Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1904-04-07

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heard them talk OF the governors In
comparable skill.
priest Is. In perhaps all cases but
the last out Of thousand, n man Of
peace. not 90 be forced into a fight.
but the exceptional one out Of the ten
hundred II IL well not 10 stir up II you
are looking for an easy victim Ham
ilton was I'm the habit OF considering
every antagonist Immediately conquer.
able. His domineering spirit could not.
when opposed. reckon with any posi-
bllity OF disaster. As he sprang toward
Father Bcrct there was mutual rec
ignition and-we speak guardcdly-
something that sounded exactly like an
exchange Of furious excavations. As
for Father Beret's words. they may
have been mere priestly formula OF
obJurgation
The moon was accommodating. With
n beautiful white splendor IL entered
space Of cloudless sky, where II seem
cd To slip along the dusky blue surface
among the stars, far over in the west.
Its you. Is ~" Hamilton exclaimed
between teeth that almost crushed one
another You prowling hypocritc.'
Father Beret said something. II was
not complimentary, and IL sounded sui
phurous. II not profane. Remember.
however. that a priest can scarcely
hope 10 be better than Peter. and
Peter did actually make the simon
pure remark when hard pressed. At
all events. Father Berct said something
with vigorous emphasis, and met Ham
ilton half way.
Both men. stimulated TO the finger
tips by a draft OF lmperious passion.
fairly plunged 10 the inevitable con-
fiict An, IL Alice could have seen her
beautiful weapons cross, II she could
have heard the fine, farreaching clink.
clink. clink. while sparks leaped forth
could have noted the admirable-nay.
the amaEing-play az the men. regain
ing coolness 90 some extent. gathcred
their forces and fell cautiously 10 the
deadly work. II would have bean
enough 20 change the cold simmer OF
her face 20 a fash Of warm delight.
For she would have understood every
feint, lunge. parry. and seen At gfance
how Father Beret set the pace and I'D
the race az the beginning. She would
have understood, for Father Beret bad
taught her all she knew about the art
OF fencing.
Hamilton quickly felt. and with a
sense OF It's strangeness, the priests
mastery command OF his weapon. The
surprise called up all his caution and
clcverness. Before he could adjust
himself to such an unexpected con-
dition he came near being spitted out
right by pretty pass under his guard.
The narrow escape. while II put him on
his best mettle. sent wave OF super
stition through his brain lie recalled
what Barlow had Jocularly said about
the doings Of the dcvil-priest or priest
devil AT Roussillon place on that night
when the patrol guard attempted 70
take Gaspard Rousdlion. Was this
indeed Father Berct. that gentle old
man. now before him. or was II an
avcnging demon from the shndesi
The thought fitted electrically across
his mind. while he deity PARKED.
felnted, lunged, giving his dark antag-
onist all he could do 20 meet the play.
Priest or devil. he thought-he cnred
not which-hc would reach his vitals
Yet there fingered with him
haunting half fear or tenuous awe,
which may have aided. rather than
his excellent swordsman-
ship.
Underfoot II was slushy with mud.
water and ice, the consistency varying
from a somewhat solid crust 10 pud-
dies that half inundated Hamilton's
boots and quite overlooked Father
Bcrcts moccasins-an execrabie deid
for the little matter In hand. They
gradually shifted position. Now II
was the governor. then the priest. who
had advantage as 20 the light. For
some time Father Beret seemed quite
the shiftier and surer fighter. but twas
his age telling on HIND he lost per
ceptibly In suppieness. Sun Hamil-
ton failed TO touch him. There was a
battling something in the old mans
escape now and again from what ought
10 have been an inevitable stroke
Was II luckI II seemed % Hamilton
more than that--a sort OF uncanny eva
zion. Or was II supreme mastery. the
asst and subtiest reach of the fencer's
craft?
Youth forced age slowly backward
n the struggle. which AT times took
Dn spurts 50 furious that the slender
blades, becoming mere glints OF acicu-
ar steel. split the moonlight back and
'orth. up and down. 80 that their meet
Dgs. following one another in a we'll
ligh continuous stroke. sent n Earring
noise through the air. Father Beret |
ost inch by inch, until the fighting was
almost over the body OF Alice, and now !
'or the first time Hamilton became /