The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-25
,CHAPTER VlI.-Continued.

He looked up to the window and met
my eyes. He -gave.a little shrug of help
tessness and shook his head: = -.
I'll not fight with YOU. sir said ,;he to
the; prince. You're needed elsewhere,
I'm told. Your life mustn't be risked."
The Novodnian made as-i he would
spring upon him with empty hands. 4
"You cur! You cur!'' he snarled furi-
ously. "A coward, too, eh? 49, Brave
enough to sneak into a mans house and
steal his wife. but too cowardly to face
steel! You curt ....s..,. -.-
Teddy said Denis Mallory quietly
his eyes steady and hard upon the other
mans, will YOU be good enough to throw
me down a pair of-sharpened fois?" :.
But leaned from the, window panic
stricken. = -".' 2syy-' -.
For Gods sake. Denis!" I cried. YOU
mustn't. you mustn't! Think what you're
doing, man! oh, have, a care!" Denis
glanced up at me for an instant and
smiled.
':lt'sall right, lad, said he, ''Nsver
fear! Come, the foils! and be quick"
took down the foils from the wall near
Mt hand and tossed them to him. Both
men had taken off Jackets and wafstco
and, they took their blades and went to
WORK in an Instant, Denis quietly and
wholly on the defensive, the prince with a
mad fury that made me fear for moment
lest he break down that matchless guard.
came running across the studio. He had
been comforting with Mackenzie in a far
corner and had not seen me fetch the
swords. - -.
What are they doing?" he cried as he
ran. fighting. fighting? For Gods sake,
Creighton, who don't you stop them? Sir,
sir" He had one foot over the window
ledge when hauled him back into the
room. @'' ' So '--'.l..f 'S%.'' :
flush, man. I cried into his: car
Hush. you'll put them out. Denis won't
hurt the prince, and the prince can't hurt
Denis. He would fight. He's mad with
rage. He was all for tearing Denis with
his empty hands. Be still, there'n be no
harm DONE
1t was one of the most beautiful exhibi-
tions Of sWOrdsmanship that I have ever
seen, Mallory's wonderful and impregnable
defense against an, attack which was a
very whrlWind of fierceness and intensity
Aye. and a skilful Whirlwind too, not all
random slashing. The prince was fine
swordsman and his rage gave him a
strength and endurance far beyond his
ordinary form. -.
But even this strength and endurance
could not last forever against such a
blade His thrustsfgreW weaker and his
breathing more labored till he drew off a
moment and stood bent and trembling
his point resting upon the ground and his
gaze fixed in baffed hatred upon the
young Irshman. q .@~<''7
1t was just at this moment, while he
stood waiting. tall. slender, strong and
ready, his head reared as we grew ,tc
know it so well in times Of stress. point
resting lightly upon the ground near his
feet. left hand upon hip: it was at this
moment that saw--and I think Won Alt
dorf saw 1t too-a strange look come upor
Mallory's. face, an uncertainty a problem
1t was as If he put himself a question, anc
demanded it's answer. Here was he in &
quarrel not of his seeking driven to it by
insults the grossest possible and facns
the one man of all the.~world who. stood il
the way of what his heart craNed-e Here
was way out Of his difficulties every
thing made easy. The giving up of al
that was dear to him in the world thai
chad thought inevitable, need not bt
done. Here was a way easy and sure
He needn't even thrust. He needln'
do the thing himself: A parry with tn