El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-04
Vengeance Is Mine
(By Charles Regnier.)

w ABROAD TO go TO Tonkln, ne
left behind in Paris a young
girl who was to follow him and become
his wife q year or two later, but in
and married Jean Poulain, Paul Gre
ville's best friend.
Paul received a short letter about
the event. but never answered. He
admitted that he had been defeated and
began to think of revenge. And he
waited for lean Poulain, who lived the
uneventful life of a Paris business
man After eight years he had earned
a considerable fortune and retired from
business. Shortly afterward his wife
died. Her death was a great blow to
him. for on the whole he was a warm
hearted, generous gentleman. He fled
from his home and began a life Of
restless travelling. And so it happened
that at the same time Paul Greville
was travelling, too. The two men met
accidentally in a caravan on the road
from Tafilet to Timbuctoo. at Tuat, the
junction of many trails in northwest
ern, Sahara. both knowing that now
the final settling of their account must
come.
On the way from Tafilet TO Tuat.
Paul Greville was unable to make up
his mind as to what TO do. He was
Of rather romantic temperament and
desired. his revenge to be of an unusual
kind. Jean Poulain, on his side, was
uneasy and felt a certain fear OF what
might happen, but he rather ascribed
this feeling to the Influence of the
great desert whose calm seemed super
natural, and where there is nothing
between man and his God but the ami
NAL he is riding. Matters were, how
ever. arranged at Tuat-
And thus it happened that, when
night came, they were both riding on
the back Of the same camel through
! the desert in a southeasterly direction
There is camel trail from there
straight east toward Gadames, and one
straight south towards Gao, but none
southeast towards Asbon.
They had already travelled four DAYS
into the desert. and this was the dis
lance they had agreed to travel to set
tie their account far away from the
eyes of man. They had travelled fast,
having stopped only TO eat and sleep,
and had exchanged no word during the
whole time. Now they dfsmounted
again. and, for the first time. Paul
Greville spoke.
we will fight here" he said Are
you ready now, or do you want to rest
awhile first?'
Il want to rest You are used to
travelling on the back Of a camel and
I am not The movement is rather
upsetting. It Will be a hard fight, and
1 feel stiff and tired"
That is true" Greville replied. 81
wish no undue advantage. We will
rest until night comes; moonlight will
answer our purpose as well as sun
light"
long rock was close by. Here
they rested, leaning their backs against
the rock. Both shut their eyes, but
neither slept
When time was up they arose at the
same time. Poulain looked ate Gre
VILE who nodded Poulain sighed and
moved his shoulder back and forth the
rock had been a rather hard pillow.
They went up to the camel, which was
lying patiently close by, and Greville
produced a satchel from one Of the
saddle bags
"wiIl you please open IT." he said.
turning to Poulain. The other opened
it slowly. 1t contained four small
Arabian poniards. all alike in shape
and size.
They are absolu tely alike" he said
Are you quite sure? We must be
be no advantage on any SIDE" said
Greville
II think we might as we'll start" said
Poulain
IT don't think so.'' Greville replied.
Are you quite sure you thoroughly
understand the map we brought along?
Only by making use OF that the one of
us who survives will be able to find
his way back to Tuat. There are pro-
visions enough for one man for three
weeks in case he should lose his way
Il
the map"
"All right" said the other.
You know where the bandages are
and you have about as much experience
in using them as 1 have"
yes, that is true" Poulain replied
''The chances must be even. If the
winner bleeds to death, victory would
not have been worth while"
IF I only am strong enough to
crawl. I shall be able to bandage my
wounds" said Poulain. but will the
camel stay?"
Yes. it will stay here as long as it
sees that one Of US is alive"
Then Greville went to the right and /,
Poulain to the left side of the. camel |
and prepared to fight
After a short while Greville cried: |
Are you ready?" and Poulain an |
swered: Yes
All this had happened very quietly. ]
Greville had been waiting for nine |
years and could afford to wait another !
half hour. Pou1ain walked as if he |
were asleep. Even now, as he stepped |
forth from behind the camel, a poniard |
in each hand. facing his enemy. who /
was armed IN the same manner and |
TO the waist. he was not quite /
awake. But, within his heart arose a |
violent hatred Of the man in front OF |
him and he was seized with an attack !
Of the hersork fury which often comes
upon people in such moments. whether
they be towards or brave And then /
be was suddenly wide awake
The fight began. And at the same
time there came from the north an
awful, distant roar. rising and dying
away again. The two men were too
busy to notice it. but the camel raised
It's head and shifted the air, looking at
is masters as If waiting for an order
The fight was now going on In
Dreadful earnest. They stopped and
jumped back and forth they ran with
TT