The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-05-09
.oals" I said when I could get my

l would not condescend to plead for
my life and said no more. 1 stood
thinking of my suddenly broken career
and of the girl whom l loved so pas
sionately. 1t was the thought of her
pain that made me vince. My reverie
was broken by the major. Looking at
me searchingly, he said:
''You can save>your life if you will.
Give your word to say nothing of what
you have seen here and agree to help
Lieutenant Won Mason in'-
Enough of that, if you please" /
broke in. IL hold the man-who tempts
as big a scoundrel as the one who lis
tens. My honor is not for SALE"
He WINGED, and l saw him bite his
lip. Then he called in the guard.
"How long have Fte. live?" 1 asked.
can hour" was the curt reply.
Scan 1 have paper and ink? I wish
the truth to be known"
"No."
"Ah, you wish the murder to be Sc
cret."
His answer was to wave me out of
L
"One of my judges is obviously a
man of fine honor" cried contemptu-
ously.to Captain d'Aguilar as 1 passed
him. GA platoon is a far surer revenge
for a coward than duel"
The taunt went straight home, for he
started, caught his breath and half
leaped to his feet as if to answer me.
But no interruption followed, and I
was led away by the guard. This time
they took me out of the house and
thrust me into what appeared to be a
kind of woodshed. The key was turned
on me, the soldiers remaining on guard
outside.
1t was some time before my eyes
grew accustomed to the darkness, and
then began to feel about the place. I
found some heaps of cut wood and, sit
ting down on one of them, was surpris-
ed at the jangle of falling iron or steel.
Feeling about on the floor, my hands
came in contact with a sword, and to
my intense joy found it was my own.
/ fastened it on, and while vowing that
now l would have fight for my life I
began to wonder who could have put it
in such place.
l set it down to Lota. The brave girl
had learned where 1 should be impris-
oned and had brought the sword here.
Probably, too, there was some way of
escape if 1 could only find it. With that
l began to grope around the walls and
feel for a window.
l was doing this when there came a
noise of unbarring, and an opening wag
made in the wall, through which the
night air came rushing cold and blus-
ferrous.
"Herr Grafw called voice.
'Who is that?"
"It is l, Captain d'Aguilar. You will
find your sword there. If you are not
afraid, come out by this window, and I
will lead you to place where l can
cheat the platoon by taking your life."
"Good,' said 1 emphatically, seeing
now it was he, and not Lota, who had
put the sword there for me and why he
had done it. In a moment l was by his
side and we We're striding through the
darkness of the night
He took me to an empty barn in
which couple of lamps were burning,
giving dim, unsteady light.
'"Times short. This is the best we
can do. We must use swords and can
have no witnesses. Sign this first" He
held out paper, and l read it by the
light of the two small lamps.
1--WE, Captain d'Aguilar and the Graf
Won Hollebrann, have agreed to settle
our quarrel alone together here with
swords. Everything fairly and honora-
bly, DONE"
l signed under his name and laid the
paper underneath one of the lamps.
"Quick! he said, and l saw he had
already stripped to his shirt and was
rolling up the sleeve of his sword arm.
l made ready instantly, and in less
than half minute we stood facing one
another in the grim, silent place, star.
ing into each others eyes, ready to en-
gage.
$40 the deathp' he said fiercely.
''To the deathw l answered in the
same tone, setting my teeth, and our
swords crossed.
The first few passes showed me that
/ was stronger man than he, but he
the better swordsman. He was, how.
ever. half beside himself with rage,
and from the moment when he hissed
out the words, ''To the deathw l saw
his deadly intent was set on killing me.
Tho IiUht 1vo n ahoDoipo hIx, ine,,H o;oo4
for the grim work. The lamps were
placed one in the middle of each side of
the long. gloomy barn, and, although
the light was fairly distributed as we
stood in the center, saw in a moment
that if either of us gave way the man
who was pressed back would be at an
enormous disadvantage. The ground
was very uneven, too, merely beaten
earth, and the Jumps and bumps on it
We're likely enough to trip one up If
forced backward. My antagonist had
taken note of these things as keenly as
1, and he put all his force and strength
into an effort to drive me back.
l answered with an effort equal to
his own, and for awhile our heavy
cavalry swords clashed and rang un-
der the fierce blows which we dealt at
one another.
Had it not been for his rage I am
convinced he would have killed me
within a couple of minutes, for he
lunged and cut at me, parrying my
best strokes with a skill far beyond
mine.
But he fought like madman, and 1
was soon sure that his strength could
not last lOn~ nt the fnrinnS nnca ha