The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-05-18

suit him and, having refused TO I'M
mask and apologize, had suffered the
consequences of my own rashness and
bad
And even suppose no one believed his
story that be did not know me. What
mattered It? One does not execute the
heir ~presumptive OF valeria for muir
der. True the king might rage and a
term Of Punishment TO his mountain
estates might follow. yet what trifing
penalties fm the end attained They
would be only for the moment. as IL
were. But the American would be
dead, the crown sure. the princess still
unmarried.
Truly IL was a chance which would
never come again. and not to seize it
was TO mock fortune to her very face.
Ii takes far longer to write this than
to think 1t. 1t all went through my
mind In the brief space Lotzen gave me
for reply.
II am waiting. monsieur he said.
"You are stubborn. as well as bad man
nered. | shall have to spur you. | see.
| ask you once again. monsieur. to re-
move your mask. II you do o ! shall
give you a bit of steel in the left leg"
And IL that be ineffectivcr' the lady
asked.
Then | shall touch him in the other
leg. and IL he still refuses hen in TIE
right arm. ard then. if necessary. in
the left arm. each time a trific deeper
And then?" she Infected very sweet
~.
Them he repeated. Il think there
will be no need for i then mademoi-
selle,' lie laughed sncerinSly.
She nodded toward me.
Isn't 1t about time 10 begin?" she
asked.
Your wish. my dear. is my law" he
said. You hear. monsieur. Your time
Is up. Prepare"
He stepped forward and thrust. very
slowly. at my thigh. Even then | could
not think that he would actually dare
to touch me with his sword. and
made no motion. | proposed to call his
bluff-if it were one.
Closer and closer, inch by inch. drew
the point. 1t reached the velvet. hest
tated, passed through and just pierced
my flesh. then was withdraw WI.
And. with that chi. came the blood
lust. like unto the rage of the herserkel
of old. Yet somehow | had the sense
to stand quiet aud let the red passion
burn itself out. | would need all my
coolness TO meet j .otzen's skill.
"Now. will monsieur remov his
mask" he asked.
You scarcely touched him. scoffed
the gypsy.
LotZen held up the sword.
See the red upon the point?" be
asked.
Blood You actually cut him. she
exclaimed, and then pointed her finger
at me derisively. And you wear a
swordi' she sneered.
1t was pretty hard to take. but
had a notion. foolish. possibly, to play
the game a little longer.
come alopg. my friend" she went
on. This is poor sport. ] hate a
coward"
For an instant | feared he would
heed her and go. and that would have
Obliged me to become the aggressor.
which | murh preferred not TO be.
"A coward he laughed. and looked
at me. You hear that. monsieur-a
coward" Then he put his hand on
her arm. You are quite right. my
dear: it is poor sport" he said. yet.
stay a moment longer. | shall forego
the other cuts and tear off his mask
instead"
And permit him to wear a sword?'
she Knocked. surely not. Why don't
you break it,"
"A charming suggestion. thank you.
You hear my lady's wish. monsieur"
he said to NE. and presenting his
blade at my breast. Will you yield
your sword or shall | be obliged TO
take Il from YOUR