Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-06-04

E
from him might ask anything he would
of her."
The blood pulsed in the checks below
the bandages, and Crosby French said
something under his breath of his prom
Use to his father.
The next morning, while the two were
at breakfast, for Tom DARCY had put
up at his new friends lodgings, there
came a messenger from Ciaudius Gregg,
an elderly, dishonoIrd buck like himself.
10 say that Mr.. Gregg claimed inmnedi-
ate satisfaction for the public affront
, that had been put upon him.
lit Is the old story of the wolf and
the lamb" said Crosby French. smiling.
Would he have me stand up to him
blind"
My principal Is ready to convenience
the gentleman in every way returned
the other, But, seeing that his wound
Ell homer cries ont for assuagement. he
is impatient of waiting for what must
be a slow recovery. Therefore he pro-
poses duel in the dark.
In the pause that followed Tom
1 Darcy gasped audibly.
a duel i'll the dark" went on the
other, staring mt him with Il greater de-
liberation. Since the gentleman has
forced the challenge on my principal he
is ready TO meet him, with pistols. the
place TO he wherever you wish. the duel
10 be conducted across table in the
dark
why. he grows bloodier than eyer.''
said Tom Darcy, with nonchalance.
lie takes the chances as well as the
other gentleman"
Il name the Ook room ut the cluh-
house.. said Tom Darcy. at il so
great that we need not fear to spoil the
excellent carved paneling. aud it is SO
retired that we need not fear to be dis
turbpd. The watch has lately shown TOO
great All interest in these affairs between
gentlemen
The time;"
why, one time is as good as another.
since the duel is to be fought in the dark
Surprising VIC say tonight at the stroke
Of i2r'
My principle will be agreeable"
The messenger bowed himself out, and
Tom darcy returned to his breakfast
as though nothing had happened.
He means to kill You for certain he
said As for the reason of this ami
mostly. / am inclined to believe that he
saw something in the eyes of Harvey
l-lStrange's daughter which drove him
mad with jealousy. If late he has not
been so anxious for a meeting as he once
was. They say his hand grows I'M
steady. To be sure, YOU could swim the
packetboat in the wine he has drunk.
He means to kill YOU. The only question
Is, If he will fight fair. | do not know
( what he means the dark to cover, but in
falr fight YOU should have the advantage
He Is SroSs-wde as a hayStack, and he
breathcs like a porpoise. You are not
provided with pistols, | take it,"
L never thought to have use for them
un.eSS it might be 10 protect myself
against Frenzy, the hishwayman.
Mine are at You service
Il thank YOU. sir. And now. sipce we
are to he fricnds-indecd. | am Aateful
for the Kindness that will nA let me
Standl. alone-L may tell You tkN, unless
lady"
You do?"
Il certainly mean it. And condition
of my fighting is that if | fall you are
to save her from Clandius Gregg"
Tom Darcy stared; then suddenly he
wruAg the others hand.
Il accept" he said. Il have no de-
sire for a wife. although Grange cries
out for Il mistress and my old father
for a grandson If YOU fall. | will marry
Mary l. Estrangc. although | have to kill
GldudluS Gregg to do 1t. If You survive,
/ VIII do all in my power to help you 10
win the lady"
Again their hands met and held to-
gether for an instant.
| 1t was dull day of November. and
the hours went very slowly for Tom
Darcy. There was not much pleasure
IN displaying the pistols to a man who
had no eyes to see Them and handled
them rs though he had no love for them.
| While the shades grew longer on the
dreary walls of the lodging, he thought
often of the lit clubhouse, the stories
that were being told, the wit that was
flashing like rapier. the latest report
from the houses of Parliament over the
way, where the orators NLt in a battle
/ OF words more furious than cold iron.
But he bore the deprivation for friend
ships sake He even pushed away the
wine from him, for he had Il feeling that
there might be treacnery in this duel in
the dark. and he must DO prepared for
it and ready TO Illustrate it.
At Il quarter before midnight the coach
was Mt the door. with the physician
whom Tom Darcy had hidden to be in
attendance. Ii was November night,
and as they drove through the streets
they were in danger twenty times of be-
ing overturned, for the dim oil lamps
gave them little light by which TO see
the open sewers or The places where the
pavement had sunken in great holes.
Ihey PASSED through the lit hall of the
clubhouse unObServed. There was 81
great ball that night at the Rotuuda,
and those gentlemen who were not there
were at the gaming tables
In the oak room they found Claudius
] blN%S anu MS Iflcnu awaiting them.
/ Having Invested themselves of their
cloakS. the seconds spun a coin for the
right to first fire 1t fell 10 Claudius
! Gregg.
The two men We're then set facing
each other. with long table between,
and the pistols in their hands.
"Hc has the first shot," whispered
/ Tom Darcy in French'S ear. and. my
/ poor fellow, I'm afraid you're done for.
The utmost we can hope for is that the
bullet may not find a vital spot. II he
! does not kill you aim straight and aim
/ low and you will kill him. Indeed, you
can scarcely miss him, he is such 4
monster of man. If YOU should miss
/ him he will surely kill YOU with The see
ond shot. But in that case | viii carry
off the lady and, maybe, kill him in your
! place"
I Some one went round and cxtinguished
/ the candles AS the last one went out.
! the darkness in the room was so great
! that ii could be felt. Even the windows
/ did not reveal themselves as of a lighter
/ darkness 10 eyes lately used 10 the