Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-05-12


diplomacy, but cold steel held in the
grasp of wizard Is hard thing to
| beat.
So Mr.. Grimes watches and shud'
ders, rs in Imagination he sees his
friend occupying the place of the pro
fessor. Before now, under such cir.
cumstances, the baron's cruel blade
would have passed through his body.
Mr.. Grimes studies his method, hop
ing to find a weak spot. AS has al
ready been said he has considerable
| knowledge of the science, and after 0
| time jumps at a conclusion.
"Hcavens. This man. wonderful as
he is, would stand poor show against
| n left handed swordSman! J. have seen
Joe do n number of things with his
left hand. IF he handles & sword in
that way-wcll, Mr.. Baron you may
be Observation-Disclosures all"
When the baron has enjoyed himself
TO The full with the professor, who is
but q plaything in his hands, he saun.
lcis over to the shooting gallery to try
his hand.
One would think his nerve might
rot be as steady as could be desired
after his hot engagement with the
roils. and MI Grimes feels an admira'
ton for the man coupled with his
aversion when he sees him send shot
after shot with astonishing accuracy,
he various swinging targets being
struck almost with every discharge Of
he revolver.
"a dangerous combination of a
nan TO be at large, capable Of doing a
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.
lie meets the baron AT the bar of the
gallery in a friendly spirit, and wish
ng to see more of his pistol practice
ioon bantcrs him into Il little wager.
Lr. Grimes has always prided himself
N his craftsmanship, but he has
Door show beside this man Of the
Juick eye and steady hand.
His main object is to discover
whether the baron has any weak
point about his craftsmanship, so that
IL can turn it to good account Even
n this a fair measure of success falls
o his share. enough to pay him for
ls trouble. At fifteen and twenty
i've PAGES the Russian duclist is al
most dead shot, but strange to say
he American beats him at twenty
,acos. 1t would he hard to under.
stand Just why this is so, and to make
sure Of it Mr.. Grimes is not content
with the one trial, but goes through it
III again.
The result is the same.
That settles it. If there is to be an
nXchange Of shots between the rivals
must be at twenty PAGES. He feels
hat he is doing only what is right in
earning these facts. Doubtless this
uan without n conscience has in
ines past spittcd more than one I'M
.ucIiy dew. on his sword, who proved
o be a hUor at the ducllo, and against
whom he had a grudCe. lie deserves
lrithcr sympathy nor pity, and such
I man asks nothing Of the world
Perhaps the baron has already sized
lp The other, and remembers that he
saw him with the man he plots to de-
siroy. That does not appear to dis
turb him very much; indeed, he may
even take Il 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, 50 that the other may not
stumble into the pit which the baron
would DIG for him. at least without a
NnoWlCdge of the consequences.
After leaving the gymnasium where
the stalwart British officers spe.,l an
hour or 50 every day he looks around
lor the explorer, but can see nothing
of him Molly and her distinguished
father are also among the missing.
Presently lie runs across some one he
knows.
"Ah. there, Sandy, my boy, where
away? be calls out, whcreat the
buStling lhtlc CORRESPONDENT brought
in heap consents to halt briefly
"Off to wire Cor passage on the bi-
monthly steamer for .ndia Touches
at Alexandra, you kno y, and then di-
rect to Port Said for the Canal
when is it dueE'
"1he Alhambra arrives on Satur-
day.
secure passage fer me, but hold
on: perhaps you'd better wait and see.
| understand Tanner and his daughter,
together with Mynh aer Joe, are head
ing in that direction. If we all go on
one steamer it will make a jolly
party"
Sandy strikes an at itude.
"Blcss you, that's Il fact. III wait
until we have little consultation, and
abide by the result. BY the way, the
baron goes on her.
Il supposed as mu h. How did you
nnl that out, Sandy, my boy?' queries
the other.
Il heard him give orders this morn
ing. Several parties accompany him."
Who took the order?"
The fellow lookin like Hindoo."
Mr.. Grimes smiles.
Il wish you had noticed that fellow
closely, Sandy he femarks, quietly.
We'll, now, that Just what l did.
You see he had iordIy all yesterday,
as though he owned the whole of
Egypt, while this morning he limpcd
painfully, had brusc on his fore
head, and his left ann was tied up in
a great ball Of cotton, while his face
had II look as though intense pain and