Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-06-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
Led Out TO Fight.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Led Out TO Fight.
1t was doubly humiliatng for
Rhinelander to find that he had,
through the fortunes of war, became
the prisoner of the man he hated.
Hoffman was madly infatuated with
the countess, who was in Metz, and
he had learned, as lovers have a fac
ulty for doing, that while the dashing
adventures pretended to care for him,
she secretly adored Rhinelander.
This combination of circumstances
aroused the most evil passions in Con-
RAIDS nature and he simply glared his
hatred as he thus looked in Paul's
face.
"Ah! we meet again." he said. and
in the heated passion applied an cpl
tibet that came lily from the lips of
one whose parent had brought the
shame upon Rhinelander's family.
Paul promptly knocked him down.
He would have done so had he
known that the next instant ten sword
bayonets would pierce his heart.
No such thing occurred, however.
There were men standing there ready
to cry bravo" on account of the man
ly blow-men who had no sympathy
of war; men who might have mutinied
and refused to obey if ordered to cut
him down.
But strange as it might appear, that
blow instead of making mailman
out of Conrad, seemed to knock lit
tie common sense into his head.
When he arose he simply gave or.
ders to have the prisoner taken to
dungeon under the fortress where he
had fought so valiantly.
AS Paul passed him Conrad Missed
in his ear:
THE hour is close at hand-I do not
forget what l vowed in Heidelberg.
This world is too small for both of
u.s.
MY sentiments exactly-make it
soon," was the characteristic reply
Paul gave.
Rhinelander had been in the dun
geon about an hour when he was sum-
moned from his cell to the presence
of the commander.
His conductors led him to a small
enclosed space beneath the ramparts,
and here he found Hoffman. with two
French officers, awaiting him.
1t was to be duel
Paul was not astonished-he had
made up his mind not to let anything,
however serious, take away his cool
disdain, his calm confidence, that in
an affair of honor like the one in
which he was about to engage is the
most valuable armor with which man
may be clothed.
Few words were wasted between the
principals.
Hate showed in Hoffman's eyes. and
the Americans calm smile made his
blood fairly boil.
Paul was given his choice of the two
swords, and divesting himself of his
superfluous garments, he took his
place upon the blood-staned turf ready
to give the Alsatian all the satisfac-
ton his fiery nature demanded.
How Conrad Caught Tartar
Few men would fancy being drag
ged from dungeon to have sword
clapped in their hands and be COM
PEELED to face an experienced duelist
with murder in his heart
Yet Rhinelander accepted the oppor-
tunity to oblige Hoffman with an
eagerness that the other could not fail
to observe.
Perhaps a more remarkable engage
ment did not occur during the brief
though sanguinary war between the
neighboring nations.
1t seemed as though the two swords
men were ably matched.
Minutes crept by and as yet neither
of them appeared to have gained a
material advantage.
This could not last.
Undoubtedly the man who obtained
mis- second wind" in advance Of the
other would have the game in his
hands.
That was where Paul's previous ex
perience upon the plains, breaking
bronchos, chasing wild cattle and en-
during the privations Of a cowboy ex-
istence, served him we'll.
And when he felt this change steal
ing over him he experienced pecu-
liar, almost savage satisfaction. know
ing the power would speedily be in
his hand to complete the business.
Paul might at another time have
been merciful and spared his antago
mist, but he knew full we'll that to do
so now only meant disaster to him in
the, near future.
Hoffman, alive and we'll, would be
a thorn in his flesh, whereas the same
fellow disabled meant temporary peace
at last.
TIe decided not to kill him. and even
when under such a tremendous strain
proved his title to the name of a chiv-
alrcus opponent. since 1T was privil-
eye few men in the neat of battle
would forego.
Suddenly Paul made savage feint
and the next instant the point OF his
sword protruded from back of Con-
RAIDS right shoulder.
1t was the end.
The duelist could no longer WELD
his trenchant blade, though he made
a gallant effort to do so; believing ne
had received a mortal wound he let
fall his dishonored sword, uttered
sound halfway between snarl and
groan and fell at full length in exact
ly the same spot marked by the blood