Cañon City record., 1901-08-15

noff."
~very well, SIR" returned the
gunmaker proudly, q am ready to
receive it."
Thereupon Urzen drew sealed
note from his pocket and handed il
TO Ruric, who took it and broke the
seal. He opened it and read as fol-
lows:
Ruric Seyei-An insult Of the most aggravating
nature has for the tine lsseled all distinctions Of
caste between US Your blood alone can wash out
the stain. l would not murder you oa -ight- and
in other way but this can I rsrh YOU Hy
friend. the bearer Of this. will make al arrange
ments- II you dare not 7st m. cay 50. that al
may know who Is the coward, DhxososF
When Ruric had read the missive,
he crushed it in his hand and gazed
its bearer some moments in the face
without speaking.
"Will you answer" asked Urzen-
He spoke more softly than before,
for he saw something in the gum
makers face which he dared not
provoke.
"Are you acquainted with Alaric
Orsa, lieutenant of the guard 2?
.'Yes, sir; ! know him we'll
"Then let me refer you to him.
He Will make all necessary arrange
ments, and l shall hold myself
bound by his plans. l trust that is
satisfactory"
"Yes, sir
@eThen Won and | need have no
more TO saw"
"only on one point" said Urzen,
with some little show of confusion
"You are the challenged party, and
YOU will have the choice of weapons.
The count has not mentioned this
mind you, he has not, but / as
his friend deem it no more than
right to speak of i'll trust you
will choose a gentleman's Weapon.
In the use of the pistol or the gun
he Is not versed"
"While you imagine am, said
Ruric, with a contemptuous curl of
the lip. for he knew that the man
was lying He could see by the fell
lows very looks that Damonoff had
commissioned him to broach this
matter
~of course you are" returned Ur-
zen
sand the count is most excellent
" versed in the use of the sword, is
he not?"
@He is accounted fair swords
man"
save; so j thought. But it mat
tiers not TO me. The thought had
not entered nv mind before, save
that | supposed swords would be the
only weapons thought of. However,
orsa will settle it with YOU. have
given him no directions at all save
/ to serve me as he thinks proper and
10 act upon the understanding that
IL have given offeRse 10 the count
| would 10 the same again under
provocation. You understand now
Il do. SIR" returned Urzen in a
chakinr tone.
Then wait a moment, and | VIII
give vou message 10 Orsa."
Thus speaking, Ruric went TO his
desk, and upon the bottom of the
missive he had received from the
count he wrote:
ncar Aisric--I s-nd IA. To you by the same
hand that b1rr It me-. and yuu are hereby en-
Towcred To &C. fgr me you nav deem proper,
shsl be governed strictly by your srraarsnen;<-
RuEic.
Having written tins, he showed it
to Urzen and asked him if he would
bear it to the lieutenant. An af-
frlnatiye reply was given, and then,
simply folding the note in the oppo-
site way from the original fold, the
gunmaker superscribcd it anew to
the lieutenant and handed it to his
visitor. Urzen took it, and, with a
stiff bow. but without speaking, he
turned and left the place.
That evening about s o'clock a
sledge drove up to Rurie's door, and
Alaric Orsa entered the house. He
called the youth aside and informed
him that the arrangements had all
been made.
"Damonoff is in a hurry he said,
"and we have appointed the meet
ing at 10 O'Clock tomorrow fore
noon. 1t will take place at the bend
Of the river Just beyond the Niska
hill"
"And the weapons?" 2" asked Ruric.
Swords" returned 0rsa. "The
count will bring his own, and he
gives you he privilege of selecting
such one as you choose"
Il thank you, Alaric, for your
kindness thus far, and you may rest
assured that shall be prompt"
Suppose | call here in the morn