The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-12-14
CHAPTER, ~ tcontinued).

prepared for the act OF cowardice
which followed. For before l could
recover myself / felt rather than saw
my antagonist thrust at me. and | in
voluntarily closed my eyes as l waited
to feel his sword in my flesh. But at
that Instant there came n ringing CLASH
of steel on steel, and l opened my eyes
to see the scoundrel's weapon flying
over the heads of the spectators.
"'Ah. de Care" cried Richelieu, for
1t was he who had disarmed him, and
yet you dare associate with gentlemen.
If i gave you your deserts | would run
through where you stand. But |
prefer killing you with your sword IN
you hand: so follow me to the street.
and we will finish this argument. Stand
back, de Bfancas." he continued to me-,
as l attempted to interfere. This Is
my quarrel. 1t was l whom they In
suited"
The Comte de Care, foaming with
rage, picked up his sword and followed
to the street. The sentiment Of the
crowd was plainly with Richelieu. ana
a moment later when / looked about
for de Cares companions they had dis
appeared. A ring Of curious spectators
formed around the two men, and their
swords were ringing together in an in
slant. Before a moment passed l saw
tilot NC SaiC ~ iouiiN btcr -
He realized it. too, and his face went
from red to white as he felt the dukes
iron wrist and saw the im~placable pur-
pose in his eyes. Plainly 1t was only
the question of a few moments. The
duke was playing with him, parrying
almost carelcssly his savage thrusts.
and advancing his own point nearer
and nearer to his heart. The onlookers
waited with bated breath for the thrust
which they knew would be fatal.
you shall see, gentlemen" cried
Richelieu. gayly, for his self possession
had returned the instant he felt his adj
versary's sword against his own, the
proper way to deal with towards. This
fellow has presumed to be seen in the
that II was reserved for my sword to
punish him. All, you break" he crieo
again, for the other had given back a
step.
/, who was standing at the duqe's side.
saw a kind Of ferocity spring to life In
de Cares eyes, and l noticed that his
left hand was no longer behind him,
but was concealed in the folds OF his
doublet. Something, L knew. not what,
made mesuspect the man.
b on guard. moni Nur," i cried to
Richelieu, "he means some ~treachery,'
and even as 1 spoke he drew forth his
hand and threw a ponlard full al
Richelieu's heart. At the same instant,
co~mprehending de Cares purpose, ]
pushed Richelieu to n side. 1 felt a
sharp, hot pain in my right shoulder,
and knew thatthe dagger had wounded
me. With a terrible cry Richelieu
sprang forward, and. fairly beating
down his guard. plunged his sword tc
the hilt in his breast. De Care made
a desperate effort to keep his feet
grasped the sword, drew it from the
wound, and fell to the street, the blood
gushing forth In a torrent. He breatheG
convulsively once or twice, with the
crowd looking down upon him, his eyes
glazed. a shudder ran through his body
n he was dead.
THUS perish all coward" said Richie.
lieu. And then. turning to me, "Yor
saved my life. de Brancas. Twas 6
brave act"
mo more than you have twice done
for me. monsieur" ! answered. 81
have only half paid my dobt."
but you are wounded" he cried
seeing that I held my handkerchief tc
my shoulder and hat 1t was red with
blood 1.-THE dagger struck you, then!
Let me see how serious Ii is" and ht
was tearing the doublet away from my
shoulder ere / had time to protest.
IT'S only a flesh wound, monsieur
I said. Pray do not trouble about
lTOuDle dDOut IL, llueeu. IOIne III
here with me-" and he dragged rather
than led me. into the cafe again. Come
+ Maitre Delorme," he cried to the pro.
prietor, who was still wringing his
hands and bewailing the destruction
of his glasses, bring me water ant
clean linen, and be quick about 1t. All
here is one who will know how to dress
the wound" he added. as q tall. clear
shaven man, dressed severely in black
pushed his way through the crowd
Upon my word, Levau, you come il
the nick OF time. l have a patient
for you.' and he turned me over to the
famous surgeon.
The latter In a moment had examined
the wound, with puckered brow, washed
it in clean water. spread some cooling
lotion upon 1t, which he took from {
case he carried in his pocket, and Sc.
curely bandaged It,, Not till then die
he 'deign to speak.
"A mere nothing" he said, "for a mar
who has good blood in his veins, as my
friend here has. A little fol
a week, perhaps, a stiffness for a fort
night, and then only a memory"
Indeed, | am. Wondlods pivased t.
hear It," said Richelieu. shaking hi.
hand warmly, and leaving &, sold piec,
in it, ! do not doubt. But. what hav,
we here ?" and he turned towards tn,
door. whence came a sudden commo.
ton.
For the king!" cried a voice. "Fol
the king! Make way. m~essieurs."
"The regent" exclaimed someone ant
then q strange stiffness fell upon the
place, save for Richelieu, who hummee
one of Lulli's gay airs.
The crowd parted to right and lef
and l saw advancing towards us a larg,
heavy set man. with red face and eye:
which seemed to run m through.
"Who hath done this?" he cried
J. "Who hath killed the Comte de Care
one Of my faithful ~friends?"
ITO me belongs the honor, monsieur
said Richelieu In a cool voice, but bow.
ing low. II regret to learn he was Q
friend Of yours, for he was a coward
and a william. and deserved to die by
the rope, not by the sword. like {
gentleman"
The regents face turned from red tc
purple, and I looked to see him rush
upon Richelieu n half drew my SWORD
But with an effort he restrained himself
and his mex words came In q voice
strangely calm, yet infinitely NOR.
menacing than any violence could havt
been.
"Ah, I have the honor Of seeing thu
Due de Richelieu. have I not? Blu,
they tell me there were two men op-
posed to de Care"
Monsieur" cried Richelieu, whoever
said that lied. A friend OF mine in.
terposed to ave me from q treacherous
dagger thrust, which the coward would
nave given me when he saw himself
hard pressed"
And where Is this friend, may I In
quire?" asked the regent, looking about
with an ominous light In his eyes.
My hat was sweeping the floor in an
fnafaut