Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-12-11
CHAPTER III.-lContinued.l

made the recipient of a letter purporting
to come from Roger Darrell, in which
the time, place n weapons were named.
When the early dawn came. his second
was with him, and together they set out
for the place appointed as a rendezvous.
At some time in the dim past it had
been ground consecrated to burial pur-
poses, and the weeping willows still
swayed their long, slender branches over
q few stones that were half hidden in the
tall, rank grass.
Hardly had they come to a pause when
a couple Of forms appeared among the
trees and advanced to where they We're
standing. To the surprise of the Captain
neither of these was Roger Darrell. Be
fore he could m on this fact, how
ever, the strangers had arrived close TO
them.
One was a handsome man, the other
a tall, willowy youth. with a small, dark
mustache. The latter's hat was so ar
ranged as to hide part of his face, but
the flashing eyes seemed to pierce the
Captain through and through. and some
how he shivered as though seized with
the ague.
" oiS III tiiiN. SVbtiChlCh, Sdlu Tic
handsome man in a musical voice.
I'VE are we'll aware of that, sir. but
how is this? l do not see your principal"
returned Lieut.. Carson.
He is here" said the youth, quietly.
His words produced something of a
sensation, and Lieut.. Carson laughed.
There is some mistake" he said; I'VE
came out to meet another"
THAT other will not be here, and in
order that the gentleman should not be
disappointed in meeting a Virginian. my
friend here is willing to cross blades with
you" and the handsome man indicated
with his hand his comrade.f
Captain Grant laughed aloud.
Il have passed through some strange
scenes in my life, but | assure you, gem
tlemen, this beats them all. What do
you take me for? My life is certainly
valuable to me at least; therefore, you
will pardon me if l decline to risk it in
an engagement with one with whom |
have no quarrel"
The face of the youth redeemed a trihe,
as though the voice Of the Captain, more
than the words he uttered, touched some
hidden chord deep in his heart.
Are W. to understand that you refuse
to fight, thenY" inquired the handsome
stranger.
Exactly. If my foemsn has been
cowardly enough to send some one in his
"Hold!' cried the youth, in a strangely
stern voice, SAY no more. The gentle
man never sent an answer to your chal-
lenge. Probably there will one come to-
day, but L mean to place you in a condi-
ton where accepting it will be out Of the
question. 1t was my friend who wrote
you, and | am here to keep my agree
ment. You are a coward if you do not
fight me-" and he whispered a name in
the d~uelist's ear.
Your object is fully accomplished, my
friend. Who you are, and what the
cause of your enmity may be, l know
not; but that is now a small matter with
me. l see your friend has swords with
him. We will test their temper"
He took one of the blades offered to
him almost without a thought, and tried
it over his knee. They were of the
finest material, and the eyes of the duel
list lighted up with satisfaction when he
discovered this fact, for he loved a good
sword above all things.
At a given signal the long swords
crossed, and the duel had begua. The
steel blades writhed, twisted. and
squirmed like 30 many serpents, and yet
so we'll matched We're the two antago-
nists that it seemed impossible for either
to accomplish the desired result.
Like lightning finally the sword of the
stranger passed through the Captains
sword arm, and at almost the same mo-
ment his blade was plucked from his
hand by a neat twist Of the others wrist,
and sent whirling away among the grass
covered gravestones.
Then, while the point Of the strangers
sword touched his breast, he saw him
raise his hat and dexterously remove the
false mustache. A shower of ringlets
fell about the white neck of the man of
mystery.
Captain Grant glared madly at the
beautiful face.
Your he cried, ARE you alive and
here! What nightmare is this? Speak,
and tell me, Nora Warner!'
CHAPTER ".
IN all MS life Captain Grant had
never suffered such a defeat. and what
made it all the more bitter was the fact
that it came from the hand of a woman
whom, for reasons best known to him
self, he had cause to hate most heartily.
Eye looked into Eye. but that of the
duelist could not stand before the mad
glare in the orbs of his vis-a-vis, and he
let his gaze fall. At last she spoke. and
her voice was trembling with deep emo
ton.
AS you see. l am alive and here. scoun-