The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-02-17
Copyright. 1909. by Stanley J. Weyman.
CHAPTER XxIII-(Contined.)


Asgill had no wish to precipitate 9
quarrel. Only in the last resort had M
determined to fling off the mask. Blu
at that word coward" though he knew
1t to be well deserved, his temper
slapped by the knowledge that lovt
was forcing him into a position which
reason repudiated. gave way, and ne
spoke his true thoughts.
What a bully you are. Payton.' hs
said in his slowest tom Sure, anc
you insult the mans sister in your
drink"
What's that to your" =.
you insult the mans sister" Asgil
persisted coolly, land because he treats
you like the tipsy creature you are
you'd kill him like a dog" !.
Payton turned white. And you, too
What in heavens name is amiss with
you, man, this morning? Are you
mad?"
"Ill not heal the word coward used
Of the family I'll soon be one Of" As
gill returned, speaking on the spur OF
Of the moment, and wondering at him
self the moment he had made the state
ment. That's what I'm meaning. Dc
you see? And IL o are for repeating
the word, more by token. it'll be all
the breakfast you'll have. for I'll cram
1t down your ugly throat"
Payton stared, divided between rage
and establishment. But the former was
not slow to get the upper hand, and
enough said" he replied. IF you are
willing to make 1t good you'll be COM
ing this way"
"Willingly," Asgill answered.
"Ill have one of my men for witness.
Ay, that / will. l do not trust you, Mr..
Asgill, and that's fiat. Get you whom
you please. In five minutes. In the
garden, then?"
Asgill nodded. The Englishman
looked once more at him to make sure
that he was sober; then he turned on
court yard. Asgill remained alone.
He had taken the step there vas
no r~etracing. He had cast the dice
and the next few minutes would decide
whether 1t was for life or death. The
sunshine lost its warmth and grew
pale; the hills lost their color and their
beauty as he reflected that he might
never see the one or the other again,
might never return by that lakeside
road by which he had come-as he re-
membered that all his plans for his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and they were many
and clever, might end this day, this
morning, this hour! 1t might well be,
for the odds were great against him.
that 1t was to this day that all his life
had led up; hat life by which men
would by and by judge him, recalling
this ehicane and that extortion, thank
ing God that he was dead, or perhaps
n here and there struggling his
shoulders in good natured regret.
Faith, Mr.. Asgill," cried a voice in
his ear. IT'S IL you're i'll, the majors
asking. And, by the power, it's not
very well you're looking this day."
Asgffl eyed the interruptor-it was
Morty O'Beirne-with q sternness
which his pallor made more striking
to fight him."
THE deuce you are" the young mar
answered. Now, are you meaning
This morning that ever ISL"
GAY, now. Where is
He stopped on the word, and was
| silent. Instead, he looked across the
court yard in the direction of the house
II he might see her again. If he Nigh,
speak to her. But no. Yet-was II
certain that she knew-that she un.
derstood? And II she understood
the meeting well-nigh without hope
aware how large, how very large, were
the odds against him?
But faith, and it's no Jest fightine
him. the the least bit in life of what
I've heard be true!" Morty said, a cloud
on his face. He looked uncertainty from
Asgill to the house and back. us it tc
be doing anything you want me?"
Il want you to come with me and see
1t out" Asgill said. He wheeled
b~rusquely to the garden gate, but when
he was within a pace Of it he paused
and turned his head. mr.. O'Beirne,'
he said, I'm going in by this gate, and
it's not much to be expected I'll come
out any way but feet first. Will you
be telling her. If you please. that ]
knew that same?'"
Il WILL" Morty answered, genuinely
distressed. but I'm asking is there no
other way?"
There is none." Asgill said. And he
opened the gate.
Payton was waiting for him on the
path under the yew trees, with two OF
his troopers on guard in the back
ground. He had removed his coat and
vest, and stood, a not ungraceful figure
In the sunshine, bending his rapier and
feeling its point with his thumb. He
was doing this when his eyes, surprised
his opponents entrance, and, without
desisting from his employment, he
smiled.
II h others courage had begun to
wane that smile would have restored
II. For II aroused in him q stronger
passion than fear-the passion of ha-
tired. He saw in the man before him,
the man with the cruel smile, a demon
who. in pure malice, without reason
and without cause, would take his life,
would rob him Of Joy and love and sun
shine, and hurl him into the blackness
of the gulf. n he was seized with a
rage at once fierce and deliberate. This
man, who would kill him and whom he
saw smiling before him, he would kill!
He thirsted to set him foot upon his
throat and squeeze, and squeeze the life
out OF him! These were the thoughts
that passed through his mind as he
paused to throw off the encumberinp
coat. Then he advanced, drawing his
weapon as he moved, n fixing his
eyes on Payton; who, for his part
reading the others thoughts in his face
for more than once he had seer tha,
LOOKOUT himself on his guard with
out a word.
Asgill had no more than the rudi-
mentary knowledge of the sword which
was possessed In that day by all who
wore 1t. He knew that, given time anC
the decent o~bservances Of the fencine
school, he would be a mere child IL
Payton's hands; that II would matter
nothing whether the sun were on thi.
sid or that. or his sword the longer OF
the shorter by an inch.
The moment he was within reach
therefore, and his blade touched tn,
others, he rushed in, ~lunging fiercely a.
his opponents breast me trusting L
the vigor Of his attack n the circular
sweep of his point to protect himself
Not seldom has a man skilled In tn,
subtleties of the art found himself con,
FUSED n overcome by this mode o