Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-06-27
He turned to MS antagonist ana

He turned to MS antagonist ana
SAID rs. Is.
"Will you measure weapons, sir!
Mine may be a mite the longest.
seek no advantage, and | have one
here Of the same length and weight
as my own if you wish it.
81 am well satisfied as it is" re-
piled Ruric.
''Then take your ground. Are you
ready?" =.
"I ami" .".,.,t.
The two. swords were crossed in
an instant, with a clear, sharp clang.
There was some contrast between
the two combatants, but not much
apparently. The count was a little
the taller, and Ruric was somewhat
heavier. But to a close observer
there was a peculiar contrast in the
bearing of the two men. That
breast swelling out so nobly and
those massive shoulders, made for
the seat Of physical power, were Ru-
RIGS alone to possess. Yet Conrad
Damonotf was accounted a strong
man. In the athletic sports of the
court club he had few superiors and
not many equals. But Ruric Newell
had never shown his strength there.
Now, for the first time, that con-
temptuous look passed from the
counts face. AS his eye caught his
antagonists position, as he MOTTO
ed the calm, dignifed, quiet ease
Of every limb and as he caught the
deep, mystic fire of those expressive
eyes he knew that he had no COM
mon amateur to deal with.
At length Conrad Damonoff start
ed back, and quick cry escaped his
lips. His antagonists point had
touched his bosom. It had pressed
against his heart and had not been
driven home. Well he knew that his
life was his no longer, for the gun
maker had gained it and sparedit.
"You fence WE'LL" he gasped,
struggling to regain his composure.
<'You are not a novice,'' returned
Ruric calmly, at the same time al
lowing his point to drop. ~
"Come on" the count uttered,
now gathering all his energies for
another effort. ,@--s.
And again the weapons were
crossed. This time Damonof was
more guarded. Before he had been
impelled by his own assurance, but
now he was forced to regard his op-
ponent's power. Ruric quickly
found that the other was more care
full than at first, and he carried his
own point accordingly. At the
twelfth stroke the count made a
feint to the left, then at the throat,
and then, with a quick, lightning
like motion, he brought his point to
his antagonists heart. But his
meaning had been read from the
first by Ruric. The youth caught
the motion of the eye, and he saw
that his heart was the place looked
to. His own movement was almost
instructive. He received his antag-
onist's sword midway upon his own
blade, then moved his arm quickly
forward and caught the point under
his cross guard; then, with all his
power, he wrenched his arm upward
and backward, and the counts
sword went flying across the build
ing. It struck the opposite wall
with dull clang, and the next in
slant it was half buried in the snow.
||Fear not, SIR" said Ruric as the
count started back, with both hands
raised. 81 never strike an unarmed
man." 49,
Damonoff's arms fell to his side,
and deep blush of shame mantled
his face.
FsBy St. Paul." cried the surgeon,
<<your life is forfeited, sir count,
and now you should be satisfied"
*No, no." the discounted man ex-
claimed, starting up with rage and
modification. "That was but slip.
Twas false step, a cowardly feint.
I am not overcome" .#
*EBut, man of mortality, even now
your life is Nevels. He may run
you through now if he chooses"
'|But he has not, " the count cried,
springing to where his sword had
fallen and snatching it up.
FFSir count" here spoke Ruric
calmly, but with marked contempt,
"you should not blame me for what
I have done, for thrice have you
tried to break my sword.''
FThen try it againp Damonofi
returned. f"Take my sword again il
you can"
'fPerhaps not" our hero retorted
FFBut be sure your sword shall be
! neod mn moro aftor this dow -