The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-09-30

- - 80 a. A. AZ SNN~A
lent, sare. But the pointing finger is
not-is mott"
Il do my BEST the colonel answered,
with cheerful resignation. Shall we
engage again?"
AT you pleasure"
The Frenchman's eye no longer twin
killed.; his gallantry was on its mettle.
He was grave n severe, fixing his
gaze on the colonel's attack, and re-
naming blind to the mods and shrugs
of his patrons in the background. Again
he touched the colonel, and, alas,
, again, with an ease he could not mask.
Colonel John, a little breathed, and
perhaps a little chagrined also, dropped
his point. Some one coughed, n an
other Uttered.
Il think he Will need another lesson
or two" Payton remarked, loudly
enough for all to hear.
The man whom he addressed made
an inaudible answer The colonel
turne dtoward them.
nd- new hand" Payton added in
the same one.
Even for his henchmen the remark
was almost too much. But the colonel,
strange to say, seemed to find nothing
offensive in 1t. On the contrary, he
replied to 1t.
THAT was precisely" he said, what
manned hand-"happened to me. And
l did my best to procure one"
Did O succeed?" Payton retorted
In an insolent tone.
i some extent" the colonel replied,
In the most matter-of-fact manner
And he transferred the foil to his left
hand.
Give you four to one," Payton re-
Joined, "Lemoine hits you twice before
you hit him once"
Colonel John had anticipated some of
the things that had happened. But he
had not foreseen this. He was quick to
see the use to which he might put 1t,
and 1T was only for an instant tina he
hesitated. Then -Four to one?" he re-
peated.
Five, II you like" Payton sneered.
IF you will wager" the colonel said
slowly, eff you will wage the gray
mare you were riding this morning.
Payton uttered an angry oath. What
do you mean?" he said.
Against 10 guineas," Colonel John
continued carelessly, bending the foil
against the floor and letting 1t spring
to it's length again, IT will make that
wager"
Payton scowled at him. He was
aware OF the others interest in the
mare and suspected that he had come
to town to recover her. And caution
would have had him refuse the snare.
But his toadies were about him, he had
long ruled the roost, to retreat went
against tile grain; while to suppose
thai n man had the least chance
against Lemoine was absurd. Yet he
hesitated. What do you know about
the mare" he said, coarsely.
Il have seen her. But OF course, If
you are afraid to wager her, sir"
Payton answered to the spun Bah!
Afraid?' he cried contemptuously.
Done with you'll"
That is settled" the colonel replied.
II am Qf Un11r. cay.r,Ion ~ -
turning to the maitre d'armes. ST
trust" indicating that he was going to
fence with his left hand, that this will
not embarrass your"
No! But it is interesting, ware in
teresting." the Frenchman replied. 81
have encountered les gauchers before.
and-
He did not finish the sentence, but.
saiuting, he assumed an attitude a lit.
tie more wary than usual. The foils
Ieit n another, and ooh, va vail" he
muttered. Il understand the drolltn
For half a minute or SO the faces OF
the onlookers reflected only a mild sur
prise, mingled with curiosity. But the
rencers had not made more than half
q dozen serious passes before this was
and another more intent. A man who
no fencer, and therefore no Judge.
spoke. A fierce oath silenced him. An
other murmured an exclamation under
his breath. Payton's face became
slowly q dull red. At length Hal"
cried one, drawing in his breath. And
he was right. The maitre d'armes but
ION. sliding under the coloneps blade.
had touched his opponent. At once Lee
nome sprang back out of danger, the
two points dropped, the two fencers
stood back to take breath.
For a few seconds the ~colonel's cha
grin was plain. Then he conquered the
feeling and smiled. 81 fear you are too
strong for me-" he said.
Not at ALL" the Frenchman made
answer. Not at all! It was fortune.
sare. 1 know not what you were with
your right hand, but you are with the
LETT ware strong, Of the first force. 1T
is certain"
! Payton, an expert, had been among
the earliest to discern the coloners
skill. With a sudden sinking OF the
heart he had foreseen the figure he
would Y II Lemoine were worsted; he
g endured a moment OF great fear.
But at this success he choked down his
apprehension. One more hit, one more
success on Lemoine's part, and he had
the wager! But he could no long
er bear himself carelessly. While he
none. the two contestants had crossed
their foils again. Their tense features,
their wary movements. made it clear
they played for a victory OF which
neither was confident.
Apart from the wager, it was clear
that IL Lemoine had o met his match.
h captain had; and doubtless MANY
in the room on whose toes Payton had
troddcn felt secret JOY, pleased that the
bully of the regiment was like to meet
with a reverse and a master.
Whatever their thoughts, a quick
rally riveted all eyes on the fencers.
For a ome thrust and parry fol-
ono another so rapidly that the
unframed gaze could not distinguish
them or trace h play. The spectators
held their breath. expecting q hit With
each second. But the rally died away
again neither Of the players had got
through the others guard, and now
q little winded, giving ground and Le-
moline pressing him.
Then, no saw precisely how 1t
.shappened- whiff-whafY. Lemoine's
weapon few from his hand and struck
the wall with q whirrs and 4 3angle.
The fencing master wrung his wrist.
Z" he cried hefWRe hts faefh.a