The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-09-30
Copyright. 1903. by Stanley J. weyma'
CHAPTER v1-Continued.

CHAPTER VI-Continued.
The nan and the horse! The col
onel began to understand that some
thing more than W~antonness a in
spired Payton's conduct the previous
night. He had had an interest In nip
ping the inquiry in the bud, and,
learning who the colonel was, had
acted on the instant and with consld-
cradle presence of mind.
Until 1--WE minutes before 3 o'clock.
Then, attending to the directions he
had received. he made his way to a
particular door q little within the !
barrack gate.
Had he glanced up at the windows
he would have seen faces at them;
moreover, a suspicious ear might have
caught a s~currying of feet, mingled
with stifed laughter. But he did not
look up. He did not seem to expect
to see more than he found when he
entered-a great bare room, with its
floor strewn with saWdust and It's walls
adorned here and there by a gaunt
floor. engaged apparently in weighing
one foil against another, was a stout,
dark man, whose light and nimble step
gave the lie to his weight.
Certainly there came from. a half
opened door at the end Of the room ~
stealthy sound as of rats taking cover.
But Colonel John did not look that
upon the maitre d'armes, who bowed
low to him. Clicking his heels to-
gether and , :nding his palms in the
French fashion. Good morning, sare,"
he said, his southern accent unmis-
taxable. Il make you welcome"
The colonel returned his salute less
deliberately.
1.-THE maitre d'armes, Lemoine?" he
said.
Yes. sare; that is me. At your
service"
81 am a stranger in Tralee. and Il
have been recommended to apply to
you. You are, I am told, accustomed
with the small sword?" the
Frenchman answered, with the same
gesture Of the open hands. 1T is my
profession"
II am DESTROYS of brushing up my
acknowledgements as it u.s."
"a ware good notion" the fencing
master replied, his black. beady eyes
twinkling. Ware good for me. Ware
good also for you. Always ready. is
the gentleman's motto, and to make
himself ready his high recreation. But,
doubtless, sare," with a faint smile.
you are proficient and I teach you
nothing. You come but to sweat a
little"
AT time" Colonel John replied
with simplicity, 81 was fairly prof.
Gent. Then-this happened. He held
out his right hand. you see?"
"Ah!" the Frenchman said in a low
tone, and he raised his hands. THAT
hold with that?" he added. inspecting
the hand with interest. He was a Diff
ferent man.
80. So" the colonel replied cheer
fully.
Not strong, eh? 1t is not possible"
Not very strongly" the colonel as
sented. His hand, like Bales, lacked
two fingers.
Lemoine muttered something under
his breath and looked at the colonel
with a wrinkled brow. Tut, TUT" he
said, "and how long are you like that,
Seven years."
pity, pity!" Lemoine exclaimed.
Again he looked at his visitor with
perplexed eyes. After which, "Peste!"
he said suddenly.
The colonel stared.
1T is not right" the Frenchman
continued frowning. "I-no! Pardon
pies
If the Colonel had been listening he
might have caught the sound of a
warning cough. proceeding from the
direction of the inner room; but he
had his back to the half opened door.
But it," he objected, II am willing to
pay for an hours practice"
Another day. sare. Another day, if
you will"
But I shall not be here another day.
l have but today. By and by" he
continued with a smile, as kindly as it
was humorous. Il shall begin to think
that you are afraid to pit yourself
against a manchot!"
"Oh, la! La"
John retorted. 'If you please"
Against one Of the walls were three
chairs arranged in a row. Before each
TODD a %bootblack, and beside it a pair
of boot hooks; over it, fixed in the wall,
We're two or three pegs for the occu-
pants wig, cravat and cane. The Col
onel, without waiting for a further
answer, took his seat on one Of the
chairs, removed his boots, and then
his coat, vest and wig, which he hung
on the pegs above him.
"And now" he said gaily, as he stood
up. the mask!"
He did not see the change, but as
ne rose, the door of the room behind
him became fringed with grinning
faces. Payton, the two youths who had
leaned from the window of the inn, a
couple OF older officers, half a dozen
A0s eAA ~ SASAS' III
grave could hardly keep the more hill
arious in order. The stranger who
fought no duels, yet thought that a
lesson or two would make him a
match for a dead-hand like Payton-
was ever such a promising joke con-
ceived?
The Frenchman made no further de-
muir. He took his mask, and proffered
a choice of foils to his antagonist,
whose figure, freed from the heavy
coat and vest of the day, seemed more
supple than the Frenchman had ex-
pected. "a pity, a pity" the latter
saic to himself ITO have lost, if he
ever was professor. the joy Of life"
Are o ready?" Colonel John
asked.
"At your service, sare," the maitre
d'armes replied. che two advanced
each a foot. they touched sw-"ds, Their
saluted with that graceful and cour-
teous engagement which to an ignor-
ant observer is one Of the charms of
the foil. AS they did SO, and steel
grated on steel, the ea~vesdroprers in
the inner room ventured softly from
ambush-like rats issuing forth.
They were on the broad grin when