The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-08-02
mHa!" gasped Damonoff in quick
- "Do YOU refuse ?"

,ossion. EDO you refuse?"
SMost fatty"
For few moments the count
rozcd into Ruric's face as though he
Soubted the evidence of his own
senses.
at is the dukes command" he
said at length.
sThe Duke of rula holds no pow
er Of command over me" was the
runmaker's calm reply.
Beware! Once more, say, sign
this paperp
"You but waste your breath, sir
count, in speaking thus. You have
my answer"
'"By heavens, Ruric Newell, you'll
sign thisw the count cried madly.
"Never, sir!'
"But look ye, sirrah, here is my
whole future of life based upon my
hopes of union with this fair girl.
Her guardian bids me get this pa
per of you ere l can have her hand
And now do you think I'll give it
up SO easily? By the saints of heav-
en-, I'll have your name to this or
I'll have your life?'
"Now your tongue runs away
with you, sir count. / have given
You nv answer. Be sure that only
a one man on earth can prevail upon
me to place my name upon that pa
per"
.x,Lo SC bo %,
81 mean the emperor"
"But you will sign it!' Missed Da-
monoff, turning pale with rage.
'Here it is-sign! If you would live
-signp'
'Perhaps he cannot WRITE" sug-
rested Urzen contemptuously.
"Then he may make his mark"
reioined the count in the same con-
temptuous tone.
ut might not require much more
urging to induce me to make my
mark in a manner not at all agree
able to you, sir" the youth return
ed, with his teeth now set and the
dark veins upon his brow starting
more plainly out. "You have come
upon my premises, and you have
sought your purpose. You now
have your answer, and for your own
sake, for my sake, beg you to
leave me-"
"Not until your name is upon
this paperw cried Damonoff, shak-
ing the missive furiously and crum-
ping it in his hand.
care you mad, sir count? Do
you think me fool?"
"Aye, a consummate one"
"Then," returned Ruric, with q
curl of utter contempt upon his
finely chiseled lip, ''you need have
no further dealings with me- There
is my door, sir"
For some moments Conrad Da-
monof seemed unable to speak from
very anger. He had surely some
deep, anxious purpose in obtaining
Ruric's name to that paper, and to
be thus thwarted by common arti-
san was maddening to one who
based all his force of character upon
his title.
"Sign!" he Kissed.
"Foolp uttered Ruric, unable
longer to contain himself in view Of
such stupid persistence. do you
seek quarrel with me?"
"Seek? ! seek what l will have
Will you sign?"
"Once more-nop
"Then, by heavens, you shall
know what it is to thwart such a
mel How's that?"
As these words passed from tn
counts lips in low, Kissing whis
per he aimed blow with his fis
at Ruric's head. The gunmake
had not dreamed Of such dastart
act, and he was not prepared TO
lit, yet he lodged it sufficiently to es
cape the mark upon his face, receiv
ing the blow lightly upon the sid
\ Of his head. But he stopped not t
consider now. AS the count dreV
back Ruric dealt him a blow upo
the brow that felled him to the foo
like a dead OK
Beware, Stephen Urzenp b
whispered to the counts companio
as that individual made movement
as though he would come forward
81 am not myself now, and you al
safest where you are"
The man thus addressed We've
the gunmaker a few moments, an
he seemed to conclude that he ha
better avoid personal encounte
for his fists relaxed and he move
to the side of his fallen friend an
assisted him to his feet.
Conrad Damonoff gazed into h
antagonists face few moments
silence. His face was ashen pal
and his whole frame quivered. Ul