Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-05-03

the hangman.
The young Frenchman took Henry's
hand between both his own. II have
been SO occupied these last three
hours" he protested contritely. "Have
said to you that you are generous and
kind to assist thus in the affair Of
stranger? Have said that was
grateful?"
"Colonel Washington" said Henry,
'is my best friend. An I had been in
the inn parlor, sir, 1 had drunk that
toast with you"
The night was very still. Scarce q
leaf stirred in the vagrant breeze or
shivered in the haze. Only dull hum
ming chirr Of night insects from the
thicket and drifting across this-a gold
snake on sad carpet-the rich, plain
tive bubble Of a whippoorwill.
Gentlemen" cried Rolph, sis all
ready?"
"Have you no command, monsieurW
Henry asked.
The young mans eyes were soft as
he shook his head. GLOW sweet 1t
UluSS! ue Sdlu. listen!
It died, and the tapping of bell,
very faint and far and tenuous, came
over the still valley. Henry knew the
sound. Away to the eastward on a
high knoll, stood long, low structure
Of limestone, with a wide veranda.
Perched upon its roof were two wooden
belfries with alarm bells, which had
been hung twenty years before, after
Braddock's defeat, when the Indians
turned their tomahawks against the
white chief that dwelt there. The In
dams had been driven westward long
ago, but the bells still rang whenever
the master, with yelping hounds or by
daring torches, came back to his lodge.
At this moment, while Armand stood
In the moonlight with naked sword
In his hand, my Lord Fairfax, for
whose affront he stood, was come again
saddened to Greenway Court.
Foy's voice broke in, sneeringly
wrathful. care we come to string
beads"-
EN- garde!' cried Armand, turning
sharply, and the two blades rang to-
gether with clash.
Foy's attack was wonderfully strong.
He had the trick Of carrying the head
well back and resting the whole weight
Of his body upon the left leg, sign Of
one whose learning had been without
masks. The others method was as
different from that of his antagonist
as night from day. He fought far for
vol, fnk
A maitre d'escrime might have seen
in his action some Of the freedom and
directness which later gave Bertrand,
the greatest fencing master Of Europe,
the surname Of the Terrible" But to
the watchers it seemed to be utterly
without method-barren Of rule-to be
loose, uncontained. He possessed the
appearance of a child at careless play
with serpent, not conscious Of its
| sinister intention.
A pain came into Henry's dark eyes
and paler tinge to his cheeks. He
| groaned inwardly as Foy suddenly
came at Armand, pressing him back
in a furious chasse-croisse, first the
| right foot forward, then the left.
The lieutenant stood close to Henry,
his lips parted, watching. "They say
Foy was taught Of Angelo" he whis-
pered, "and that the pupil could best
his master Your friend is in evil
case"
So indeed it seemed. Foy was q
brute, and he fought like one, with face
distorted and breath rafting with rage.
He came on with the lunge Of hunt
er at boar, his blade hate heavy, and
the very fury of his rush sent the young
Frenchman back to the verge Of the
bushes.
Armand returned with stop thrust,
| parted lunge and answered by a
| riposte. Then for moment there was
nothing but the du-tac-au-tac Of slim
steel, cutting hayward blue white
flashes where the milky light caught
its edge.
END the cub, Foy," cried Rolph with
an oath, land let us to town! You
could have spitted him forty times!'
"By heaven!" suddenly burst out
Henry. "Bravov'
The Frenchman's blade, beating up a
f1anconnade, had nicked crimson
| cash on Foy's shoulder.
The latter, smarting from the prick
and enraged beyond measure, came on
again cursing, his chin set forward
from his neck and feck Of foam on
his lips.
Armand had changed his tactics. He
still had the appearance Of looseness
and lack Of close defense; but, strange
| ly enough, Foy's point, though welded
by the redoubtable swordsman that he
was, had not so much as slit a ruff1e of
his shirt. He was untouched, immacu-
late, careless and debonair.
Now he became of a sudden winged.
He turned, circled, was here and there
with the rapidly Of an insect. The
fight turned this way and that, crushed
the bushes, was all over the ground
There was a maze Of pricking, whirl.
ing arrows of sulphur colored fame in
the moonlight. Foy's breath was com
ing hoarsely in his throat like that of q
| strangled dog. Armand began to laugh
outright as he thrust and parted.
The lieutenant wedged an exclama.
ton amid the flick and scrape of steel
Foy's face was become weller OF
sweat and rage. This was o sort OF
fighting new to him. He tried every
attack, every feint, double engage
coupe-each Intellectual. Armand, MIN
BILE. laughing, began to hum tune as
he ran.
Nothing could have been better cal
culated to goad his adversary to point
| Of impotency. Already Foy had be.