The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-12-13
"Out. living knave"-

'Out, living knave"-
Hold. cried the surgeon, laying
his hand heavily upon the counts
arm ''Nol have no right to speak
thus. for You lower yourself when
on dnt If YOU have come to fight,
10 50 honoraGlv"
An angry reply Was upon Damo-
aof'S lips, but he did not speak it.
lie turned to his antagonist and
-ad
"Wil! you measure weapons. sir?
Mine may be II mite the longest. |
seek no advantage, and have one
here of the same length and weight
AS nay own # YOU wish it.
Il am well satisfied as it u.s." re-
plcd RnrIc
'Thcn take your ground. Are you
ready"
81 ann
The two swords were crossed in
an instant. with clear. sharp clang.
There was some contrast between
the two comDHtantS, but not much
apparently The count was little
| the taller. and Ruric was somewhat
heavier. Bat to close observer
there vas IA 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
Damonof 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 Damonotf start
ed back, and a quick cry escaped his
lips. His antagonists point had
touched his bosom. 1t hadapressed
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 spared it.
'You fence well,'' 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.
And again the weapons were
crossed. This time Damonoff was
more guarded. Before he had been
impelled by his own assurance, but
now he was forced to regard his OPP
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 q
feint to the left, then at the throat
and then, with quick, lightning.
like motion, he brought his point tc
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 owl
blade, then moved his arm quickl,
forward and caught the point under
his cross guard; then, with all hi
| power, he wrenched his arm upward
and backward, and the count
sword went flying across the build
ing. 1t struck the opposite wal
, with a dull clarg, and the next in
slant it was half buried in the snow.
Gear not, sir" said Ruric as In
. count started back, with both hand
raised. 81 never strike an unarme,
, man."
Damonoff's arms fell to his side
and a deep blush of shame mantle,
his face.
: 'By st. Paul." cried the surgeon
"your life is forfeited, sir count
and ROW you should be satisfied"
'No, no." the discounted man ez
5 claimed, starting up with rage an
modification. "That was but a sir
Twas false step, a cowardly feint
: am not overcome"
e "But, man of mortality, even no'
your life is Novels. He may ru
you through now if he chooses"
"But he has not" the count CRIED
springing to where his sword ha
< fallen and snatehing it up.
"Sir count" here spoke Ruri