Western Kansas world., 1912-05-18

suit him and. having refused to un-
mask and apologize had suffered the
consequences of my own rashness and
bad manners.
And even suppose no one believed his
story that he 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 banishment to his mountain
estates might follow. yet what trifiing
penalties fol the end attained, They
would be only for the moment. as it
We're But the American would be
dead, the crown sure, the princess still
unmarried.
Truly 1t was a chance which would
never come again, and not to seize it
was to mock fortune to her very face.
1t takes far longer to write this than
to think it, 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- l shall have to spur you. / see
1 ask you once again, monsieur. TO re-
move your mask. If you do not l shall
give you a bit of steel in the left Leg
"And if that be ineffective?' the lady
asked.
Then l shall touch him in the other
leg, and If he still refuses then in the
right arm, and then. if necessary. in
the left arm, each time a trife deeper. =
And then? ?" she infected very sweet
ly.
ThenF he repeated. II think there
will be no need for then mademoi-
seiie," he laughed .sneeringly.
She nodded toward me-
Isn't it about time to 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 l could
not think that he would actually dare
to touch me with his sword. and
made no motion. 1 proposed to call his
bluff-if it were one
Closer and closer, inch by inch drew
the point. 1t reached the velvet. hesi-
tated, passed through and just pierced
my flesh, then was withdrawn.
And, with that cut. came the blood
lust, like unto the rage of the berserker
of old Yet somehow 1 had the sense
to stand quiet and let the red passion
burn itself ont. would need all my
GOODNESS to meet Lotzen's Skill
Now, will monsieur remove his
mask? he asked.
You scarcely touched him." seoffed
the gypsy.
LotZen held up the sword.
See the red upon the point?" he
asked
Blood! You actually cut him. she
exclaimed, and then pointed her finger
at me derisively. tAnd you wear
swordl' she sneered-
1t was pretty hard to take, but 1
had notion. foolish, possibly, to play
the game little longer
Come along, my friend" she went
on. This is poor sport. 1 hate a
coward"
For an instant 1 feared he would
heed her and go. and that would have
obliged me to become the aggressor,
which 1 much preferred not to be.
a coward.' he laughed, and looked
at me. You hear that. monsieur-a
cowardr Then he put his hand on
her arm You are quite right. my
dear; 1T is poor SPORT he said. Yet.
stay moment longer. l shall forego
the other cuts and tear off his mask
instead
ANU per iAlll 10 NefiE II SWORD
she mocked. surely not. Why don't
you break it:"
A charming suggestion, thank you
You hear my lady's wish. monsieur"
he said to me, and presenting his
blade at my breast. 'NiH you Yield
your sword or shall L be obliged to
take it from you?''
A Decisive Battle.