The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-06-06

lord in crouching Ellen's eyes then!
S~trathgate cid not seem quite so
pleased with himself as he had been
when he made the unlucky remark.
Are you ready, gentlemen?" said
Blythedale, looking from n to the
other.
Ready" said strathgate, stepping
lightly forward with appraised sword.
Darlington said nothing, but grimly
came to position.
my principal desires no %saluting,"
said Parkman, stepping between the
two men.
Very good, we are satisfied" re
turned %Blythedale. Lieutenant Park
man will give the word Engage and
after that We may go at it when ye
will"
Blythedale drew HIS own sword
and stepped near the two com%batants,
facing each other for all the world like
two tigers waiting to spring at each
others threats. Parkman also
whipped out his sword and took posi-
ton opposite B%lythedale. 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 as
they could get staring through the
leaves.
Parkman looked from one to the
other, s~trathgate had a little smile
upon his lips. He bore himself gal
lantly. There was no denying that.
His air was one Of indifference, as If
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
son~i1cation 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 was
slightly advanced and at right angles
to the left foot. Each mar had his
left hand behind his back.
Parkman drew a long breath ant
cried sharply:
"Bngagei"
On the instant two flashes Of lighr
split the air. The next moment Their,
was a sharp ring Of steel, and the mel
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," whisperet
8 Ellen, as you neve prayed before!'
This time neither woman hid he
face. The prayers we're all in tn.
heart. Save for that ejaculation not
lip moved between them. They stare
as the bird charmed by the snak
stares at his tormentor.
"a Darlington was a stronger man tina
1t Strathgate. He had lived in the ga
,r world at times, as the other had, bu
s there had been long periods on tn
sea. He had gained a power of wri;
that the other trembled to feel as tn
d blade pressed heavily against his OWL
But battles with swords are not nece
d, sarily gained by strength Of arm. TIL
ID victory is not always to the stron.
lie sometimes It goes to the swift.
With incredible quiekness STRAIT
gate engaged his point and lunge
Is desperately forward. Darlington pa
=. rled with all the swiftness of whic
he was capable, and just managed
n ward the blow. The blade of his a.
v~ersary's sword ripped throgh the sid
II of his shirt, but no blood followed tn
O. thrust. He had escaped unframed.
Strathgate smiled.
n. The next timel" he said softly
ID himself under his breath.
The next instant he warded easil
50 a furious return attack by Carrin
Or ton, and thereafter for perhaps a mi
n ute there followed a succession
e, thrusts and parties with marveloi
r. rapidity.
Ellen knew something about swol
p play. She was no mean fencer he
te self, and she saw with an anguishc
ST. heart that Lord strathgate was for
ing the attack, and that her husbar
.e- had all he could possibly do to ket
n from being spitted upon his adye
in sary's nimble sword. Rumor had n
xe exaggerated Strathgate's wonderf
I'll mastery. His blade was like a Lar
1t bent fame and played like lightniI
III about her husbands weapon. De
N, perate as was the task, however, Ca
We rington just managed to avoid the
l." deadly thrusts. His shirt had be,
ed cut in half a dozen places, and a tn
nd splotch of blood showed where n
ly the thrusts had grazed the skin, b
he he was practically scatheless.
ed He confined himself after that fir
tn return to defense, not from choiC
nd but because there was nothing else
lis do. strathgate pressed him unmC
to clfully and gave him no opportuni
MT whatsoever for a return. It W
thrust, thrust, thrust! with the RAP
l." ity of thought itself. Indeed, so ierc
SO sustained, SO desperate was STRAIT
lg- gates attack that the perspiratil
beaded upon his forehead, his brea
ed came quick.
nd Ellen, who had eyes for e~verythir
IN noted It, so, too, did Darlington.
en- for my lord, he had stood to it II
en- the man and sailor that he was. ]