The Glenwood post., 1908-09-26

open-eared audience which crowded
around them.
"She did go with me-" continued the
runaway.
1T looks like 1t this morning. II
she went with you. how did she come
to be on yonder ship while you were
here?"
Strathgate laughed evilly.
"If you must know it, my lord, your
wife fled in my company"
Damn you!" cried Darlington.
But Strathgate went on without
needing.
AN accident, broken coach wheel
stopped our journey. ! rode on ahead
to make arrangements for our passage
to some happier land on yonder ship.
Lady Ellen elected to go by water
Il don't believe a word of it." re.
turned Darlington. 'If it were true"
asked my lord again. 81 ask you
why you were not on the ship?'
Il oversight myself this morning.
with the consequences which you see."
You haven't seen the end of those
consequences, my Lord Strathgate,
continued Darlington.
"No?"
Not by any means. Well settle
the question as to which of us is to
live"
And have Lady Elem" interrupt.
ed Strathgate.
Darlington whipped out his pistol
Another word like that and I'll
kill you without giving you a chance
for defense"
You threatened to murder me on
the wharf an hour or so ago." and
Strathgate. equally. What prevents
you from doing 1t now?"
"A thing of which you know moth
ing" answered Darlington.
"And what is that, pray?"
"A sense of honor"
Indeed" answered the earl, 81 had
understood that your honor was in
Lady Ellen's keeping"
The sweat stood out on Carrington's
face. He locked his jaws until the
muscles rose like whipcords. He was
under the strongest possible con
otia u man may pul upOu niilseil
My honor is in her ladyship's keep
ing" he said slowly at last, "and an
confident that she will never put 1t al
the hazard of blackguard like your
self"
This time it was Strathgate who
gave way.
You have another pistol at your
IoIt - T,I,
end of this boat and the other. Well
see then who has the right to live and
love"
81 dishonor myself" said Caring
ton, rising and abandoning the tiller
which was instantly grasped by one
of the crew. by meeting you in this
way, but I'll do 1t. Here!"
He extended one of the pistols.
Il would prefer choice" said
Strathgate, not extending his arm tc
take it.
"As you WILL" returned Darlington
extending both of them to him "Yor
honor me in doubling my good faith.
he remarked as Strathgate took one
of the pistols. "Haight," said Caring
toH, tame your StdtlOu dHnlQSnlp, Ou'
of range, and count three. There
shall De no firing done by either of us
until after the word three Are you
agreed, Lord Strathgate?"
Entirely" returned the other, step
ping forward.
But Master Haight did not propose
to have his vessel turned into fielt
of honor, which would be field OF
blosd. He interposed a vigorous OBJ
lection.
Gentlemen" he began, I'll have nc
murder done here"
There shall be none," said Caring
ton. "'Tis a fair duel with each mar
chance for his life"
Il don't know about that, my mas
ters," returned the sailor, but say
this: This boats mine. I'm the cap
tain Of it, and I'll have no fightin
aboard. Savin' yer honors' graces, il
can't be done. You agree with me
Cooper? You, Jack? You, Ned?"
"Ay, ay," returned the others, clos
ing about Haight and interposing be
tween the would-be combatants.
CTO BE CONTINUED)