Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-18

dispensable.'
Il was sure you would meet me-" said
Marigny, smiling nonchalantly as he lighted
the cigarette again. Il have arranged
everything, even the attendance of witnesses
and doctor. We cross over to Calais by
the night boat from Dover, pick up the
others at the Hotel du PLACE, at which they
will arrive to- night, and drive straight to the
place. There is no prospect of outside inter
ference This is not the sort of duel that
either of the combatants is anxious to adver-
tise broadcast. My friends will be discre-
ton itself, and l need hardly express my
conviction that you will not make known in
England the purpose of our journey. OF
course, it is open to you to bring one of your
own friends if you think fit but my notion
is that these affairs should be settled dis
creetly in the presence of the smallest pos
sible number of onlookers. | shall, of course
satisfy you as to the standing of the gentle
men have summoned from Paris. On the
table there are their kilograms accepting my
invitation to meet us at Calais. When you
came in | was busy putting my wretched
affairs in order At least | have given you
proof of my belief in your courage. | even
60 SO far as to say that / regret most pro-
foundly the necessity that has driven me to
use threats against charming lady in order
to wiring a challenge out of you. Of course,
between ourselves, | know perfectly we'll
that there is not word of truth in the state
ments | have pledged myself to make; but
that defect in nowise detracts from their
efficiency. Indeed, it commends them the
more to the real purveyor of scandal
THE door slammed behind Medenham.
A dreadful doubt assailed him that if he
did not hurry away from that haunting voice
he might be tempted to forget himself-and
what torture that would mean to Cynthia!
He was indeed prey to complex emotions
which rendered him utterly incapable of
forming well balanced judgment. Nothing
more illogical, more i'll advised, more thor
oughly unsuited to achieve its object, than
the proposed duel could we'll be mooted; yet
the sheer malgnity of Marigny' ruffianly de-
vice to attain his ends had impelled him to
that final madness. Notions of right and
wrong were topsyturvy in his brain. He was
carried along on a current OF passion which
overturned every barrier imposed by sense
and prudence. 1t seemed reasonable to one
who had often risked life and limb for his
country, who, from mere love of sport, had
faced many an Infatuated tiger and skulking
lion, that he should be justified by the eter
nal law in striving to rid the world of this
ultrabeast. He had not scrupled to kill a
POISONOUS Sfldke-Wfly SHOULD ne IlllCll I1OIH
killing man whose chief equipment was the
poison laden fang of Islander? Happily, he
could use a sword in a fashion that might
surprise Marigny most woefully. If he did
not succeed in killing the wretch, he would
surely disable him, and the thought sent
such a thrill of fierce pleasure through his
veins that he resolutely closed his eyes to
the lamentable results that must follow his
own death.
Cynthia, at least, would not suffer; that
was all he cared for. No matter what hap
pened, he did not imagine for one moment
that she would marry AIarigny. But that
eventuality hardly troubled him at all. The
Frenchman had chosen the sword, and he
must abide by its stern arbitrament.
"Home!" he said to Dale, finding his re-
tainers eye bent inquiringly on him when he
reached the street. The word had curiously
detached sound in his ears. Homel" 1t
savored of rank lunacy to think that within
a few short hours he would be standing on
foreign soil, striving desperately with naked
steel to defend his own life and destroy
another's.
To be concluded next Sunday
FOSSILS AND GOLD