The San Francisco call., 1901-12-08


ry. You shall pay for this! ] vii! teach
you to interfere"
''IH insult you mora decidedly Just to
avoid misrepresentation, snarjed Lorry,
swinging his hig FIST squarely on The
mouth Of the Prince His Royal Hishness
landed under a table ter feet away.
Instantly the cafe was IN an uproar.
The stupefied Axpha:Eians regained their
senses and a general assault was made
on the hot-headed American. He knocked
another down. Harry Anguish coming a
his assistance with several savage blows,
after which the Graustark spectators and
the walters interfercd 1t was all over io
an instant, yet a sensation that would
live i'm the gossip OF. generations had been
created. a Prince OF the realm hao been
brutaiiy assaulted Hc.ding his jaw, Lo-
rclz picked himself up iron the floor, sew
eral of his friends running to his aid.
There was blood on hls lips and chin; it
tricklcd 20 his shirt -lcnt. For some mo-
ments he stood painting, glaring at l1or-
rvs nocking face
II am Lorenz of Axphain, sir" he said
at last, his voice quiverinS with sup
pressed anger.
1T shall be a pleasure TO kill you. Lo-
ren2.'' observed his adversary, displaying
lis ignorance Or lese-riajesty.
Anguish, pale and very much concerned,
dragged Linn away, the Prince leaving the.
cafe ahead Of them, "cll2wed by his chat
tering. cursirg companions. Prince Ga
briel was standing near the door as they
passed oct. lie looked ut the Americans
sharply, and Anguish detected something
like triumphant joy in his eyes,
Good Lord. .1orry; I1ls means duel!
Don't you know that?'' cried he, as they
started upstairs.
"Of course, L do. AM I'm going to kill
-1,,+ inn lO15d
enough to be heard from one end of the
room to the other.
This is horrible. horrible! Let me
square it up some way If" began the
alarmed Anguish.
Square it up! Look here. Harry An
guish, I am the one who will do the squar-
ing If he wants a duel he can have it
at any old time and in any style he de-
sires."
He may kill your
Not while a just God rules over our
destinies I'll take my chances with pis-
tolls, and now let me tell you one thing,
my boy; he'll never live to touch his lips
to hers, nor will there be "a royal wedding.
She cannot marry a dead man" He was
beside himself with excitement and it was
fully half an hour before Anguish could
bring him to a sensible discussion of the
affair. Gradually, he became cool, ami,
the fever once gone, he did not lose his
head again.
Choose pistols at ten PAGES and at to-
morrow he said, nonchalantly, as a rap
at the door of their apartment announced
the arrival of the Princes friend.
Anguish admitted two well dressed,
black bearded men, both of whom mad
sat at the Princes table in the cafe. They
introduced themselves as the Duke of MiZ-
rox and Colonel Attobawn. Their visit
was brief, formal and conclusive.
I'VE understand that you are persons
Of rank in your own American said his,
Grace of NIizrox, after few moments.
I'VE are sons of business men,, re-
sponded Mr.. Anguish.
"Oh, well, hardly know. But his high
ness is very willing to waive his rank ami
to grant you meeting.
I'm delighted by his Highness' conde-
scension, which 1 perfectly understand,
observed Mr.. Anguish. NOW, what have
we to settle, gertlemen?'
THE detail of weapons"
When Anguish ANNOUNCED that his prin-
cipaI chose pistols a strange CLEAN crept
into the eyes of the Axphainians, and
they seemed satisfied. Colonel Attobawn
acted as Interpreter during this short but
very important interview which was car
ried on in the Axphain language. Lorry
sat on the window-sill, steadfastly gdz-
ing into the night. The visitors departed
soon, and it was understood that Prince
LorenZ would condescend to meet Mr..
Lorry at o'clock on the next morning
in the valley beyond the castle, two miles
from town. There is no law prohibiting
dueIs in Graustark-
well, you're in for it, old man." said
Anguish. gloomily, his chin in his hands
as he fastened melancholy eyes upon his
friend.
Don't worry about me, Harry. There's
only one way for this thing to end. His
Royal Highness is doomed" Lorry spoke
with the earnestness and conviction of
one who is permitted to see into the fu-
ture
Calmly he prepared to write some let
ters, not to say farewell, but to explain
to certain persons the cause Of the duel
and to say that he gloried in the good
fortune which had presented itself. One
of these letters was addressed to his
mother, another to the father of Prince
I1orenz, and the last to the Princess of
Graustark. To the latter he wrote much
that did not appear in the epistles di-
rected to the others. Anguish had been
in his room more than an hour, and had
frequently called to his friend and begged
him to secure what rest he could in
order that their nerves might be steady
III TIE DuI IL was uOI ulllll
after midnight that the duelist sealed
the envelopes, directed them and knocked
at his seconds door to say:
''I shall entrust these letters to you.
Harry You must see that they start On
their way tomorrow"
Then he went to bed and to sleep.
Al his second, who had slept but lit
tie, called him. They dressed hurrieGly
and prepared for the ride to the valley.
Their own new English bulldog revol-
vers were to serve as weapons in the
coming combat, and a carriage was to be
IN waiting for them in a side street at
o'clock.
Before leaving their room they heard
evidences of commotiop in the hotel, and
were apprehensive lest the inmates had
learned of the duel and were making
ready TO follow the fighters to the ap-
pointed spot. There was a confusion of
voices, the sound of rushing feet, the
banging Of doors. the noise increasing as
the two men stepped into the open hall.
They were amazed to see half-dressel
men and women standing or running
about the halls, intense excitement in
their faces and in their actions. White
uniformed policemen were fiocking into
the ,corrfdore- soldiers cnatleSS and hat