Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-31

self with great satisfaction.
Slipping the jewel case into the amplet
pocket OF his coat, he jumped from the
base and made his way back toward the
Queens Head Tavern.
He forced his way through the crowd
and passed down whitehall street TO stone.
About half way 70 Broad street something
made him turn. Two men had come
quickly up behind him. The foremost OF
the two was almost upon Fin, at the mo
ment when his vague intuition had
prompted him to wheel about.
'The Jewel case-hurry!"
Duer laughed. 80 you are ORGANS &C
completes, eh? You will make excellent
figures on the galows, In TRUTH
with an oath, the two men sprang at
him. He backed cautiously into a doorway
to keep his opponents well in front Of him.
In an instant he was fighting for his life
His skill was more than equal to their two
blades and after the first desperate clash
Duer felt his confidence return. He
lunged with fresh vigor.
A curse from the less skilled Of the men
told him that his blade had found the
sword arm Of one Of his adversaries.
Curse youl I'll kill you for THAR Duer
heard him grunt viciously, as his useless
sword cattered to the ground.
He pulled with his left hand at the pistol
he lad hidden within his clothes
Duer sprang forward, breaking down his
opponents guard by the fierceness Of his
attack. In another instant the two men
were running up the street.
Duer felt anxiously for the black box.
He smiled as he felt It safe in his pocket.
He hurried on TO the Queens Head.
"Fraunces," he said, as he entered the
u I'D ffalr hfArr
with a sheet OF paper II you please"
Fraunces took the writing materials to
the table himself, while Duer anxiously
took out the jewel case.
| at least l am judge OF precious
stones" he said to himself. "The training
had in those early days when knew the
exact vaue Of every stone in ormond
Hardins collection of jewels at the sign
of the Buckle and Locket, sometimes comes
in useful. 1t seems so at this moment, at
any rate"
He opened the black box and the flash
of diamonds against black plush met his
eyes. In a special compartment was the
marvellous and far famed Breckson neck
lace of we'll match pearls.
! "A kings ransom" Duer muttered, TAX
| ing the stones over to the window.
The frown on his face deepened.
80, twas over these my brother was dis
honored!"
He turned toward the door leading to the
wine cellar.
wen visit our friend Gregan, think.
1t was not an over safe place to put him,
Master Fraunces, IL there was any wine In
that vault we locked him in"
Fraunces grlnned.
| II would be but a poor ordinary keeper
If committed such indiscretions as that"
Gregan entered the taproom, curslng and
blinking, but when he saw Duer he stopped.
"Slt down and write what 1 tell you,"
Duer commanded.
Muttering vague threats, Gregan obeyed.
Write this: 1 confess that stole the
Breckson necklace and the four diamond
rings IF my father in the year ITO and hid
them. make this confession entirely Of
my own free will, TO be used by George
Duer as he thinks proper"
Gregsn baked.
Write that, and quiclslyl' Dver
snapped rs
Sulkily Gregan finished the writing and
with the utmost reluctance signed his
name
Wait" Duer commanded I'm not quite
through. Write another note, addressed to
General Washington, giving him the jewels
to be used in the furthering Of the Amer
lean cause In this struggle for independence
which is confronting u.s.
Jewels" Gregan gasped. Have YOU
them?
Duer opened the box before him and the
diamonds glittered allurlngly in their vel.
vet nest
Gregan snarled like a wild beast
MY jewels!" he beloved, shaking with
fury.
His sword was where he had left IL, or
the edge of the table. He reached for II
Ike flash and sprang toward Duer.
More calmly, Duer put down the jewsI
box and drew.
stop. gentlemen, 1 emplore you," Fraun.
ces begged.
He could not very well sanction duellins
and murder in his ordinary, and this affai,
looked like both.
Just then there was no one else in tn.
taproom-
Close the door and bolt it," Duer snap.
. ped.
In an instant the men were thrustinE like
wild. There was desperation, skiIlful and
fearfully cunning, in the offensive tactic.
OF Gregan; in Duer there was an equally
desperate determination and GOODNESS
that was little less than marveloas.
But, fence as he could, Duer WAS forced
back, step by step across the room. II,
had heard OF his opponents skill with tn,
blade, and he had not thought him III,
; sort of man to make a good swordsman
But now he knew that the man before hin
was indeed a master of his weapon ant
that it was a matter OF life and death
resting upon a strong wrist and meteort
sWord-play, and nothing else
Breathlessly they fought more like de
mons than men, Duer had to give back
. step by step, inch by inch, across tn
taproom Again and again he steadie,
! himself and pushed forward, only to NEE
the unwavering and inpenetrable circl
that ORGANS blade clrcumscribed abou
= him.
= " It's more, than human" he muttered.
He felt himself nearly exhausted. Tn
: form OF his opponent grew misty befor
4 HIM He resisted stubbornly the limp an
A listless telling that was stealing over hin
Wearied and we'll nigh faint as he wa.
n and he drew deep breaths of the stiflin
air OF the tavern into his lungs Instinc
IS lively he used the last vestise Of etrengt
and skin TO beat down ORGANS guard.
le He made a desperate lunge that wa
eleverly countered and his sword, with
g crack like a pistoi snaDned M the hut =.