The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-07-22

He struck yOu! CRIED the Korean.
81 could spit on his corpse. l could
spurn it with my FOOT"
81 have no doubt you could, thereby
displaying your devotion to my I'M
worthy self. Your plan is imprac-
ticable, however, for the simple rea-
son that there is no corpse. Romanoff
is alive and well 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 it then
safe to strike an American gentleman
in the face?"
Not always. My reasons for not
killing him are too complicated for
boy to understand. They involve a
ladys 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?"
Il think 1 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 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 I mustn't talk
too much, for it makes this shoulder
ache like bad tooth. l must get
WELL and we must go back to Stry-
etensk and the store. But there is one
little thing that want you to do for
me. Go to the place where the duel
was fought this morning. l shall de-
scribe the location exactly to you. Ro-
manoff 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 If
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 a 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 tiny billet-doux
and raised one of the shades. Holding
the note in his teeth, he opened the
envelope with his good hand, and
read:
feelings are toward my unhappy self I
had no idea that this deplorable affair
would end as 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 a small gold
object, with bit of linen hanging
to it.
Here it is" he said; at is stamped
with the crest of the Romanoff family.
| thought you had lost one of your
OVID cuff buttons"
Bring paper and envelopes" Hardy
requested of the nurse, "and then
leave us alone for a 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, ST
hope that you will not give youself the
slightest uneasiness on my account. MY
wound is a very trifiing matter, from
which 1 shall soon recover. 1 am great
ly honored by your kind offer to call
and see me. but 1 must deny myself the
pleasure of receiving you. L 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 1 feel 1 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. 1 am iuclosing
a little trophy Of the same, his high
ness cum button, which I hope will con-
vince you that have not disappointed
your expectations. VIII you kindly hand
it to him with my compliments7 Wish
ing you all happiness in the years to
come, remain
your humble servant
FREDERICK CORTLAND HARDY"
Wang laughed-a queer, hard little
laugh of mingled exultation and hate.
without waiting for any further direc-
tions from his master, he put the cu6
button in the envelope with the note,