The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-01-23

chael Strogoff. But with one hand MI
chael seized the arm of him who could
see well and with the other. turning
aside his weapon. he threw him Sec
ond time to the ground.
Ivan Ogareff. pale with fury and
shame, remembered that he was carry
ing a sword. He drew it from the
scabbard and returned to the combat.
He had also recognized Michael Stro-
goff. A blind man! He had only. in
short, to deal with a blind man.
Nadia, terrified at the danger which
threatened her companion in such an
unequal struggle, ran to the door, call
ing help.
shut that door, Nadia" said Michael
Strogoff. do not call any one, and let
me do it. The courier of the czar has
nothing to fear today from this wretch.
Let him come at me If he dare. l am
waiting for him.
Meanwhile Ivan Ogareff, gathering
himself together, as it were, like IT,
ger did not utter word. The noise
of his step, his very breathing, he
WOulu nave WlShCu " hCCp UdSh lloli
the ear Of the blind man. He wished
to strike him before even he had any
warning of his approach, to strike him
with a certain blow. The traitor did
not dream of fighting, but of assas-
sinating him whose name he had sto-
len.
Nadia. frightened. yet at the same
time confident, contemplated with
sort Of admiration that terrible scene.
1t seemed that the old GOODNESS had
come back to him.
Michael Strogoff had as his only
weapon his Siberian knife. and he could
hot see his adversary, who was even
armed with a sword. But by what
favor from heaven was he able to over
power him?
Ivan Ogareff glanced at his adversary
with visible anxiety. That superhu-
man calmness worked upon him. In
vain, appealing to his reason he kept
saying that in the inequality of such
combat all the advantage was in his
favor That immovableness of the
blind man completely froze him. He
had sought with his eyes the place
where he must strike his victim. He
had found it. Who, then, was prevent
ing him from giving the finishing blow!
At length he made blow and thrust
his sword full at the breast of Michael
Strogoff.
An imperceptible movement of the
knife of the blind man turned the blow.
Michael Strogoff had not been touched
and coolly seemed to wait another at
tack without, however, challenging it.
A cold sweat ran from the face OF
Ivan Ogareff. He recoiled pace, then
made another thrust. But the second
blow, like the first, fell harmless. A
simple parrying with the large knife
had sufficed to turn aside the sword OF
the traitor. The latter, mad with rage
and terror before that living statue,
fixed his terrified look on the large
open eyes of the blind man. Those
eyes that seemed to read the very bot
tom of his heart and which could not
see-those eyes seemed to have for him
an awful fascination.
Suddenly Ivan Ogareff gave cry.
An unexpected light had entered his
brain.
HE can seer cried he. "He can
seew
And, like a deer trying to re-enter its
cave. step by step, terrified, he retreat
ed to the lower end of the room. Then
the statue took life. The blind man
walked straight to Ivan Ogareff, and,
placing himself in front of him, said:
eyes, see-I see the blow Of the knout
with which have marked you, traitor
and coward! I see the place where
am going to strike you. Defend your
life! 1t is duel which l condescend
to offer you. My knife will suffice me
against your sword!'
"He seesw said Nadia. God of mer-
cy, is it possible?"
E Ivan Ogareff felt himself to be lost
But suddenly, taking courage, sword
in front, he rushed upon his impossible
adversary. The two blades crossed,
but at the first clash Of the knife OF
Michael Strogoff. grasped firmly in the
hand Of the Siberian hunter, the sword
flew in pieces, and the wretch, pierced
to the heart. fell dead to the ground.
At that moment the door of the room,
pushed from the outside, opened. The
grand duke, accompanied by some Off
GERS. showed himself on the threshold
The grand duke advanced. He recog-
niZed on the ground the dead body of
him whom he thought to be the courier
of the car. and then in a threatening
voice he asked:
'sWho has slain this man?"
81" replied Michael Strogoff.
One of the officers placed revolver
to his head. ready to fire.
your name?" asked the grand duke
before giving the order to shoot him
dead.
'.Your highness," answered Michael
Strogoff, TASK me rather the name OF
the man stretched at your feet"
"That man / have recognized. He is
a servant of my brother. He is the
cars courier"
''That man, your highness, is not a
courier from the car. He is Ivan Oga-
ref"
'Ivan Ogareff!" cried the grand duke
Eyes; Ivan the traitor"
"But you-who are you?"