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

was no stranger y The held OF honor,
but be had never 1Assd q sword 90 i'm,
bued with vsnomcus life % that that
slivered along hh blade this morning.
Yet he imagined that strathgate had
done his best Ne had shot his bolt
He could DO no better than he had
done. and there began 10 come into
Carrington's mind Q sense Of mastery.
Again he met stssthgate's furious a.
tack. This time Il seemed to Car
rington that the Onslaught was less
rapid and less dangerous. Probably
this was misapprshsnsion and the
fact that Darlington parted the vi.
cious thrssts moro easily may have
been. due to Q growing sense Of tamil
iarity with Strathgats's method.
Btu StrathgAse was not yet spent
There were certain dangerous thrusts
he knew Of, dangerous in that they
exposed the one who used them to q
oounterattack, and dangerous from
their unexpsctedness to one against
whom they were made; consequently,
Strathgate was usually doubtful about
employing them, but Darlington had
confined his attention simply to parry.
ing, save the first thrust, and Strath.
gate, thinking rapidly, determined that
II would be sale to employ this IN
usual stroke. After marvellous
burst Of speed In which he seemed to
have regained al his power, he sud
denly dropped almost upon one knee,
leaving his body uncovered, and thrust
terriAcally upward.
II Darlington had been returning
stroke for stroke, that moment had
been Strathgate's last As it was, the
parry was rather slowly executed and
Strathgate's point got fairly home in
Carrington's side. 1t was not aShrust
through the body nor was 1t a Craze.
II was betwixt the two.
Strathgate sprang violently back.
ward as Darlington made an ineffec.
tive reply with his weapon.
The two faced each other once more.
stop, gentlemen" cried Blythedale
and Parkman in one moment, inter.
| vanipg hatwaar @ho &ro
"Nevinson!" called out Parkman.
The surgeon came bounding for.
ward.
"Tis naught," cried Darlington
waving them aside. "See!"
Only q flesh wound" said Nevin.
son, examining it quickly.
Back, gentlemen, you are giving
Lord Strathgate q breathing space"
II am of the opinion that enough
has been DONE" began Blythedale
for honor"
Not while one Of US lives" an
swered Darlington.
my lord speaks for me-" cried
Strathgate; away. gentlemen"
And once more the two men fell on
guard.
Why Ellen had not tainted at that
moment she could not tell. The world
swan before her vision, but by an eff
fort she commanded herself. The bat
tie was not over, and she must see
1t until the end. She had confidence
yet. My lords wound was not a Sc
rious one and certainly now Strath
gate had shot the bolt.
| But no, Strathgate attacked as furi
ously as ever, but this time my lords
tactics were different AS II the sigh
OF his own blood had maddened him
he was not content to parry, but hs
himself assumed the offensive. Like
diamonds the points Of the bladeI
sparkled in circles of light. The rins
OF steel on steSl and the grating as on,
blade fell upon another blade was con
tnuous. II was bewildering to Ellen, be
Wildering to everyone except the two
men. Blythedale and Parkham stoot
staring as IL their eyes would b,
strained from their heads. Theil
breaths came shorter and shorter
Even the cool, phlegmatic doctor came
forward and stood gazing. Ellen ant
Deborah had long since passed tn,
stage OF expression. They lay scarce
ly breathing, their eyes following a,
they could every movement Of tn,
straining men, OF the flashing sword
There was no advantage for eithel
OF the combatants yet, save tina
thrust Of Strathgate's, that is, no out
ward advantage; but Strathgate wa.
beginning to pay the penalty Of hi
life and Of his desperate endeayors 1,
the commencement OF the attack. Hi,
breath came shorter, the sweat stoot
thick upon his brow. Darlington grew
cooler after the first flush Of passion
consequent upon his slight wound. Hi,
strength grew greater. He pressed
Strathgsts harder But the earl wa,
not yet done. Nerving himself, sum
moning all his resolution to his aid
In a series Of brilliant onslaughts h,
sought to bring to a sudden end an al
fair for which, II 1t should be mucl
more prolonged. he knew his strength
would be unequal.
But Darlington met him with
wrist Of steel and blade quicker tina,
the light itself. How II was done
no one could see, but after q series o
rapid thrusts and disengagemsnts, Ii,
spectators saw Strathgate suddenl,
throw up his arms. His blade fel