The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-04-01
THE FENCER'S MARK
foriEnaLI

After leaving college l determined to take course at one of the German universities. l chose Heidelberg, which In those days was the best known. and took three years course joined one of the corps and In time became involved in several student duels.
 When left Heidelberg. where l had taken more interest in the small sword than my studies. l stopped in Paris be. fore returning to America, with view to seeing some French fencing. One evening a party of us visited the cele- brated school of NJ. Brisson. While we were watching the pupils fence n man entered and after looking on for awhile proposed 10 take tine foIls with the principal. Brlsson conseLted and was astonished. as we all were. at the stran gers skin. After dlsarming his adver' sary he took up piece of chalk. rub. bed 1t on the foil. and. calling to Bris' son to place himself on guard, made one brilliant stroke after another and at last left chalk mark of figure $ on the fencing masters waistcoat d. rectly over the heart.
 "Vlctor Nlorrel" exclaimed several who were present with the same breath.
 "Who is Victor Morrel?'' asked.
 "The most noted swordsman in France"
 "A duelistT
 "No: singularly enough, he has no, the courage to fight duel"
 "what Is his occupatlonT
 My informant, Frenchman. shrug' ged his shoulders after the French fashion and walked out Of the school without replying to my question. Bris son at once d0ffed his wire mask and put up his foil. In doing SC he turncf his back upon his former autagonls; and took care to keep 1t turned tlll Morrel had left the academy. Evident ly the man who had shown hls skill was not favorlte with him or, for the matter Of that. with any one present The Frcnchmen all departed. leaving the room to our party. Morrel also de- parted. and as he passed me | noticed the most remlsive face had ever seen on man. did not wonder at the dis. favor in which he was held. l should have been afraid to pass him In a lone ly road had he cause to prick me In tho back.
 Three years later. In company with my friend Walter Douglas, l again wis Ited Europe. sailing from New York to Cherbourg and going from there to Mentone. a winter resort In the south of France. One evening Douglas went to walk with little French girl who had captlvatcd him by her smart ap- pearance. He failed 10 return to the hotel and toward morning. becoming anxious for his safety. 1 went to search for him. found him lying In his blood in the gardens stabbed through the heart. His coat had been cut by the point of knife or sword so as 10 make what looked Ike the letter <. The blade had entered the heart at the point where the tracing ceased.
 In agony at the murder of my friend, I called a gcndarme. and the body was removed. l made every eGort to ind the murderer, but without success. The mysterious letter $ cut in his coat would not be dropped from my mind It seemed to partly awaken some mcm' ory. At last remembered MOrrel aDd the figure s he had chalkcd on the walstcoat of NJ. BriSson. Then it Oc cured to me that the letter < was ah incomplete figure <.
 Going at once to tLc police office, ] requested them 10 arrest the little French girl whom Douglas had been with on the night Of hls murder and when she arrived at the Tol!cc office ! questioned her myself. She cane in large of a gcndarmc f ,ghtencd and weeping. but. I fancicd, on her guard.
 Have yOu llvcrT' l asked.
 NO. u.'SiCU."
 Do you know any one export wit.
 @ SwOgdf
 No. t'slcu."
 She LrcScrvCd her eqCGl!mity. hui ! ,w that the question startled her
 "nid you ever see 'lan cut or mark ne Ceurc 8 upon an 0'yCrSry's rcast:'
 SLc turaCl pale and cd nj reply.
 "Whcrc .s Victor NorrclY
 TL's lio!.c her down. 'T had nothing Co wi,h lt." she cried. "lic was Ieal ..s of-thc American. To not bring .r to thc ruillotinc, besee'h you"
 uuracd tD the prc.ccl of r Ice The casp ls in your hands," l said Flnl Victor Mcricl"
 "Whcrc Is M. Morr7l?" he asked of he girl.
 "Oh. do not know! Spare me-"
 Take her away" said the officer to Ae gendarmc. "She will finish her ca. rccr on the gulllotinc."
 This was too much f-r her Glclity to her lover. "I do not know where he ls." she said. Yesterday hc wos iu Moroofuovu u