The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-08
By ROBERT BARR

: gaunt. a man Of iron nerve a soldier
/ without hazard he seemed leader OF
I the party ard gave short, curt orders
4 TO the ObseGul7us innkeeper, whose eX-
perlenCe told him thar the three were
] gentlemen
I The military man ordered supper and
] wine; then. bowling 10 De Cardiac. beg
! Eed permission for himself and his
{ friends 10 stand in front Of the FIRE. De
/ CardillaC rose and bowed In return, Civ
! ing them a GdSCOn'S gesture Of welcome.
! and the three warmed their stiffened
( fingers at the fire The stout landlord
{ hustled about with an activity aston
/ lShlnS IN a man Of his bulk, and set
! forth on one Of the smaller tables an
& ample meal. with a generous supply Of
{ wine
/ When all was ready the three stran-
I gers sat down 10 their supper, and
consumed FL in silence It seemed as IL
/ penetrated 10 their bones. freezing that
geuiaIitv which should always accom-
/ pany good meal earned by a long
In striking contrast 10 this gloomy
trio sat the large party at the long
: table Cardlllac entertained his guests
by telling story after story He re-
iated tales Of adventure. current in the
/ land Of Gascony, that were new 10 his
hearers. and upon occasion ne broke
forth into song, amid generous applause
II the storm RACED without. harmony
prevailed within. at least tin the mo-
ment when the senior of the strangers
-aterVencd-
Several times when the hilarity had
become boisterOus the Eray-haired man.
looked over his shoulder with a frOwn
upon his brow IF Cardiilac saw this
sign of disapproval, he paid no arteu-
zion TO II. believing that in a public
r,lr-dVanSary a man was entitled to such
entertainment as pleased him best as
long as he iutrlICed none Of the rules
81 the house ana paid his score when II
was presented one auuecdOte having
been received with especial favor. the
tai stranger turned on his bench and
Sir YOU ma have observed that one,
at least. Of those sitting round this
table wears the cloth Of the church.
or your further information ] may
impaTt TO YOU that another. though not
in strictly clerical Earb. occupies a posi-
ton in Christian council equal to that
OF any peer Of the realm i, myself
am a serious man and a religious Al
though We are the latest corners II Is
not meet that our ears should be offend
ed by such rIbaidry as YOU have Just
pronounced In public room"
IN response 10 this Cardi-lac inclined
MS head very low then brought Il uD
10 a stTaiChtuesS which he always as
Sumed - ven his pride was touched He
Spoze d. ly in reply
am a fs-tr III and devoted son OF the
church. ar. a reSpecter Of all ThO act
under her 4thorlry-. Therefore ] should
1 be the last man in France 10 give Ut
tera1Ce TO q syllable that might not be
heard with pTOpriety even by the most
CevOUT- The incident with which I re-
Eaied my friends here was told to me-
In the first place, by as good q priest
as ever read his brevlary-
For nearly an hour said the elder
man quietly. we have been compelled
very juvenile and there are old heads
than yours around your table who
should not have left TO me The task OF
|.Reproof-- echoed CardfIIac. Re
rroof2 May I persuade VOC sir, TO re-
consider that word
The word seems adequate TO the cir
( ciFUSJanceS- ~ lt1 your permission.
therefore We VIII allow II TO remain
1T is with deep regret monsieur, that
] find myself unable 10 sraut that per
CardiUac rose to his feet and continued
I'm measured tones
If unasked you VIII assume the role
OF school uaSter--z-Cur companions be
with any rod or correction TO make a
TeUrDOf CffeC tIve-I now request you 90
uSe your ms -rumeut Of coercion or else
instantly withdraw the word 20 which
7 have taken exception
This ul-imatUm was delivered with
gracious Inclination OF the head as Car
GiIIaC removed his TapieT from its scab-
bard The action caused some or MS
guests 10 move themselves 90 the other
side of the table with more celebrity
than di1I ity-
The eIrzr man courtecusIy acBnowI-
edged ms opponents declaration and
drew forth his own blade During the
dialogue which was carried on in p low,
converse Lfynai rome me priest Dent -ilS
eyes on the table never looking up the
youngest Of the party leaned back with
an air of indifference although at times
a fleeJinE smile iliUmlued his handsome
couutenauce- Neither OF the two spoke,
nor made any effort to arrange q com
promise
The quarrel had risen so unexpected
ID rrF 81 ~
EardifiaCe, somewhat bela-eI, as ne aG-
UItted 10 himself began 20 Lhlus- ana
stood there iTTeSOIute- sword IN IauC-
Suddenly he remembered his mission
and the rational cause that hung upon
his sU cess. and the personal issue in
volveG in The completion Of his task
How was he 10 know that these stranE-
erS were not disguised aSSaSslnS sent by
De Luvnes2
He stood practically at their merry,
for his own friends. although in the
they possessed weapons could make
little use of them Yet he had al
lowed himself TO be drawn into this
bra WI and had actually been the first
10 show steel. 30. whatever euSued, in
veStiGation would show that ne had
been the aCEreSSoT- changing the issue
from one of words 10 one of weapons
Mentally clubbing himself an ImDeLU-
Gus fool he frightened his grip on enc
hiIJ OF his -apieT, and remembering
how good a sWOrCSuan ne was. would
nave entered ne ttlIlLEL LuLEDLDlesIr
were IL not for his fear Of rearVarI
attack from the other two, when he had
disarTued CT wounded his opponent.
The older man stood with the knuCkIeE
Of s left hand pressed against his nip;
his right rested on the hilt Of his sword.
whose point iUpinEed upon the floor.
Ike a waiking-Stick SpOTted by a dandy
He noted CaTdillaC'S hesitation, regard
ing him with a qUiZzical look, while bis
Zip curls5 slightly giving his face q
diSdaiuful expression.
CardiUac. seeing this, reused fiIn-eIf
from his mOuentary reveTie, resentment
at the unwa-ranted intrusion rising up
DCrmost IN MS mind
-'At your pleasure monsieur" said the
young man.
Il await yours replied the elder
An unaCC8stOmed thrill travelled up
CardilIaC'S right arm as the sword
blades lay together In mid-sir- He wa
conscious Of a strength behind his op-
ponents weapon that he had never be
fore encountered, but more on nous
was the skin with which his own steel
was held ncsseieSs and ImmOv2ble-
There was nothing spectacular about
the contest no ClaShing Of metal no
th-usts, ana consequently, no parrEing-
but il seemed to the spectators that the
two blades had become welded together.
and that either cOmbatant could draw
them apart
1T s7,-Gs1T-- u-zs 10 er,e-4aFo 5-.-sC-