The Jersey City news., 1902-06-27
prisals." 1 said when could get my
voice quite steady. 49,

prisaIs." said when / could get my
voice quite steady. %
He shrugged his shoulders.
l would not condescend to plead for
my life and said no more l 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. II hold the man who ternpts
as big a scoundrel as the one who lis
tens. My honor is not for sale"
| He WINGED, and saw him bite his
lip. Then he called in the guard.
How long have to liver" l asked.
"An hour" was the curt reply.
Can 1 have paper and ink? wish
the truth to be known
mo"
''Ah, you wish the murder to be Sc
cret."
His answer was to wave me out Of
the room. 1 fred parting shot.
"One of my judges is obviously a
man of fine honor" 1 cried contemptu-
ously to Captain dAguilar as passed
him. ga platoon is a far surer revenge
for a coward than a duel"
The taunt went straight home, for he
started, caught his breath and half
teaped to his feet as if to answer me.
But no interruption followed, and 1
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. 1
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 yowIng that
now would have fight for my life
began to wonder who could have put it
in such place.
l set it down to Lota. The brave girl
had learned where should be impris-
oned and had brought the sword here.
Probably, too, there was some way Of
escape if could only find it. With that
began to grope around the walls and
feel for a window.
l was doing this when there came
noise Of unbarring, and an opening was
made in tie wall, through which the
night air came rushing cold and blus-
ferrous.
Herr GrafT' called a voice.
"Who is thatY'
at is l, Captain d'Aguilar. You will
find your sword there. If you are not
afraid. come out by this window. and
will lead you to place where l can
cheat the platoon by taking your life"
Good" said l emphatically, seeing
now it was he, and not Lota, who had
put the sword there for me and why he
had done it. In Il moment was by his
side and we were striding through the
darkness of the night.
He took me to. an empty barn in
which a couple of lamps were burning,
giving dim, unsteady light.
'srime's 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 1 read it by the
light of the two small lamps.
"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"
/ signed under his name and laid the
paper underneath one Of the lamps.
"Quickg' he said. and l saw he had
already stripped to his shirt and was
rolling up the sleeve of his sword arm.
/ 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.
'gro the deathv' he said fiercely.
'ro the deathw | answered in the
same tone setting my teeth. and our
swords crosseu-
The first few passes showed me that
/ was a stronger man than be. but he
the better swordsman. He was how
ever half beside himself with rage.
and from the moment when he hissed
out the words. sTo the deathl' | saw
his deadly intent was set on killing me.
The light was abominably insufficient
for the grim work The lamps We're
placed one In the middle OF each side Of
the long. eloon,r harm and ALTHOUGH