Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1910-05-26

He struck you!" cried the Korean.
Il could spit on his corpse. could
spurn it with my foot!"
Il have no doubt you could, thereby
displaying your devotion to my un-
worthy self. Your plan is imprao-
ticable, however, for the simple rea-
son that there is no corpse. RomanoH
is alive and we'll at the present mo-
ment and is no doubt gloating over my
discontinue"
He is not even wounded?" asked
the boy.
Not even wounded"
But why did you not kill him when
you had the opportunity? 1t surely
would not have been difficult to hit
that great hulk of flesh. Is 1t then
safe to strike an American gentleman
in the face?"
Not always. My reasons for not
killing him are too complicated for Q
boy to understand. They involve .
lady's sanction of duel, and then her
subsequent multiplying of that sanction.
They involve, in general, lady's re-
quest, which can hardly be overlooked
when she is, in reality, the cause Of
the hatred which made the meeting
necessary. Do you follow me, Wang?"
II think I do" replied the boy.
YEARLY. You spared him because
the princess asked you to. You have
been magnanimous, whatever the cost
to yourself, and given the princess her
admirer, for whom, in his moment Of
extreme peril, she found that she
cared more than she had supposed.
And now you are done with the whole
Romanoff family"
Hardy forgot his pain for the mo-
ment and started at the boy in OPEN
mouthed wonderment.
IF you were not a boy" he said
at last, sinking back on the pillow, II
should think you were a woman Your
Intuition in such matters is positively
marvellous. And now l mustn't talk
too much, for it makes this shoulder
ache like bad tooth must get
well, and we must go back to Sry.
etensk and the store. But there is ono
little thing that l want you to do for
me. Go to the place where the duel
was fought this morning. shall de-
scribe the location exactly to you. Ro-
manor stood near large oak tree.
whose trunk divides about six feet
from the ground into two trunks equal
in size. Look about there and see IL
you can find in the snow a gold cuff
button. 1t is there, and shining
against the white, should be easily
found. Bring it to me as quickly as
possible"
Wang left without another word
Not long after the boys departure
the nurse brought in bouquet Of
priceless orchids, which she arranged
in vase and set on a table near his
bed
AN isvoschik brought them" she
explained to Hardy. Here is the
note that came with them"
She handed him a tiny billet-doux
and raised one of the shades Holding
the note in his teeth, he opened tho
envelope with his good hand. and
| read:
Ny Friend: do not know what your
feelings are toward my unhappy self.
had no idea that this deplorable affair
| would end it has. Will you allow me
| to come in person and express my regret
and do whatever lies in my power to al
leviate your sufferings? Thank God YOU
| are not killed!
ELIzABETHA RoMANovNA-
Tell the man that there is no an
swer at present. said Hardy to the
| nurse.
Wang was gone two hours. When
he arrived he came straight to Hardy's
couch and handed him small gold
! object, with a bit of linen hanging
| to it.
Here 1t is" he said; at is stamped
with the crest of the Romanoff family.
I thought you had lost one of your
OVID cum buttons"
Bring paper and envelopes" Hardy
requested of the nurse, and then
leave us alone for few minutes"
The woman complied.
Now take my indelible pen from
| my waistcoat pocket and write"
Wang sat down at the table and
looked inquiringly at his master.
your highness." dictated Hardy. IT
hope that you will not give youseif the
| slightest uneasiness on my account Ny
wound is n very trifiing matter, from
which 1 shall soon recover. I am great
ly honored by your kind offer to cali
and see me, but must deny myself the
pleasure OF receiving you. can not
| allow you to compromise your exalted
position by thus yielding to the dictates
| of your good heart. VIII you allow me
| to add that I feel I have already tres
passed too far on your good nature and
am quite unwilling to continue the in
fiction? As you have frequently admired
my skill with the pistol, I am incIosing
a little trophy of the same. his high
ness cum button. which I hope win con-
vince you that i have not disappointed
your expectations. VIII you kindly hand
1t to him with my compliments? WISH
| Ing you all happiness In the years to
come. remain
your humble servant.
FREDERICK COURTLAND HARDY"
Wang laughed-a queer. hard little