The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-13

one to pay back" quoth my youngster.
day.!
Mere tricks, Dick, my lad; i have had
fifteen years In which to learn them, And
these were but country yokels armed with
farming tools The two with swords hao
little wit to use them
"Oh, GOMEZ said he. 81 know a pretty
bit of sword play when | see II. If we come
whole out of this adventure with the baro-
net you shall teach me some of these mere
tricks of yours.
/ promised glancing back toward the
dust-veiled barrier in the distance.
Dick. you passed this way an hour ago;
was that breastwork in the road then?'
mot a stick of it,
Then we may dare say our volunteer
captain fights unwillingly."
"How SOP" he demanded, being much too
straightforward himself to suspect du-
plicity in others
"'Tis plain enough This was a trap,
meant to stop or delay us, and I'll wager
high it was the baronet who set and baited
1t. 1t would please him well to be able to
him warrant for. Let gallop Bit lest
we be late and so play into his hand"
.Jennifer smiled grimly and gave his horse
the rein. II think you'd charge the fall of
man to him if that would give you better
leave to kill him. I'd hate to own you for
my enemy. John Ireton.'
For all our swift speeding We were yet a
little late at the rendezvous under the tall
oaks. When we came on the ground the
baronet walking up and down arm in
arm with his second, a broad-shOudered
young Briton, fair Of skin and ruddy of
II Falconnet had set the Tory trap for us
he yelled his disappointment at its failure.
His face, dark and fnscrutable as 1t always
was, was made more sinister by the plas-
ters knitting up his broken cheek, but
was right glad to make sure that my blow
had spared his eyes. Richly as he deserved
his fate, / thought ii would be i'll to think
aftprwq "a L a a G.
advantage of my own making.
There was little time wasted in the pre-
liminaries When Falconnet saw us he
dropped his seconds arm and began to
make ready. i gave my sword to Jenrtfer,
and the seconds went apart together There
was some measuring and balancing of
weapons. and then Richard came back.
THE baronets sword is good inch long
er than yours In the blade, and Is some
what heavier. Tybee has brought pair Of
French short swords which he offers. Will
you change your terms?"
mo: I am content to fight with my own
weapon
Jennifer nodded. $50 I told him.. And
town, DR.. Carew having gone with the
Minute Men to join Mr.. Rutherford. Tybee
says tbs scarce in accordance with the
later rulings to fight without one"
ITO the devil with their hairsplittingsv
said /. Let have done with them and
be at it,
Falconnet was removing his coat, and
stripped mine. Inc SECONDS cnOSe the
ground where the turf was short and firm
and yet yielding enough to give good foot
ing. We faced each other, my antagonist
barring an arm which, despite the bejewcled
hand, was to the full as big-muScled as my
own My glance went from his weapon, a
rather heavy German blade, straight and
slender-pointed, to his face. He was smil-
ing as one who strives to make the outer
| man mask to cover all emotion, and the
plasters his cheek drew the smile into a
grimace that was all but devilish.
The seconds fell back, but when Jennifel
would have given the signal 1 stopped him
"One moment, If you please. Sir Francis
| Falconnet, you know me?'
| The thin-lidded eyes were yelled for ar
instant. and then he lied smoothly.
Your pardon, Captain lreton; / have
| not that honor
''Tis a small matter, but you do lie this
morning as basely as you lied to Richard
Coverdale nine years agone," said 1; and
| then signed Jennifer to give the word.
Attention, gentlemeni On guard!
| My enemy's sword leaped to meet mine
| and at the same instant | heard another
click of steel betokening that the seconds
| had fallen to in bit of byplay between
! themselves, as was then the fashion. After
that I heard nothing for time save the
sibilant whisperings of the Ferara and the
| German long sword. and saw nothing save
| the fierce eyes glaring at me out of the
midst of the plaster-marred smile.
Recreant though he was, / must do my
! adversary the justice to say that he was q
| dancer, and, withal, well-breathed and per.
severing. Twice, nay thrice, before l found
my advantage he had pricked me lightly
| when 1 had fairly felt his wrist knew that
his heavier weapon would shortly prove hi!
undoing; knew that the quick parry and
lightning-like thrust would presently lag g
| little, and then 1 should have him.
| Something of this prophecy Of triumph
| he must have read in my eyes. for on the
instant he was up and at me like mad
bod xxrnr yIroll 0t,f Nst< ~
| hold him at the blades length. / sc
| holding him; was, in my turn, beginning tC
| press him slowly when there came a drum
ming of hoofbeats on the soft turf, ant
/ looked aside, and to my dying day
shall swear that my antagonist did likewise
What ! saw was =, Mistress Margery Stall
lowered my point, as any gentleman
| would.
| clutching at her bride rein TO stay hel
from riding fair between us-I felt the ho
| wire prick of the steel in my shoulder and
knew that my enemy had run me through
| as stood.
of what befell afterward I have but din
| memories. There were more hoof tramp
lings, and then / felt the dewy turf under
my hands and soft fingers tremblingly busy
| at my neckerchief. Then i saw swimming
! ly, as through veil of mist, woman.
| face just above my own, and it was full o
horror: and heard my enemy say: "Twa.
| most unfortunate ana L 90 nedTtlly 'regre
IL. Mr.. Jennifer. saw not why he had low
| cred his point Can / say nore?"
| How Richard Jennifer made answer t.
this lie know not; nor do | know augh
| else save by hearsay, of any further hap
| pening in that grassy glade beneath m,
| fathers oaks. For the big German blad,
| was shrewd blood-letter and / fell asleeI
| what time my lady trying to stancl
| with her kerchief the ebbing tide of life.
| ITO Be Continued.1