The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-19

sun ever shines. Further h this l
could see nothing except the tan stray
h,ifdings which shut In every side n
This wall In front. That door once
locked upon the intruder there Wou!u
be no easy egress. lnsttnctlvely L Felu
back.
Monsieur Is afraid?" she inquired,
then tossed back her head, and laugheo
such a low d%isdainful, mean lausn, as
fired my every nerve to hear. l Tesi-
tated no longer. Let come what VII
let the governors errand !ooK 70 ilseI,,
for no man or woman coulo ever lauen
at me like that.
Holding my blade at easy
I stepped inside. Immediately the door
closed, and the rasping of the key tod
me 1t was securely locked as before'
Then came regret, but came too late.
What 1 had so foolishly commenced, l
must now see finished. The cup had
been taken in hand and the liz mus
be thrown.
AS we came. I followed her again.
though at much closer range. we
crossed the yard diagonally, across the
broken panes, bits of casks. wine
bottles and other refuse scattered
about. I liked not the aspect of the
place. AS the girl was about to enter
a door leading inside the building, a
man came down the inner stairs n
passed out, coming in our direction
For the moment he vas under the light
and I had good sight of him.
A rather low, dark fellow. dressed In
the height of the fashion. yet some
what nashily withal; not too %foppish.
he was evidently a young gallant of the
oA%o IL - E IJa cto e-Ernra6 onr1awhQf
from wine, and carried a magnificent
breadth Of shoulder, denoting consid-
cradle strength. This was my mental
catalogue from the glimpse l caught.
BY this time. the lady had got rather
within the range Of the light: the mar
came straight at her. and, to my
amazement, despite her struggles,
seized and kissed her. This was before
/ could reach them.
I was upon him in On instant. An
othee end he had reeled back against
the wall. drawing his weapon as he fell.
He recovered his feet. my blade met.
each paused, we'll knowing the deadly
lottery of such a duel in the dark.
The lady ran up as nearly between
us as she dared and %besought:
'Oh, Measures, Messires," she plucked
me by the sleevs, do not fight; there
is no need Of it."
Get out of the way you impudent
hussy," he commanded, "In kill your
meddlins lover, like the varlet hound
he is"
I went at him in earnest. His further
insult to her made every muscle a cord
Of steel. I soon found this no mere
sport, for the fellow vas a thorough
master OF his weapon. l was a trif1e
the taller and had a longer reach: this,
with my heavier blade, gave me we'll
the vantage. Besides I had touched no
wine, and my nerves were steady.
However. I had the light full in my
face, and he was not slow to see the an
not maintain g fight &c. long, 81 I
pressed him sternly and the bright
sparks flew. Backwards, step by step,
he retreated, until he had almost
reached the door Of which he came. 1
burst not withdraw my eyes from his.
yet I had seen the lady run swiftly up
the inner stairs, whether for help or
for other assassins I could not guess.
Still back, ever pressing him desper-
ately back, tie fight went, and he
stood again inside the door, at the very
foot Of the stair. Now every advan-
tage was mine, for he was we'll within
the glow Of the lamp, every movement
distinctly visible. while I yet stood in
darkness.
For the sake Of mercy, my lord,
come quick" 1t was the girls voice
at the head Of the stairs; there they
are. They will desist if you command
men coming down the stairs, a lighter
step behind them. My foot touched
something which lay in the dense siad-
ow Of the doorstep. 1t felt soft, a pack
age Of some kind. Their / remember
seeing something fall from the cloak
Of my adversary forgotten in the heat
Of the fray. / placed my foot upon it.
What quarrel is this, gentlemen?
Put by your swords?"
The voice was that of a man accus-
toned to obedience. My antagonist
stood entirely upon the defensive; 1
stepped back a pace and we rested at
ease. He leaned heavily against the
balustrade; his breath came hard: l
could see he was nearly spent, so fu-
rious had been our short contest. His
face showed, besides, the flush of too
much wine. or perchance I had not been
so fortunate.
What mean you, gentlemen? Your
quarrel?"
Il did but kiss the wench, and this
Fellow set upon me in the dark
Aye, my lord replied stoutly, ac-
cordlng to h stranger the respect he
seemed to command. "a wanton insult
to this lady whom I met unprotected
in the streets, and saw her safely to
her gate. Who she is, or what, / know
not"
The two men looked at each other,
from the girl to me, then burst into
such peals of incredulous laughter as
reused my anger again. Even my late
foe Joined in, but family.
Would either of you. my lords, be
pleased to take the matter up?" for /
was hot indeed.
But they only laughed the more. The
lady looked much confused.
Continued Next Week.)
New York Society.