The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-08-16
CHAPTER V.
THE DUEL.

the meal was finished the gunmake
went out to his shop and took dow
from one of the closets a long leath
ern case in which were two swords
both of the same make and finish
only different in size. They wer
Toledo blades and of most exquisit
workmanship and finish. Ruric tool
out the heaviest one, which was
two edged weapon with cross bill
of heavily gilded metal. He placed
the point upon the floor, and then
with all his might, he bent the blad
till The pommel touched the point
The 1.-THE steel sprang back to it
place with sharp clang, and thu
texture was not started. Then h,
struck the flat of the blade upon tn,
anvil with great force. The rins
was sharp and clear, and the weapon
remained unframed.
"By st. Michael, Paul, Moscow
does not contain another blade lik,
that. Damascus never saw a bet
ter"
Thus spoke the gunmaker to his
boy as he balanced the beautiful
weapon in his hand
81 think you are right, my mas
ter" the boy returned, who had be-
held the trial of the blade with I'M
bounded admiration. "But," he add
ed, could you not temper a blade
like that?"
perhaps if had the steel. But
have not. The steel of these two
blades came from India and was
originally in one weapon, ponder
GUS two handed affair belonging to
a Bengal chieftain. The metal pos
sesses all the hardness of the finest
razor, with the elasticity of the
most subtle spring. My old master
at Toledo gave me these as a me-
mentc. Were l to mention the sum
of money he was once offered for
the largest one you would hardly
credit it."
GLOW much ?" asked Paul, with a
boys curiosity.
ut was a sum equal to about 700
ducats."
"And yet he gave it away"
AYE, for its price was but imagi-
nary, while its worth to him was on
ly commensurate with the good it
did him. If he told the truth, he
loved me, and these he gave me as a
parting gift as the best patterns |
could wish for when making SUCH"
After this Ruric put up the small
sword, and then he gave Paul few
directions about the work, promis-
ing to be back before night. The
faithful boy shook his head dubious
ly as he heard this promise, but he
said nothing, and shortly afterward |
Ruric went into the house. Just |
then Alaric Orsa drove up to the
door.
Ruric was all ready but putting
on his bonnet and pelisse.. His |
mother was in the kitchen. He
went to her with a smile upon his
face. He put his arms about her
and drew her to his bosom.
"God bless you, my motherl |
shall come back" He said this and
then kissed her.
GOOD keep-and'-
1t was all she could say.
Ruric gazed moment into her
face, then he kissed her again, and |
again he said:
''God bless you, my motherl II
shall come back"
He dared not stop to speak more.
Gently seating his fond mother up
on a chair, he turned and hurried !
from the place. In the hall he
threw on his pelisse and bonnet, and |
then he opened the door and passed
put.
"Have you good weapon ?" ask
I'd Orsa as the horse started on.
81 have fair one. think it will
not deceive me-" returned Ruric.
81 asked" continued Orsa, "be-
cause Damonoff prides himself upon
the weapon he wears. 1t is a Ger
man blade, and he thinks he can cut
in twain the blade of any other
weapon in Moscow with it."
II have a good weapon" Ruric
said quietly, "and one which has
stood more tests than most swords
will bear" And after some further
remarks he related the peculiar cir
'umstances attending the making of
he sword and his possession of it.
At length they struck upon the
liver, and in half an hour more they
the appointed spot. The day
vas beautiful. The sun shone bright
J upon the glistening snow, and the
III was still and calm. The sharp
'rost of the atmosphere served only
Q brace the system up, and Ruric
'hrex open his pelisse that he