Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-01-01

II seemed that the old coolness had
come back to him.
Michael Strogon had as bis only
weapon bis Siberian knife. and he could
not see his adversary, who was eve.
armed with a sword. But by what
favor from heaven was he able to over.
power him?
Ivan Ogareff glanced at his adversary
with q visible anxiety. That superhu-
man calmness worked upon him. In
vain, appealing to his reason, he kept
saying that in the inequality of such q
combat all the advantage was in his
favor. That immovableness Of the
blind man completely froze him. He
had sought with his eyes the place
where he must strike his victim. He
had found it. Who, then, was prevent
ing him from giving the finishing blow
At length he made blow and thrust
his sword full at the breast of Michael
Strogoff.
An imperceptible movement Of the
knife Of the blind man turned the blow.
Michael Strogoff had not been touched
and coolly seemed to wait another at
tack without, however, challenging 1t.
A cold sweat ran from the fare Of
Ivan Ogareff. He recoiled q pace. then
made another thrust. But the second
blow, like the first, fell harmless. A
simple parrying with the large knife
had suficed to turn aside the sword Of
the traitor. The latter, mad with rage
and terror before that living statue.
fixed his terrified look on the large
open eyes of the blind man. Those
eyes that seemed to read the very bot
tom of his heart and which could not
see-those eyes seemed to have for him
an awful fascination.
Suddenly Ivan Ogareff gave a cry.
An unexpected light had entered his
brain.
HE can seew cried be. HE can
seew
And, like a deer trying to re-enter Its
cave, step by step, terrified. he retreat
ed to the lower end Of the room. Then
the statue took life. The blind man
walked straight to Ivan Ogareff. and.
placing himself In front Of him. said:
eyes, see-I see the blow Of the knout
with which I have marked you, traitor
and coward! l see the place where
am going to strike you. Defend your
lifeL 1t Is a duel which condescend
to offer you. My knife will suffice me
against your sw0rd!
::"He seesw said Nadia. God Of mer-
cy, Is 1t possible"
Ivan Ogareff felt himself to be lost.
But suddenly. taking courage. sword
In front. be rushed upon his impossible
adversary. The two blades crossed,
but at the first clash Of the knife OF
Michael Strogoff. grasped firmly In the
hand Of the SiherAn fiuhter, the sword
flew in pieces. and the wretch. pierced
to the heart. fell dead to the ground.
At that moment the door Of the room,
pushed from the outside, opened. The
grand duke, accompanied by some off,
GERS, showed himself on the threshold
The grand duke advanced. he recog-
nized on the ground the dead body OF
him whom he thought to be the courier
of the czar, and then In a threatening
voice he asked:
"Who has slain this MANI"
81" replied Michael Strogoff.
One Of the officers placed a revolver
to his head. ready to fire.
"Your name?" asked the grand duke
before giving the order to shoot him
dead.
"Your highness." answered Michael
Strogoff, task me rather the name OF
the man stretched at your feet"
"That man l have recognized. He Ia
a servant Of my brother. He Is the
cars courier"
"That. man, your highness, is not
courier from the czar. He Is Ivan Oga-
reff."
"Ivan Ogareff" cried the grand duke
"Yes; Ivan the traitor"
"But you-who are your"
"MIchael Strogoff."
TO BE CONTINUED.