The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

wise no support. If I turned him on
the world, he could not make dol
lar-nor guard it if he should. In
that fiscal particular, the Jew in him
has baked and broken down." Noah
laughed lightly. 1.-THE faithful Rivera
he went on, has, however, certain ad-
vantages. There is a compensation, an
equilibrium, in nature. Rivera, slow
of brain, possesses the muscle power
of Hercules; moreover, in those twin
arts of boxing and wrestling, it's to be
doubted if his over-lord exists. Some
day, in some moment of brutality
being now and again overtaken of such
I shall have Rivera to England to
beat Bendigo and Ward. The prize
ring is his one opening for eminence.
And las does the immortal Byron,
who has more pride of fiSticuffs than
verse-applaud the ring"
While Noah talked, 1 was yielding
him my need of tacie admiration. Here
was man. a creature of quilts and
ink, too, within minutes of meeting,
edge to edge, with one keen of his wea-
pom, and a declared adept among sword
fighters. And clearly, the business was
no more upon his spirit than if the
day bore no grim promise, but only
smiles. 1t was more than courage, it
was the absolute absence of fear; he
leaned back with his sherry, and the
llltle STORY Oh MS young spanish
Jew, as though hate were not at that
same moment of time whetting a ra-
pier with hope against his life. His
Porcelain of being cold and steady was
not a boast which wanted feet to
stand upon.
Rivera came back, bearing the swords
wrapped from casual eye in the folds
of a cloak. drew one-a plain rapier
or Spanish sword-and of as superb
temper as any to come from its birth
forge of Toledo.
They are brothers, those swords
said Noah; there is none better. I
had them from the hands of that Bey
who branded us as heather. and so
fretted the friend of Henry Clay. And
since, in a pastime such as we go
about, fullest confidence in ones wea-
pom is important, you will prefer these
for me If the choice be given you"
This was spoken to me.
Rivera knelt down, and taking off his
patrons shoes, replaced them with light
fencing slippers, whereof the soles
cracked with a fresh coat of resin.
Then came loose overshoes. meant to
protect the others on the road to
Gadsby's from intervening mud. Hav-
ing done this, and saying not a word
whether of question or remark, the
boy stood back as waiting the next
command. l was ever reckoned a judge
of anything on two legs or four, as
became the best quartermaster the
General ever had, and I've yet to
glimpse so perfect-So splendidly, so
accurately perfect-an example of the
physical man as showed in this youth.
with his brown hair, brown eyes, dark
skin and round thick neck like the
carved column of some sculptor.
1t was time to be off for Gadsby's,
no mighty journey, being just across
the street. AS we were about depart
ing, Noah called to Rivera, who ex-
hibited no more distrust of a finale
than was present with the other, and
observed: II shall be hungry on my
return. Have a fowl and a flask of
wine set out for me in my own rooms"
Rivera bowed as one who under
stands; and giving me the cloak to be
still a refuge for the Toledoes, watched
U.S. as by a side door we got onto
the walk and headed for Gadsbys over
the way.
There were the four of us, Noah,
Kendall, Hill and myself when we
came into that great room of Gads-
by's which was reserved for 'routs and
dancing. 1t was a large and lofty
room with a gallery all about. We
had the place to ourselves for the mo-
ment; Pigeon breast and his principal
were yet to arrive upon the scene.
Noah kicked off the overshoes, and
stepped and scrubbed his feet against
the flooring boards. The experiment.
ended to his taste.
1.-The resin holds" he remarked.
Then, glancing about the vast apart
ment he came back to me with a smile.
tits like lighting in a ten-acTe field"
said he.
Pigeon-breast appeared by a far
door. Besides his bully principal. there
were two others, for I had named the
propriety of witnesses and suggested
the number. 1 crossed over and greet
1GT La -
aside.
rs either of the gentlemen with
YOU" said I, "a surgeon?"
why. no." returned Pigeon-breas
1.-THE thing clean slipped my mind"
ut might be well to send, them" I
said, ''for 1 think he will be wanted"
Pigeon-breast spoke to the others,
continued near the door. Pigeon-breast,
after a word, returned to me.
There is a surgeon below" he re-
portedj "he will be with us like wink
ing, for he loves this kind of thing"
"And now the swords I said. I'VE
may as well transact preliminaries as
far as we can go while waiting"
Pigeon breast suggested we spin a
coin, their weapons or ours. 1t fell for
ours: a good omen. 1 thought, albeit
a look at Noah, where he gazed care
lessly from a window, face immovable
as granite, gave encouragement
enough to declare war for a crown. 1
went over to tell him we had won the
use of our Toledoes.
THAT sounds WELL" he said. II like
good tools, especially when the work
demanded leans upon the fine"
You will not STAY the MANI" I
asked.
For the one matter of his llfe," re-
turned Noah, hes as safe as though
this dancing room were a church. Be
yond that, however, shall take such
measures with him that, for months,
who sees him shall know what reward
is waiting on towards who vilify a
pure girl"
Pigeon-breast signaled for a word.
Taking me to remote corner, he ar
gued that our duties required we dis
cuss the possibility of apology.
They must fight a little first" I re-
torted. There is no room between
epithets such as rogue and liar to
squeeze in an explanation. These folk
must fight while both can hold out
swords"
This was not butchers taste; but
began to see, with Noah. that the
I