Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-22
CHAPTER ".
THE CHALLENGE.

LII IIO d1lCliOOll 1luAiS ASeAANS> w
his shop, where he went at work
upon a gun which had been ordered
some days before. As yet he had
said nothing to Paul concerning the
affair of the day before since his re-
turn from the Kremin. He asked
him now, however, if any one had
called.
"Only the monk" returned Paul,
without seeming to consider that
there was anything very important
in the visit.
"Do you mean the black monk
Vladimir" asked the young man,
starting.
eyes, my master. He called here
about the middle of the forenoon.
He wanted one of the small daggers
with the pearl haft."
"And did you let him have one"
"Certainly.> He paid me 4 due
ats for it and would have paid more
had I been willing to take it."
"And did he make any converse
tion?"
eyes. He asked me why the Count
Damonof came here yesterday"
ella! How did he know of their
visit?"
"He was waiting at the inn for
sledoe when he overheard the count
and his companion conversing upon
the subject"
"And did he ask you any cues
tions touching the particulars?"
"Yes-many."
"And how answered you"
81 told him the whole story, from
beginning to end. I found that he
knew something of their purpose
from what he accidentally over
heard, and, rather than have him 60
away full of surmises, I told him
all"
"Of the message too?"
eyes, my master. / told him all
that happened, from the showing of
the paper which the duke had drawn
up to the departure Of the angry
man."
"And what did the monk say"
Ruric asked very earnestly.
"Why, he said he knew the count
and that he was a proud, reckless
fellow and worth but little to soci-
ETY.; that was all. He did not seem
to care much about it anyway; only
he said he should have done just as
you did and that every law of JUS
tice would bear you out. He had
more curiosity than interest, though
I am sure all his sympathies are
with you"
every WE'LL" returned Ruric. '1t
can matter but little what the monk
thinks about it, though I would
rather have him know the truth if
he must know anything, for would
not be misunderstood"
"He understands it ali now, my
master, and I trust you are not Of
Tended at the liberty I took in tell
ing him"
"Not at all, Paul; not at all.'
Here the conversation dropped,
and the work was resumed in ST.
lence. 1t was past 3 o'clock when
Ruric's mother came and informed
him that a gentleman in the house
would speak with him.
''Is it Stephen Urzen?" asked the
youth.
His mother said it was.
"Then bid him come out here"
Claudia retired, and il a few mo-
ments more the gentleman made his
appearance.
''Ruric Newell" he said, bowling
very stifIly and haughtily, 81 bring
a message from the Count Damo-
noff."
every we'll, sir" returned the
gunmaker proudly, Il am ready to
receive it."
Thereupon Urzen drew Il sealed
note from his pocket and handed it
to Ruric, who took it and broke the
seal. He opened it and read as fol-
lows:
Ruric Nevel-An insult OF the most ageravatins
nature has for the time cvclcd all distinctions Of
caste between us. Your blood alone can was! out
the stain. l would not murder you outright. and
in no other way but this can l reach you. My
friend, the bearer OF this, will make al arrange
ments. If you dare not meet ME, say 50, that al
may know who is the coward DAMoSoFr.
When Ruric had read the nissive,
he crushed it in his hand and gazcd
its bearer some moments in the face
without speaking.
evil you answer" asked Urzen.
He spoke more softly than before,
for he saw something in the gun
makers face which he dared not
provoke.
care you acquainted with Alaric
Orsa, lieutenant of the guard:"
eyes, sir; know him we'll"