Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-23
Copyrisht. 1906. T.. ]. Mcbride & Son.

err late sometimes, still parred, and he
found that his adversary's wrist If less
flexible than his own, was of iron lie
changed his tactics, he pressed the fight
less and less, hoping to make the English
man careless, and tempt him to attack
more vigorously. In measure the device
succeeded. Ellerey's point began to Hash
toward him with persistency he mad not
expected. but there was no less caution.
Twice thrice, the baron used feint and
thrust which had seldom missed their in
tention, and had proved the undoing or
many an adversary; but now they were
met in the only manner it seemed that
they could be met successfully. At the
third failure the barons computation or
the Englishman's skill underwent rapid
change. He had met his match. foeman
worthy of his steel. as consummate a
swordsman as himself: and If for moment
there was a sense of disappointment. 1t
was quickly followed by one of keen sat
isfaction not unmingled with a feeling or
friendship for his antagonist There was
that in Baron Petrescu which he had re-
ceived no credit for even from his friends.
What contempt he had had for Ellerey dis
appeared, and a desire to win for the mere
sake of winning took possession OF him.
| All the thoughts which had prompted him
to this duel were forgotten: he was no
longer intent on killing his adversary.
Now to verify his superiority and to prove
1t to this worthy foeman was his ambltlon
and 1t was i'm this spirit he pressed the
contest with increased energy. The night
became full of eyes for him. eager eyes
watchful of his skill. and hushed In the
silence a thousand voices seemed ready 10
proclaim his victory.
There was no such complication OF
thoughts in Ellerey's mind. The baron had
grossly insulted him, had forced this quar-
rel upon him, and he meant to PUNISH MN
If he could. Whether he killed him or not
was of small consequence so long as ne
thoroughly taught him lesson. Yet to
him also the night had eyes. and the air
feeling of movement in 1t, stealthy move
ment that walked on tiptoe and held It's
breath The steel sang. now high, now
low. distinct sounds and continuous. The
breeze rustled the leaves then and again.
but something else was stirring in the
night, now behind him. now to his right
inst where the high hedges inclosed the
lawn Once he heard 1t like the rustic OF
some startled animal among the dried and
fallen leaves and again he heard it, less
distinct perhaps but more pervadirg, as
when a crowd waits spellbound.
The baron's attack grew fercer again;
twice he nearly broke through Ellerey's
defense Just when the sounds were audible
in his ears. The baron's most dangerous
thrusts and the coming of the sounds SEEM
ed to synchronize, as though there were a
connection between them. as though they
were parts of some whole Ellerey almost
expected to read solution OF the mystery
in his opponents eyes, which gHttered In
his pale, moonlit face. But the solution
was not in the baron's eyes-it was behind
him. For one instant Ellerey glanced over
the baron's shoulder to the thick-set hedge
beyond. and in an alley there the moon
light fell for a moment upon pale face
thrust forward a little too eagerly. The
night was alive with eyes.
"It is treachery, then after ALL! Ellerey
burst out suddenly, and as he spoke he
used the baron's own particular feint and
thrust, and his sword point ran swiftly
and smoothly into soft flesh.
With low cry his adversary staggered
back and fell. and in that moment the
night was full of voices. too. Men rushed
with angry cries and gesticulations from