The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-04-21
! THE MASTER OF APPLEBY:

By Francis Lynde.

outer man a mask to cover all emo
/ ton. and the plasters on his cheek drew
4 the smile into a grimaCe that was al!
but deviIish.
The seconds fell back, but when Jcn-
infer would have given the signal |
/ stopped him
one moment, please. Sir Francis
! Falconnet, you know me-"
The thin-lidIcd eyes were yelled for
an instant, and then he lied smoothly.
+ Your pardon. Captain lre,on. have
not that honor"
''Tis small matter. but you do lie
this morning as basely as you lied to
( Richard CovcrdaIe nine years agone,
said L. and then | signed Jennfer to
give the word.
"Attcntion gentlemen! on guard
! My enemys sword leaped to meet
mine. ana at the same instant | heard
another click of steel betokening that
the seconds had fallen to in a bit OF
by play between themselves. as was
then the fashion. After that | heard
nothing for q time save the Siblant
WhisperingS of the I'erara and the Ger
man long sword, and saw nothing save
the fierce eyes glaring at me out of the
midst Of the plaster marred smile.
RcCreant though he was, ! must do
my adversary justice to say that he
was skillful master of fence, agile as
a French dancer and withal we'll
breathed ana perSeVering. Twice nay,
thrice, before | found my advantage he
had prickcd me lightly With that extra
inch of slender point, But when had
fairly felt his wrist | knew that his
heavier weapon would shortly prove
his undoing; knew that the quick parry
ana lightning like thrust would pres
entity lag a little, and then l should
have him.
Something of this prophecy of tri-
umph he must have read in my eyes,
for on the instant he was up and on me
like Il mailman. and | had my work
well cut out to hold him at the blades
length. ! was so holding him: was, in
my turn, beginning to press him slow
| ~, when there came Il drumming Of
hoofbeats on the soft turf. and then u
woman's cry
looked aside, and to my dying day
I shall swear that my antagonist did
likewise. What | saw was Mistress
Margery Stair riding down upon us at
Il hand -gallop, and | lowered my point,
as any gentleman would.
| In the very act-'tWaS while JenEifer
was clutching at her bride rein to stay
her from riding fair between us-I felt
| the hot-wire prick of the steel in my
shoulder and | knew that my enemy
had run me through as | stood.
OF what befell afterward l have but
dim memories. There We're more hoof-
tramplings. and then | felt the dewy
turf under my hands and soft fingers
tremblingly busy at my neckerchief.
| Then l saw Swimmingly, as through Il
veil of mist a woman's face just above
my own: and it was full of horror:
| and | heard my enemy say: Twas
most unfortunate and l do heartily re-
| greet 1t, Mr.. Jennifer. | saw not why
he had lowered his point. Can | say
| more ?"
| How Richard Jennifer made answer
| to this lie | knew not; nor do | know
| aught else, save by hearsay, of any
| further happening in that grassy glade
| beneath my fathers oaks. For the big
| German blade was shrewd blood
| letter, and | fell asleep what time my
| lady was trying to stanch with her ker-
chief the ebbing tide of life.