Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-07-10

when he made The unlucky remark.
Are you ready, gsntlemenf" said
Blythsdals, loohng from one to the
other. tIa
Ready" said etrathgate, stepping
lightly forward with appraised sword.
Darlington said nothing, but grimly
came to position. ( ~ t't +
MY principal desires no saluting,"
said Parkman. stepping between the
two men. t-+..
Very good, We are satisfied" re-
turned Blythedals. Lieutenant Park.
man will give the word Engage, and
after that 10 may 60 at 1t when ye
will"
Blythedale drew his own sword
and stepped near the two combatants,
facing each other for all the world like
two tigers waiting to spring at each
others throats. Parkman also
whipped out his sword and took posi-.
ton opposite Blythedale. The doctor
Strengthened up and peered curiously
at the little group.
Ellen's heart stopped Its beating. She
and Deborah lay side by side as close a.
they could get staring through the
leaves.
Parkman looked from one to the
other. Strathgate had q little smile
upon his lips. He bore himself gal
lantly. There was no denying that
His air was one Of indifference, as II
he were slightly bored BY the proceed
ing, although his eyes were shining
Darlington, on the contrary, was very
pale. His lips were compressed, his
brow wrinkled. He looked the per
sonification Of determination and In his
eyes, too, was a light.
The two men stood up. each with his
sword turned downward, the point
resting on his right foot, which wal
slightly advanced and at right angles
to the left foot Each man had hi:
left hand behind his back.
Parkman drew a long breath ant
cried sharply:
Engage"
On the instant two flashes of light
split the air. The next moment there
was sharp ring Of steel, and the mer
stood facing each other with knee:
bent, right arms extended, left arm.
lifted high and the two blades press
ing like stone walls.
Pray now, Debbie," whispered
Ellen, "as you never prayed before!'
This time neither woman hid hel
face. The prayers were all in tn,
heart Save for that ejaculation not ,
Mp moved between them. They stared
- the bird charmed by the snak,
stares at his tormentor.
Darlington was a stronger man thar
Strathgate. He had lived in the ga,
world ut times, a. the other had, bu
there had been long periods OF tn,
sea. He had gained q power of wris
that the other trembled to feel as tn,
blade pressed heavily against his own
But battles with swords are not neces
sarily gained By strength Of arm. Tn,
victory is not always to the strong
sometimes II goes to the swift.
With incredible Quickness Strath
gate engaged his point and lunge,
desperately forward. Darlington pal
! -ied with all the swiftness of whicl
1e was capable, and Just managed b
ward the blow. The blade of his at
versary's sword ripped throgh the sid
OF his shirt, but no blood followed tn
thrust. He had escaped unframed.
Strathgate smiled.
The next timel" he said softly +
himself under his breath.
The next instant he warded easil
a furious return attack by Carrins
ton, and thereafter for perhaps a mil
ute there followed q succession q
thrusts and parties with marvelou
rapidity.
Ellen knew something about swor
play. She was no mean fencer he
self, and she saw with an anguishe
heart that Lord Strathgate was for,
ing the attack. and that her husban
lad all he could possibly do to kee
from being spitted upon his adve
sary's nimble sword. Rumor had nc
exaggerated strathgates wonderf,
mastery. His blade was like a Ian
bent fame and played like lightnin
about her husbands weapon. De
perate as was the task, however, Ca
rington just managed to avoid thes
deadly thrusts. His shirt had bee
cut In half dozen places, and thi
splotch Of blood showed where one {
the thrusts had grazed the skin, br
he was practically scatheless.
i He confined himself after that frs
return to defense, not from choic,
but because there was nothing else
do. Strathgate pressed him unme
eifully and gave him no opportunit
whatsoever for q return. It wa
thrust, thrust, thrust! with the rspi
ity of thought itself. Indeed, so fierc
50 sustained, 30 desperate was STRAIT
gates attack that the perspiratio
beaded upon his forehead, his breat
came quick.
Ellen, who had eyes for everything
noted 1t, so, too, did Darlington.
for my lord, he had stood to It iii
the man and sailor that he was. H
had not given ground one instant, an