Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-02

ing to fhe gunmaik er, how dared
you strike5a Russian mob leman g
Laid not, sire. Conrad Damonoff
came to my shop, and he brought
me a.paper in which ] was required
or ordered to relinquish all claims
to the hand Off y. /. 7
Sire, 2 interposed the duke, he
misstates" .. s. s $780,. %.z
- Never mind" broke il the EN-
peror, with an authoritative wave OF
the hand, I'VE. will hear NOTHING
about the lady here. Why did you
| strike the count e :.= =:
Because, sire, he descended from
his station and struck me. He
threw away The shield which should
protect the nobhman and struck
me without prov ocation. =
"And then you Knocked him
down ?" IS r.
ri did, SIRE y.~,s,
"And*p perhaps you would have
done the same to III" -: .
"Sire," answered the youth quick
ly, '"when DamonoAf tried by threats
to make me- sign his paper I3told
him there was but one aman: on
earth at whose order 7 would do
that thing. The man who has the
right to command shall never have
occasion to strike me-"
There was something in this reply
and more in the tone and bearing of
him who spoke it that made. the
duke tremble. He saw plainly that
the emperor's eyes sparkled' with adj
miration as they rested upon the
gunmaker.
''<But now about this duel" re-
sumed the emperor. tHow dared
you take advantage. of the count in
the conflict p g.: 5%2.ss
advantage, sire ?" repeated the
youth in surprise.
aye. Did he not, Stephen Ur-
zen?"
<fHe did; SIRE" replied the man
thus addressed.
>"And which of the two do you call
the best swordsman ?'' Peter asked.
"Why, sir, the count is or was
vastly his superior"
"And what say ycu, sir ieuten-
ant?' =
Alaric trembled, for this was ad-
dressed to him. He knew that the
duke was anxious to crush his
friend, and he feared to draw the
wrath of that powerful nobleman
down upon his head. But happy
thought came to his ais:.
'|Sire," he said, 81 would rather
you would judge Of that for your
SELF"
*c.Me Judge? And how am l to do
that?"
,**Let Ruric Novels skill be tried
here before you. If I mistake not,
you have some good swordsmen near
your palace. There is Demetrius, the
Greek" - - :.
What, my master1at arms?''
eyes, SIRE"
''Why, he is the best swordsman
in my empire. l think our young
adventurer would fare badly in his
hands," = l -.
Meyer mind, sire. You could
judge"
'Why;" said Peter, with a smile,
"Demetrius handles the count as l
would a mere child.''
*fSire," spoke Ruric modestly, but
yet frankly, lit were surely no dis
grace to be overcome by your tutor
"And will you take a turn. with
him at the swords ;:'t'::- - ,
Yes, sire, if SO it please you"
by my soul" cried the emperor,
leaping up, well have some diver
sion out Of this trial. What no,
there! Light up the chamber. Let
every lamp be lighted, for we want
sight now: Send Demetrius here
and tell him to bring hisround ed ged
swords!' - ~. .<:c
Both the. duke and Urzen stood
aghast at this new: turn, but they
dared not interfere, for they saw
that their imperial master was all
excitement now to see a trial of skill
at that science which, above all 9TH
ers, he tried to make, his officers
learn. But then they haa one hope
might overcome the
gunmaker SO easily that Peter
should not see his real power. - 81
Demetrius s!5on came, and under
his arm he carried the swords. They
were of the common size, but with
round edges and points On purpose
for play. The master at arms was a
powerfully built man and posse ssed
a splendid form: He was. a Greek:
by birth: and was. now retained by
the emperor as teacher of the
''s eA .7aE'I:se.