The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-08-09
"Yes-many."
"And how answered you?"

II told him the whole story, iron
beginning to end. 1 found that hi
knew something of their purpos,
from what he accidentally over
heard, and, rather than have him e
away full of surmises, I told hin
ALL"
"Of the message too?"
eyes, my master. / told him al
that happened, from the showing O
the paper which the duke had drawn
up to the departure Of the angr,
man."
"And what did the monk say p
Ruric asked very earnestly.
"Why, he said he knew the count
and that he was a proud, reckless
fellow and worth but little to soci-
ETY.; that was all. He did not seem
to care much about it anyway; only
he said he should have done just as
you did and that every law of JUS
tice would bear you out. He had
more curiosity than interest, though
l am sure all his sympathies are
with you"
every WE'LL" returned Ruric. ut
can matter but little what the monk
thinks about it, though l would
rather have him know the truth if
he must know anything, for / would
not be misunderstood"
"He understands it all now, nv
master, and l trust you are not Of
Tended at the liberty I took in tell
ing him."
"Not at all, Paul; not at ALL"
Here the conversation dropped,
and the work was resumed in 81
lence. 1t was past 8 o'clock when
Ruric's mother came and informed
him that gentleman in the house
would speak with him.
els it Stephen Urzen?" asked the
youth.
His mother said it was.
"Then bid him come out here"
Claudia retired, and in a few mo-
ments more the gentleman made his
appearance.
''Ruric Newell" he said, bowling
very stifly and haughtily, II bring
message from the Count Damo-
noff."
Every well, sir" returned the
gunmaker proudly, 81 am ready to
receive it."
Thereupon Urzen drew atsealed
note from his pocket and handed it
to Ruric, who took it and broke the
seal. He opened it and read as fol-
lows:
Ruric Nevel-An insult of the most aggravating
nature has for the time leveled all distinctions Of
caste between u.s. Your blood alone can wash out
the stain. / would not murder you outright, and
in no other way but this can / reach you. My
friend, the bearer Of this, will make all arrange
ments. II you dare not meet me, say SO, that all
may know who is the coward. DANoNoFr.
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 gun
makers face which he dared not
provoke.
care you acquainted with Alaric
Orsa, lieutenant of the guard?"
eyes, sir; I know him we'll"
"Then let me refer you to him.
He will make all necessary arrange
ments, and / shall hold myself
bound by his plans. j trust that is
satisfactory"
eyes, sir"
"Then you and I need have no
more to say"
"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 l as
his friend deem it no more than
right to speak of it trust you
will choose gentleman's weapon.
In the use of the pistol or the gun
he is not versed."
while you imagine 1 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 breach this
matter.
"Of course you are" returned Ur-
zen.
"And the count is most excellent
~ versed in the use of the sword, is
he not ?"
HE is accounted fair swords
man."
"Aye; so l thought. But it mat
ters not to me. The thought had |
not entered my mind before, save
that supposed swords would be the
only weapons thought Of. However,
Orsa will settle it with you. I have
given him no directions at all save
to serve me as he thinks proper and