Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-20


prettiest, roguish face he had ever be-
held.
Fitz Hugh had Thought that II he
could see her face he would be salts
fed. Now he burned 70 know who
she was, for she pulled down her mask
at once and was about TO KUN away
But he stopped her.
who are your" he asked.
marguerite"
''Your real nameT'
81 may have a purpose IN showing
my face to the devil and e. purpose in
not giving him my mans have the
experience OF the resIrMarguerite be
fore me-"
However. Fitz Hug begged so hard
that she consented b write her name
on a bit Of paper. ID pledged him not
to look at it so long Is the masquerade
continued. Then She hurried away.
saying that onlyftheir masks enabled
them to be seen 20 long in each others
company without remark.
Fitz Hugh at once began to crave a
sight at the No me written on the paper
she gave hint The masquerade con.
tinued till dawn, and he was then
about to Look at the name when he
was summoned on that other duty
which, in his affair of the heart. he
had almost forgotten. No opportunity
occurring to look at the paper, he
crammed It back into his pocket and
accompanied his cousin to the field.
Fitz Hugh did not understand the
cause of the fight. On the way 30 the
ground Trudeau tried to explain It TO
him, but Fitz Hugh was dreaming OF
the masked beauty and did not hear
half that he said. They found the
principal OF the other side and his sec
ond on the ground. and within q few
minutes the firing distance had been
paced and all was ready for the eight.
Most Of those present had been at
the masquerade ball. but nll had stop
ped on their way to the field to change
their clothes. Trudeau's opponent,
Rutledge, was a handsome young fell
low, but showed signs OF dissipation.
He was in a fierce temper with his
enemy and with every one else for that
matter. He took his position, mutter-
ing low curses that Indicated a duel TO
the death. Trudeau was composed and
gentlemanlike In his behavior He had
been called to account for some fan
cied slight to Rutledge and was evi-
IDENTIFY intending to stand up to be
fired at without any design to inJure
his opponent. FitZ Hugh, who saw
thnt Rutledge was bent on a bloody
fight, warned his cousin that he must
kill or be killed. but Trudeau shook
his head as much as to say that be
would rather risk death than have the
blood of his antagonist on his hands
The two men stood facing each 9th
er till they received the signal, then
fired. Trudeau tri6e before the other
who withheld his shot purpoSely-put-
ting a ball through a limb OF a tree
several yards above his opponents
head. Then Rutledge took deliberate
aim, fired, and Trudeau fell in a heap
Fitz Hugh was stung with indigna-
ton. "That was unfair" he cried
You think IL unfair, do your" snarl-
ed Rutledge. you'll give me salts
faction for the imputation, and I'll
put you where I put him"
III not give you n chance to muir
der me as you have murdered him
with pistol"
Choose your weapon"
While this was going on the surgeon
was examining Trudeau and pro
nounced him dead. Fitz Hugh heard
IT simultaneously with Rutledge's last
words
"I'll fight you with foils." he said
Done" exclaimed the other
There were no foils ut hand, and half
an hour was consumed in obtaining
them. Some thought that the party
had better get away to avoid the au-
thOrities, but Rutedge would not hear
Of it So when the weapons were re-
ceived the principals stood up and be.
gan to fence. Neither knew much
about the use Of the weapon he held,
and Rutledge was under the influence
Of liquor. They had fought but few
minutes when he made a lunge right
on "a the point Of Fitz Hugh's foil.
This cooled his opponents anger,
who was horror stricken at the double
tragedy. He waited eagerly for the
surgeons report. which was the same
as before. Rutledge had been pierced
through a vital part.
Fitz Hugh left the field with heavy
heart. An idea crept into his mind
that the part Of Mephistopheles he had
this tragedy.
WAS he at the ballr' he asked on
the way.
Yes; he took the part OF Valentine
in Goethes Faust"
Fitz Hugh shuddered.
When he got 10 his room he threw
himself in a chair before a table and.
bowling his head on his arms. sat shiV-
ering with horror. The night and the
morning seemed like a dream-the be-
ginning a delight. the ending a TRACE
dy. His cousin had been murdered,
and he Ind killed that cousins muir
derer Suddenly he was stricken with
another fear. Taking the bit Of paper
Marguerite had given him, he opened
It and read. "Luella RutIedge"
He had killed her brofhaF