The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-07-20
son, as ! robe by, and i stopped to
see what it was. Surely where the

son, as robe 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 come"
"Aye," cried the count. "Come in
and welcome, but NEEDLE not. Now,
my sword, where is itf"
Reluctantly Urzen brought for
ward the second sword, but ere he
gave il up he said.
Beware, Conrad. You had bet
ter
'Peace, babblerl" 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 SO
stern and authoritative and with a
look so commanding that the other
was held in allegiance by it, 81 must
speak one word. You have proyok-
ed quarrel with me, and you have
challenged me. | have no fear Of
death when duty calls for my life,
but / would not die thus, nor would
| STAY fellow being thus. Six sep
arate times today since our swords
first crossed have l spared your
life"-
"Liarp
-"and twice have ! had you be-
fore me unarmed," Ruric continued
without noticing the interruption.
81 had hoped this would have shown
you that | sought not harm TO you
and, furthermore, that You were no
match for me at this kind Of work"
coat, foolw yelled Dam0noif, now
fairly frothing with rage. IF you
dare not cross swords again, say so,
but do not crawl of like a 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 swear that thus
far | have spared you, but my own
life may be the forfeit if triAe 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 NAV have fancied that twas only
accident that had worked against
him. However, he started forward
once more and made 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 were strange and un-
precedented He threw up all rules
i Of exercise and cut and thrust only
in Wild madness. Twice Ruric came
nigh being run through He lost all
run ~ lis eppenent's play and
y quickly saw that he must put q stop
to the conflict or run thc risk OF
leaving cbildless mother IN his
i home 70 sec that day sun sink.
evil YOU give DER he asked as
he struck the count point down.
Never submit q such as you
BAH
a few moments more the conflict
lasted One more opportunity he
had att DamonoHs heart, and he
spared him. All present saw it save
i the mailman
.Foolw uttered the monk, who
trcmbled from head TO foot with ex-
citomcnt. his huge belly shaking like
bag Of Jelly. "Will YOU throw
away your own life, Ruric Newell?
Sin tell your mother you left her
or yolF own will2"
This mention 81 his mother called
/ the last lingering doubt from Ru-
ric's mind Again he struck the OPP
posing point down, and then he
pressed his own point upon The
counts bosom. lie avoided the
heart he tried to avoid the vitals-
but he threw his arm forward, and
his glittcring blade passed through
the fools body. With an express
sion of pain upon his features he
started back and rested his rocking
point upon the trodden snow. The
count came furiously on again, but
he struck wildly and at random, Ru-
ric merely warding off his blows, un-
til finally his arm sank On The next
moment his sword fell from his
neryelcss grasp, and he sank, faint
ing, back into the arms Of his at
tendants.