The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-11-04

MIR. Webster Is away. He has left
a note saying that he will be detained
on Il matter Ut Importance till near
morning. But | will engage tina, TIE
shall be on hand. | shall not 60 TO
bed. but await your coming after you
have seen the other party to this af-
fair"
De Curier went away In u bad humor.
This is Il very strange affair."" he
said to himself. I'm which l have be-
come entangled. am the bearer Of
a challenge from a man l have never
seen to a man he has never seen and
who has never seen him. the whole
matter being started by a woman
have seen before tonight and
because she enters a public dining
room alone and is stared at for doing
so. l wonder if she really has a hus-
band or If she is going to get me kill
ed in her behalf. Pouf! don't like
this condition at ALL"
Nevertheless he visited Won Hollub
and arranged the meeting. as the lady
had desired the weapons to be foils.
AACA uC ouo lSPOkNSo II
matter to the lady.
"And now, madame" he added, "hav
ing arranged matters for you. l pre-.
sumo | may be excused from further
participation in this affair"
''If you so desire it. but my husband
and myself are strangers in Paris. and
when he goes on to the field he must
go unattended"
"In that case, madame, l shall serve
him. I will call at $50 O'clock"
DE Cuiier left her more than ever
dissatisfied with his position. Every,
thing indicated that Mrs. Webster was
what she pretended to be-she was
| stopping at a first class hotel, a favor
lite hostelry for Americans, and this
partly explained her presence unat-
tended in the restaurant. but not sat-
isfactorily. Though American women
had great privileges in their own coun-
try. they did not usually avail them
selves Of them in foreign lands. Well.
the morning would bring developments.
| He would go home and snatch a few
| hours sleep before going on to the
ground.
At half past 5 in the morning he call
ed at the Hntel Maurice and gave the
sleepy concierge his card for MIR. and
Mrs. Webster. The man brought him
a note signed by the lady saying that
Mr. Webster had gone to the rendez-
vons and that she was SO overcome by
the painful episode that she was I'M
able to leave her bed.
De I.uriea' was aSlonished. Ma fol-
he exclaimed. What il marvellous con-
dition!. Ttss man. nay principal. whom
I have never T. and whom his oppo-
! neEt has never Z is so eager to
avenge the insult to his wife that he
has no patience to wait for his second.
Mon Dieu. must see the end of this
affair OF I shall die of curiosity"
Jumping into his carriage, be told
the driver to take him as quickly as
possible to the Bots de Boulogae. Ar
rived at the place of meeting. he saw
Won Hollub standing with a foil in his
hand. while a figure. also armed. wear
ing a long. lowing cloak. was approach
ing him. De Curier sprang from his
carriage and advanced toward them.
AS he reached them the cloaked figure
threw Off the outer garment and ap-
peared iu Il costume usual to women
who practice fencing. Astonished as
De Curier was. be vas still more SO
when he recognized Mrs. Webster.
"Ah. monsieur" she said. glancing IL:
the newcomer. ''you are late. My has
band III returning in time, am
obliged to sake his place."
Without waiting for preliminaries.
she attacked Won H0llub.
Now. Count Herman Won Holluh.
who was Il trusted servant of the king
Of Prussia. had spent his life in dipio-
matte work. ignoring those martial
practices that have always pertained
to the nobility Of that kingdom. He
knew very little about the art Of self
defense in any form. Astonished and
chagrined at seeing the woman wi,o
had the grievance against him come To
| light him instead of her husband. he
lost his head. All he could do. all he
tried to do. was to avoid the thrusts Of
his opponent.
In 4, few seconds his weapon had
been wrenrhed from his grasp and.
| flying in an arc above his head. landed
u dozen yards away from him. The
woman then put the point OF her f'it
against his breast.
Count" she said. you do not kn"w
me. am the wife Of Cart d.. "ne of
the leaders of the late revolution III
Prussia !Ac married M" in Ne"
York shnrti: before the revolution.
and have lived in your country.
You have t'O,s:p here to secure t:"
consent of she French government 4"
take my husband back to Prussia I"
be- tried for treason. You have him in
| prison and were ia start today with
him for Berlin. Give me your order
| for his release and your written word
that you will not proceed further
against him or ! will kilt you"
The count looked into the woman's