The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-04-22
MYNHEER ~J0E.
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BY ST. GEORGE RATHBoRNE.
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copYRIe


signs of alarm. On the contrary. he
forces sneer upon his lips and ap.
pears uncOncerned.
Again he advances, to adopt an en-
tirely new system Of tactics, which
the American meets as becomes the
fayorite pupil of Monsieur Duval, the
famous swordmaster of all Paris.
The baron is amazed to find that
each Of his little tricks is met in rapid
order. He gains no advantage. If
Joe We're surrounded by wall Of steel
he could not be more secure apparent
iy from the onslaught of his antagon-
list.
On his part, the American admits
that never has he met one who could
WELD the blade with such power and
skill as this Russian duellist. He is
kept busy repelling attacks, and when
he finds an opportunity to make
lunge on his own account it is met and
parted by the clever work of the bar
on.
Mr.. Grimes looks on and smiles; he
thinks he can afford to. knowing well
what surprise will yet come upon
the Russian. As for the French cap
tain, he ruhs his hands together in
great glee; such spectacle as this ap
peals to everything that is martial in
his composition. He forgets that two
men are battling for life, and only
sees the marvellous skill brought to
bear in manipulating the swords. All
the while fervid EXPLANATIONS escape
him, as if he cannot keep his feelings
under control; he is like kettle of
boiling water-when the heat reaches
a certain stage he bubbles over.
"Sacre! Look at that lunge! Mag
neeficient! And the return? Char
mant! 1t is worth losing a nights
sleep to gaze upon such lovely play.
Mon ami. observe the blades kiss and
Irvine about each other. My friend
has met noble adversary. Mon Dieu!
Such GOODNESS, such wonderful arms.
/ have not seen in all my life. l am
proud to say Americans are the friends
of the French. But it is one great
pity-he must go down. The baron
tires them all out-his arm Is made of
steel. trust it will only be flesh
wound. Parbleu! should hate to
see that brave man die"
Thus he mutters and exclaims in
starts, as he watches the fierce en-
gagement. Mr.. Grimes hears him. Mr..
Grimes does not share his apprehen-
sion one iota. He simply utters in the
Erenchman's ear the one word:
"Waitv'
Meanwhile the second bout between
the two men has proven as fruitless
as the first. AS If through mutual
consent they spring back to recover
themselves.
Timer says the Frenchman.
They rest upon their swords. and
during this brief interval keen eyes
are upon them. The French captain
contrasts the two. He has declared
that the baron, in the past. has won
more than one victory because of his
wonderful endurance, which has en-.
abled him to wear his antagonist out.
To his surprise. he now discovers that
the Russian has put forth such tire.
mendous force in the attempt to beat
down Joe's guard, that he shows more
signs of exhaustion than his antagcn,
list.
What does Mynheer Joe do, as if to
show his contempt for the man against
whom he is pitted, but take cigar
and place it, unlighted, between his
teeth.
The baron's eyes flash lightnings
when lie sees this act. He realizes
that the mistake of his life has come
upon him. When Mynleer Joe en-
tered Cairo the Russians star began
to decline. 1t is now going down
with rush.
Ready! he cries, raising his sword
The American meets him half way.
and for the third time the weapons
clash together. Now the baron ex-
hausts his repetory of curious strokes
weak point about the others defense
In this he signally fails.
AS yet he has felt no twinge of fear.
trusting in his own skill to defend
himself. If it comes to the worst. the
duel can be called a draw, and he
sucks consolation out of that fact,
while not emitting to keep close
watch for the opening he still hopes
to discover.
A new phase in the duel is about to
take place, what Mr.. Grimes has been
so anxiously awaiting. He wonders
why Mynheer Joe delays so long. and
can only lay it to that strange feeling
of fine humor which causes cat to
play with a mouse.
1t comes ut last.
Joe springs back pace. passes his
sword from his right hand to his left,
and is at the Russian like a tiger His
trenchant blade flashes before the
haron's ewes and n cry nf wonder