Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-06-27
The Gunmaker
OF Moscow ~

By SYLVANUS COBB. Jr.

, Ruric was all ready but putting
, on his bonnet and peisse. His
mother was in the kitchen. He
went to her with a smile upon his
face. He put his arms about her
and drew her to his bosom.
|'God bless you, my motheri I
shall come back" He said this and
then kissed her.
"God keep-and"- -.
It was all she could say.
Ruric gazed a moment into her
face, then he kissed her again, and
again he said: IL G.
"God bless you, my mother! I
shall come back"
He dared not stop to speak more.
Gently seating his fond mother up-
on a chair, he turned and hurried
from the place. In the hall he
threw on his pelisse and bonnet, and
then he opened the door and passed
out.
*'Have you a good weapon?" ask
ed Orsa as the horse started on.
|1 have a fair one. I think it will
not deceive me-" returned Ruric.
81 ASKED" continued Orsa, fbe-
cause Damonoff prides himself upon
the weapon he wears. It is a Ger
man blade, and he thinks he can cut
in twain the blade of any other
weapon in Moscow with it.
II have a good weapon" Ruric
said quietly, @<and one which has
stood more tests than most swords
will bear" And after some further
remarks he related the peculiar cir
cumstances attending the making of
the sword and his possession Of it.
At length they struck upon the
river, and in half an hour more they
reached the appointed spot. The day
was beautiful. The sun shone bright
ly upon the ,glistening snow, and the
air was still and calm. The sharp
frost of the atmosphere served only
to brace the system up, and Ruric
threw open his pelisse that he
might breathe more freely. He had
been upon the ground but a few
{ minutes when the other party came
in sight around the head of the
river. - ..... - =.
AS soon as the count and his Sec
ond arrived and the horses had been
secured the lieutenant proposed that
they should repair to the building
which was close at hand. This was
a large open boathouse which was
unused and deserted in the winter,
and it was proposed to go in there
because the reflection of the strong
sunlight from the bright snow was
calculated to blind and blur the eye.
cha! Whatmeans that?" uttered
|'Orsa as he saw sledge just turning
the bend of the river with an officer
in it.
<'It is only a surgeon" replied
Damonoff. II would not cut a
mans flesh without giving him a
fair chance to survive it"
"And then you may find him
serviceable to yourself, eh?" sug-
gested the lieutenant.
I, *Of course. There is no telling
what may happier"
In a moment more the new sledge
came up, and Ruric recognized it's
inmate as an army surgeon whom he
had seen before, though he knew not
his name.
"Now for the old boathouse,"
cried Urzen.
"Aye," added Damonoff. <ELet US
have this business done, for I would
be back to dinner. I dine with Olga
today, and a fair maiden awaits my
coming"
FfNotice him not" whispered Or
sa, who walked close by Ruric's side.
''That is one of his chief points
when engaged in an affair Of this
kind. He hopes to get you angry
! and so unhinge your nerves."
<Never fear" returned the gun
maker. f<Be sure he only brings
new danger to himself, for such ef-
forts will find their point in the
muscle of my arm"
The party halted when they
reached the interior Of the rough
structure, and the count threw off
his pelisse and drew his sword. Ru-
ric followed his example.
fSir count" the latter said as he
moved step forward, .Fere we COM
mence this work I wish all present
to understand distinctly how I
stand. You have sought this quar-
rel from the first. Without the least
provocation from me you have in
suited me most grossly, and this is
the climax. So, before God and
man, be the result upon your own
| +'-- .#r H.