The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-09-05

VA VINE sLdnuluS on Ine table before
the duelist and threw it in his face.
Ncrmindin paIed. This was the first
time in his life that he had been thus
deliberately insulted. Wiping the wine
or his face, he half arose and asked:
Who are you, slr?"
THE devil"
Take OF your mask"
That l will do when 1 have killed
you. You shall look upon my face as
you pass below tc my kingdom"
II do not fight with unknown per
sons"
You shall do so now or L will kiE
you where you sit.'
'And II fight?"
II Will kill you anyway"
Those sitting about noticed that Nor
mindin was not his usual self. At
tempting to look unconcerned, he put
his thumb and finger on the stem of a
wineglass and raised it to his lips.
His hand trembled.
when and where can my seconds
find your" he asked of his enemy.
Now and here" Turning to two
gentlemen in evening dress who had
entered with him, he added. These
wiz accommodate you" Then he
went and sat down at a table in a
corner of the room while the arrange.
ments were being made. Normindiu
wished delay. but the stranger said
Now" Normindin, however, though
the challenger, was allowed the choice
of weapons. for his enemy said that
since he was going to kill him It
made no difference with what weapon
he did the deed. This added to Nor.
mindin's loss Of nerve. He had In
tended to choose a short sword, with
which few persons were practiced and
with which he was an expert, but he
had never before known a case where
the challenger had been given the
choice of weapons. This was supreme
Indifference.
Within an hour after the insult had
been given the principals were fight
ing in large unfinished room form
ing the whole top story OF dwelling
house, lighted by lamps. The stranger
still wore his devils dress and was
masked. Short swords were in the
hands of both adversaries. The stran.
ger showed skill in fencing, but not
extraordinary skill. Normindin was
plainly out of nerve. This made an
even contest of it. They fenced for
some time without either getting the
advantage. But there was a certain
spring in the stranger which increased
while Normindn was heavy and grow.
ing heavier There was something
uncanny in the devils costume. The
mouth of the mask was cut to repre-.
sent leer, and through two holes
above pair of glittering eyes looked
out, 1t seemed to Normindin, In ma
licious triumph.
You can't kill me, nor you," said
Normindin presently. 1T is a draw"
Normindin's seconds looked at each
other in surprise.
81 shall kill you," replied the other
confidently.
"when?"
Now"
Gathering his strength, he made a
lunge and showed his sword up to the
hilt in Eormindin's breast. As Nor
mIndin fell the stranger took or his
mask.
IT am the friend" ne said, ''of young
Alphonse MERCER. the last OF your VIC
tins. In killing him you broke the
heart of the young girl to whom he
was engaged. determined to avenge
her. knew you to be only vulnerable
through your nerve. 1 have attacked
your nerve and have beaten you. am
but a fair swordsman."
Normindin made no reply, for he
was dying. He continued to stare at
the speaker till his eyes became glaz-
ed. Then the latter. handing his
weapon to his second, got into a car
rlage and was driven away
This was neither the first nor the
last act in drama of which it was
part. The first Is this:
Alphonse MERCER, Il young man who
had Just come of age. wooed and won
Eugene Iefevre, the daughter of
wealthy cotton broker of New Orleans.
Another sutton was Captain Roswell
Tracy of the United States engineers,
on duty in the Crescent City and fir.
teen years older than MERCER. When
Tracy heard that his successful rival
had fallen victim that Normindln
role he had played In Paris, he began
a series Of Investigations, with view
to furnishing the murderer He found
that NormIndlD was wonder with
every weapon. Proceeding, however
on the theory that such men are de-
pendent on their nerve, he resolved to
make an effort In that direction.
All New Orleans rejoIced that the
Frenchman had been put out OF the
way from doing any more harm, and
one of the first to hear OF the duel
was Eugene Lefevre. OF the meet.
ing after 1t occurred between her and
Captain Tracy there is no mention,
but it must have been one to stir tho
deepest emotions IN the young girl.
Certain 1t Is that at the expiration Of
a year Miss Lefevre became Mrs. Cap
tain Tracy. ESTHER BRENToN.