most excellent
| ly yersed in the use Of the sword, is
he not ?"
ale is accounted fair swords
man"
"Aye; so thought But il mat
tiers not 10 me. The thought had
not entered my mind before, save
that | supposed swords would be the
only weapons thought Of. However,
0rsa will settle it with you. | have
given him no directions at all save
TO serve me as he thinks proper and
TO act upon the understanding that
if | have given offense to the count
/ would do the same again under
provocation. You understand now?"
81 do. sir" returned Urzen in a
choking tone.
| L tltlA W ull n iiAb4itAlN5 tLllO A VIZ
give you a message TO Orsa."
Thus speaking, Ruric went to his
desk, and upon the bottom Of the
missiYe he had received from the
count he wrote:
Dear Alaric-I send tbs to you by the same
hand that bore il 70 rne, and you are hereby en-
powered 20 act for me as you may deem proper.
] shall be governed strictly by your arrangements.
RCRc
Having written this, he showed it
to Urzon and asked him If he would
bear it to the lieutenant An af-
frmative reply was given, and then,
simply folding the note in the oppo-
site way from the original fold, the
gunmaker superscribed it, anew TO
the lieutenant and handed it to his
visitor. Uzcn took it, and, with n
stiff bow, but without speaking, he
turned and left the place.
That evening about s o'clock a
sledge drove up to Ruric's door, and
Alaric Orsa entered the house He
called the youth aside and informed
him that the arrangements had all
been made.
"Damonoff is in a hurry" he said,
sand we have appointed the meet
ing at 10 o'clock tomorrow fore
noon. 1t will take place at the bend
OF the river just beyond the Viska
hill"
"And the weapons p asked Ruric.
Swords" returned Orsa. "The
count will bring his own, and he,
gives you the privilege Of selecting
such one Ks you choose"
81 thank you, Alaric, for your.
Kindness thus far, and you may rest
assured that shall be prompt"
Suppose ] call here in the morn
ing for 70" suggested the visitor.
81 should be pleased to have you