Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-11-17

Az thG hthEhihk aADu1hip oSNhACo w
assent unless assured that her cham
pion was not a blood relative, and
when thus assured he agreed to be on
hand at the appointed hour.
He found his enemy waiting for him.
The man was tall and slender, being
dressed In citizens costume Of the day.
q broad tailed cutaway coat and
breeches. bun waistcoat, white stock
ings, large shoe buckles and q pow
dered peruke. His mask was of black
velvet, with lace at and below his
mouth.
Jim, the colored slave, stood near
with saber under an arm and a
small box containing articles to stop
the flow Of blood In the other. He
handed Arbuckle saber, and the lat
ter advanced to the spot where his
enemy was standing. But before put
ting himself in posture for defense
he said to Jim:
an case | am denied an opportunity
to crave your mistress pardon by be-
ing killed In this tight desire you to
assure her that had lived would
have done so.
"Tn do dat, sah," said Jim, 40
reckon yo' gwlne TO- to get killed. De
man wild de udder sword mighty fine
fencer. He killed.
A suppressed exclamation of dissat
isfaction from the champion stopped
this attempt to brighten the captain,
and the principals in the affair, ad-
vancing toward each other, began to
fence. Notwithstanding Jims enco-
NUNS the unknown at once proved
Arbuckle, perceiving this, stood strict
ly on the defensive, not desiring that
blood should be spilled In such a
cause.
He was beginning to be amused at
the bungllng thrusts and parties made
by his opponent when an accident hap
pened at an unlucky moment Just
as the masked man was making one
of his awkward thrusts Arbuckle's
foot caught In a creeping vine, and he
fell forward on the point Of his adver-
sary's sword, which, entering his right
side just below the arm pit, inflicted
flesh wound.
A cry came from the champion. No,
masculine cry; 1t was like woman's
shrek Throwing away his saber, he
stopped and lifted his enemy In his
arms. Arbuckle, more Interested In
the champions identity than his
wound, pulled or the mask and ex.
posed the features Of Margaret Rim
gold
The two looked at each other for n
few moments without speaking; then
Arbuckle, selling Margaret's hand.
kissed 1t respectfully, exclaiming
"Forgive met
Meanwhile Jim was hurrylng for.
ward, opening the box Of materials for
stanching blood. Arbuckle assured
Margaret that his wound was OF no
Importance, threw Off his coat, opened
his waistcoat and exposed his shirt
saturated with blood. Margaret trem-
blingly applied lint and wound n band
age to hold 1t in its place. Then she
told Jim to go for assistance and bring
q conveyance to take the wounded man
to the house But Arbuckle demurred
"The affair must be kept secret" he
said, because | am ashamed OF my
part in requiring woman TO protect
herself against me, and, as Tor being
carried about with such n pin prick AZ
this, my comrades would desplse me
Go to your home, Miss Ringold. You
have vanqulshed me In more ways
than one. HencefOrth am your cham
pion whenever you choose to have me
by accepting my services. ! will nov
ride to camp, but ask that at the first
opportunity may be permitted TO pay
my duty to you"
Margaret turned and walked away
but she heard footsteps behind her and
felt her hand clasped. II was ArbuckIe
"Tell me before VIC part" he said.
"am l forglvenr
She made no reply except with her
eyes, but the man was satisfied. He
watched her, attended by Jim. TIL she
reached the house. when she turned
and, putting her fingers TO her lips.
threw him what she had fought him
for taking Unexpectedly
The Swamp Fox" kept Tarleton and
his men busy for some time, during
which Arbuckle did not appear at the
RingOld manor Then he was taken
ILL., From a hospital he sent word to
Margaret that as soon as he had re