Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-05-16

H.H1Ikx
"Then our swords fell to taIkina.r
new to me. He pressed me hotly. and
at length the final position came; the
way was open.
"TaSe it,. he said saSagely and sent
he thrust that should have made good
his promise to bury the whole blade in
my heart.
But his point never reached me, for
rs his sword glided along mine. SEEM
ingly unopposcd, caught 1t exactly
as Moore had shown me and wrenched
with all the strength of my wrist and
arm.
There was sharp grinding OF steel.
and then like thing alive the dukes
sword left his hand. sped through the
air and settled thirty feet away point
downward in the turf, where it stuck.
quivering and swaying like reed in
the wind.
With a cry of sharp surprise Lotzen
sprang back and watched his sword
RS it circled and fell. I moved step
toward him. Then he turned to me.
lit seems, monsieur" he said softly,
that I was in error and that 1t is the
point Of your sword and not the hilt l
am to take So be It,"
He drew himself up to attention and
raised his hand in salute.
81 am waiting" he said calmly
Ferdinand OF Lotzen was doubtless
n hoI LAT hot jtvhf hn I1oI rtVy
EN- me to assassination, and just now
he himself had deliberately tried to
kill me. But he was brave. with the
eort Of bravery that meets death when
1t must with smiling face and
steady eye
And so for space we stood. he erect
and ready. / with hand on hip and
point advanced.
l heard the gasps of women. sob or
two and then the rustic Of skirts, fol-
lowed instantly by Courtney's soft
command
stay, madame. The matter is for
his highness only to decide"
Lotzen laughed lightly.
Strike, man. he said, cor the petit
coats will steal me from you
stepped back and shot my sword
into its sheath.
60" l ordered. II do not want
your life. Only depart this house
straightway and take your braves
with you They will have no other op-
portunity tonight. And, mark you,
sir, no further meeting with the gypsy,
now nor hereafter
He bowed low. Monsieur Is pleased
to be generous" he sneered.
But gave him my back and, remov-
Ing my mask. went over to my friends.
The marquise met me with perfect
gale Of apologies. But laughed them
aside, telling her It was I who stood
in need Of pardon for becoming in
volved in such a breach Of hospitality.
Just then Colonel Moore came up
and, seeing us without our masks, he
dropped his also. | watched Mile.
d Essolde's greeting to him. 1t was all
even he could have wished.
II think 1t Is about the supper hour"
said Lady vierle. LET us go i'm
I offered her my arm and, masking
again, we led the way.
"Will your highness tell me some
thing?" she asked Immediately. did
you know your antagonist"
II didn't see his face" evaded.
She looked at me quickly. Would
1t be better for me not to knowY''
YES" said l, II think 1t would"
There was really no reason why 1
should shield I.otzen, yet neither was
there any reason to rattle family
skeleton in public and raise a scandal
which would run the kingdom over
and be the gossip Of every court In
Europe.
Then lifted my mask so she could
see my face.
"And, my dear Lady vierie,' said
earnestly, III you would do me great
favor you will promise to forget Ill
about this unfortunate incident z
She, too, raised her mask and looked
me frankly In the eydsi.
81 promise she said. ].
And am sure she VIII keep her
word.
/ know could leave II to Courtney