The daily tribune., 1909-04-23
THEDUEL
BY Ch.fle. s. Red.
(Copyrisht, By DAILY ssory Pub. Coz

pretty Ieet OdnRnuB OV6T tne 6uBS VI
1t. Those feet were encased in bead
ed slippers, and some dark red hose
covered her exquisitely turned ankles.
A red skirt and black bodice with
white lacings completed Wineska's
costume. Her rich brown beauty.
with full red lips half parted in smile.
displayed teeth Of dazzling whiteness.
and with black eyes scintillant Of vo-
luptuous mischief. was the drawing
the girl managed her conquests with
the cleverness Of drawing-room IA
vorite. Even as she sat upon the
table tonight, In the dim light OF the
dance room, and while the tinkle OF
the guitars timed the measure OF the
fandango, two men, each unconscious
Of the other, believed that they were
enjoying singly the favor of the girl,
for each held one of her hands as she
sat between them. And Pedro Ro-
deriguieo, one of them, had held her
In his arms and kissed her an hour
before. The other, Herman Valaquez,
had enjoyed the same privilege the
night before. And now, even as these
two held hands with Wineska, her
eyes were following the tall figure in
the room who was not one OF ier coun-
trymen; and in the sparkle of her
black orbs were the charm of the sep
pents, the gentleness OF the doves and
the passion OF the jungle tigers.
For once the girls cleverness lacked
comprehensiveness. AS the stranger
absorbed her attention, Pedro and Her
nan were for the moment forgotten;
and each of these, craving her notice,
made movement, which brought the
other into view Each observed the
occupation Of the other, and the eyes
of each shot CLEAN of light into
those of the other. Each dropped the
hand that he had been holding, and
both moved toward the door. In the
darkness outside, Pedro and Herman
crossed dirks. but without an utter
ance further than the hiss Of labored
breath. The blades for moment were
laid face to face, fearful caress that
meant murderous things in the posi-
bliltes OF the duel that must follow.
But the place was not to be here
blood must not stain Wineskas feet.
One Of the men led the way. Out OF
the town and into an old trail, rug
ged way that led toward the noun
tains, moved the two in single file, on
a silent march. The occasional crack
ling OF dry twigs broke sharply upon
the silence, but nothing else was there
to indicate that two human beings
were moving among the shrubbery.
1t was already past midnight, but
the trail was leading upward, by wind
ing stages and over rugged, broken
lodges of stone. upward toward the top
Of series of cliffs. The climbing be-
came difficult, but the duelists kept
steadily forward until the top of the
highest cliff was reached This was
high above the surrounding country,
and the ledge was little more than the
crest of huge stone.
Finally Pedro, the leader. halted and
faced about. He stood within foot
of the edge OF the cliff Herman quick
ly stepped forward. The left foot OF
each came forward, until the toe Of
each adversary touched that Of the
other. Then two dirks flashed in the
moonlight that was paling slightly be-
fore the first streahs of dawn. The
blades clinked against each other as
they shot like CLEANS OF lightning to
their work. Thrust and parry. tierce,
low carte, seconde, observing no rule
but opportunity. the keen blades
kissed and rekissed, and In few sec
onds were reeking with blood. But
beyond the clicking Of the steel and
the occasional impact when some blade
would plunge into flesh. there was no
sound. Soon the drip, drip, drip of the
drawn blood OF each of the contestants
made the place where he stood slip
perry and uncertain. But each pair
OF eyes held the other with an un.
swerving gaze: and though each soon
began to realize a growing weakness,
the vigor of the contest was unabated.
Desperation sat upon the Issue and al
lowed no quarter.
Presently. as Herman made a vicious
lunge forward. his foot shot from un
der him and his body reeled from the
! cliff. while Pedro, who had sought to
| parry with equal viciousness. was car
ried over after his adversary. Down.
down. down hundred feet or more
and the duelists landed among the
sharp powders Of another ledge OF
rock. broken in limb. almost lifeless
unable TO move muscle below the
waist, but within reaching distance OF
| each other. With dirks still tightly
clasped they sought to renew the con.
test, and began hacking at each other
slowly and with little more effect than
the bringing Of a drop of blood now
| and then.
In the meantime daylight had come.
the sunshine fell among the cliffs and
swept over the valley below. Where
the duelists had lodged was inacces.
sible to any living thing but the birds
OF the air. Below them opened n
thousand feet OF space. A huge vul.
t,ire left his eyrie on n distant clIf