The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-02-26

Heaven help poor Mynheer Joe, ne
thinks, If he stands before this little
| giant with sword in his hand! There
is just about one chance in a dozen
| for him. He may outwit the baron in
| diplomacy. but cold steel held in the
| Grasp Of wizard is hard thing to
| beat.
So Mr.. Grimes watches and slud-
lers. MS in imagination he sees his
friend occupying the place Of the pro-
| fcssor. Before now. under such cir
| cumstances. the baron's cruel blade
would have passed through his body.
Mr.. Grimes studies his method. hop
| iug TO lind a weak spot. As has al
ready been said he has considerable
| knowledge of the science. and after 4
| time jumps at q conclusion.
Heavens! This man. wonderful as
he is. would stand poor show against
Il Ieft-handed swordsman! 1 have seen
Zoe do n number of things with his
| left hand. If he handles s"'ord in
that way-well, Mr.. Baron, yOu may
| be astonished-that's all
When the baron has enjoyed himself
| to the full with the professor. who is
but plaything in his hands. he saun-
tiers over to the shooting-gallery to try
his hand.
One would think his nerve might
not be as steady as could be desired
after his hot engagement with the
foils, and Mr.. Grimes feels an admira-
ton for the man coupled with his
aversion when he sees him send shot
after shot with astonishing accuracy,
the various swinging targets being
struck almost with every discharge of
the revolver.
~ dangerous combination Of a
man 10 be at large. capable Of doing
| tremendous amount Of mischief in the
world, and the sooner he turns up his
toes under the sod the better for hui
manity." is the mental comment Of
Mr.. Grimes.
He meets the baron at the bar Of the
gallery in a friendly spirit, and wish
Ing to see more Of his pistol practice
soon bantcrs him into little wager.
Mr.. Grimes has always prided himself
on his craftsmanship, but he has a
poor show beside this man of the
quick eye and steady hand.
Ills main object is to discover
whether the baron has any weak
point about his craftsmanship, so that
he can turn it to good account. Even
in this fair measure Of success falls
to his share, enough to pay him for
his trouble. At fifteen and twenty
five PAGES the Russian duelliSt IS al-
most 4 dead shot. but strange to say
the American beats him at twenty
PAGES. It would be hard to under
stand just why this is so, and to make
! sure OF it Mr. Grimes is not content
with the one trial, bat goes through it
all again.
The result is the same.
That settles it. If there is to be m
exchange OF shots between the rivals
it must be ct twenty PAGES. lie feels
that &c is doing Only what is right in
| learning these facts. Doubtless this
| man without n cOnScicpcc has in
times past spitted more than one IN
| lucky dew. on his sword, who proved
! TO be 4 boor 1t the ducllo, and against
whom he had Il grudgc. He deserves
neither sympathy nor pity. and such
= man asks nothing OF the world.
Perhaps the baron has already sized
up the other, and remembers that he
saw him with the man he plots to de-
stroy. That does not appear TO dis
turb him very much; indeed, he may
| even take savage satisfaction in
showing the American how he will
make crows meat OF his friend when
the time comes.
Mr. Grimes has seen enough.
At his first opportunity he must
warn Joe, so that the other may not
stumble into the pit which the baron
would dig for him, at least without
knowledge Of the consequences.
After leaving the gymnasium where
the stalwGrt British officers spend an
! hour or so every day ne looks around
for the explorer, but can see nothing
Of him. Molly and her distinguished
father are also among the missing.
Presently he runs across some one he
knows.
"Ah. there. Sandy, my boy, where
away?' he calls out, whereat the
bustling little correspondent brought
in heap consents to halt briefly.
"Ofr to wire for passage on tie BIZ
monthly steamer for India. Touches
at Alexandria, you know. and then di'
rect to Port Said for the Canal"
when is it due:"
"Thc Alhambra arrives on Satur-
day"
Secure passage for me, but hold
on: perhaps you'd better wait and see.
l understG..d 4 Tanner and his daughter.
together With Mynheer Joe, are head
ing in that direction If we all go on
one steamer. it will make jolly
party"
Sandy strikes an attitude.