Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
BY LOUIS TRACY

the waters edge almost from the base of the hlock
which he stood.
At first his anxious eyes strained through the haze in
van until circing seagus caught his attention
and then he dscerned vague forms slhouetted
against brighter belt of the to the northeast.
Three of the figures were black and motonless; but
two gave eery suggestion of wilderness and movement
Hardly realizing why he should be perurbed Dale
ran forward dragging his bicycle Twice he stumbled
and fell amid the stringy heath grass but he up
again frenzy OF haste and soon was near enough
to the group of men to see that Medenham and
Margny bare headed and in their shirt sleeves, were
fighting with swords.
Dale's eyes were half blinded with perspiration
for he had ridden fast through the mud from Calais and
this final through yielding sand and cingng sedge
exhausting to who seldom walked as many fur
longs as he had covered miles that morning. But
in his panic of distress he fanced that his master was
pressing the Frenchman severely. 1t was childS
play this battle with cold steel The slender venomous
looking blades whrled and stabbed with fearsome vehe
mence, and the sharp rasp of each rposte and parry
rang out with horrible suggeStveneSS IN the moist air
And then he numbered heavily on, Dale thought he
something that turned him sick with terror Almost
hating, he swept hasty hand his eyes-then he
Medenham with arm extended in feint in terce was
bearing heavily on his opponents rapier that his right
foot slipped and he stumbled badly. At Margny
struck with the deadly quickness and certainty of
cobra His weapon pierced Medenhams breast high up
the right side. The stroke true and furious
that the Englishman, already unbalanced was driven
to his back the sand Marigny wrenched the blade
free and stopped with obvious intent to plunge again
through his opponents body A warning shout from
each of the three spectators withheld him. He scowed
vindctively; but dared not make that second mortal
thrust. These Frenchmen whom he had summoned
from Paris bound by rigid code of honor that
would infalibly have caused him to be branded as
a murderer had he completed matters to his salts
faction. Nevertheless, he bent and peered closely
into Medenhams face, gray as the sand on which
he was lying.
Il think it will serve" he muttered to himself MAY
the devil take him but thought he would get the bet
ter of mel"
far from feeling while the doctor knelt to examine Me-
denham's injury He running toward
him. but believed it must be one of the witnesses and
his eyes fell to the stained blade in his hand.
Il rather forgot myself" he began.
PUT the stopped short by blow on the
- angle of the Jaw which stretched him by Meden-
hams side and apparently as feless.
Assuredy Dale not versed in the punctilo of the
duel: but he knew how and where to hit with fist that
hard of his spanners. He put weight
and passion into that punch and scarcely understood
how effective it until he found himself struggling in
the grasp of two excited Frenchnen He cursed both
horrible vengeance all three; but Gained
himself sufficiently to that Count Edouard could
not STIR and his perturbed wits then sought to learn
the extent of his masters injury Still he at Ma
ngny w
stabbed him he was lying there if these pals of yours
hadn't stopped you'll"
At last recovering degree of self possession he
assisted the astounded and rather frightened Frenchmen
to carry Medenham to the waiting carriage One, who
spoke English asked him to help in rendering like
vice to Margny; but he refused with oath, and the
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