Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-10-01
'pen-eared audience which crowded

open-eared audience which crowded
around them.
She did go with me" continued the
runaway.
1T looks like it 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, Il 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 CarrlnSton.
MOP"
Not by any means. Well settle
the question as to which of us is to
live"
"And have Lady Ellen?" 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 it now?"
"A thing of which you know moth
ing" answered Darlington.
And what is that, pray?"
"a sense of honor
Indeed" answered the earl, Il had
understood that your honor was in
Lady Ellens 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-
straint a man may put upon himself.
My honor is in her ladyship's keep
ing" he said slowly at last, "and am
confident that she will never put it at
the hazard of blackguard like your
self"
This time it was Strathgate who
gave way
You have another pistol at your
belt. Give it to me. Take you one
end of this boat and | the other. Well
see then who has the right to live and
love"
Il 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 it. Here!"
He extended one of the pistols.
Il would prefer a choice" said
Strathgate, not extending his arm to
take it.
"As you WILL returned Darlington,
extending both of them to him. You
honor me in doubling my good faith"
he remarked as Strathgate took one
of the pistols. "Haight," said Caring
ton, take your station amidship, out
of range, and count three. There
shall be 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 a field
of honor. which would be a field of
blood. He interposed a vigorous OBJ
lection.
Gentlemen" he began, "I'll have no
murder done here"
There shall be none" said Caring
ton. "'Tis fair duel with each man |
a chance for his life"
81 don't know about that, my mas
ters," returned the sailor, but l say
this: This boats mine, I'm the cap.
tain of it, and I'll have no fightin'
aboard. Savin yer honors' graces, it
can't be done. You agree with me.
Cooper? You, Jack? You, Ned?"
cay, ay," returned the others, clos
ing about Haight and interposing be-
tween the would-be combatants.
(TO BE CONTINUED1
BALkED AT THE ALTAR.