The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-05-16

oalt hin and, having refused to un-
0Aak and apologize, had suffered the
eoaasQuences of my own rsshness and
had manners.
An4 even suppose no one believed his
story that he did not know NE. What
0Attered It: One does not execute TIN.
heir presumptive Of Valeria for muir
6sr. True the king might rage and u
term Of banishment to his mountain
estates might follow. yet what tritiins
penalties fol the end attained. They
would he only for the moment, AZ II
were. 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 II
WAS to mock fortune to her very face.
1t takes far longer 10 write this than
to think it. 1t all went through my
mind In the brief space I.Otzen gave me
for reply.
Il am waiting, monsieur" he said.
"YOu are stubborn. as well us bad man-
nered. shall have to spur you. see.
l ask you once again, monsieur. to re-
move your mask If you do not l shall
give you bit of steel in the left leg"
And II that be inefYective?" the lady
asked.
Then ! shall touch him in the other
leg. and If he still refuses then In the
right arm. and then, IL necessary. in
the left arm. each time Il trifie deeper.
"And them" she infected very sweet
ly.
Them he repeated. Il think there
will lie no need for IL then. mademoi,
selle." he laughed sneeringly.
She nodded toward me.
Isn't 1t about time to begin?" she
asked.
Your wish, my dear. is my luw." he
said. "You hear, monsieur. Your time
Ii 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. l proposed to call lis
bluff-if it were one.
Closer aud closer. inch by inch. drew
the point. 1t reached the velvet. hest
tated. passed through and just pierced
my desh, then was withdrawn.
And, with that cut. came the blood
lust, like unto the rage of the berserkel
OF old. Yet somehow I hud the sense
to stand quiet and let the red passion
burn Itself out would need all my
cOolness 10 meet LotZen's skill.
"Now, will monsieur remove his
mask?" he asked.
"You scarcely touched him." scoffed
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. And you wear u
sword!' she sneered.
1t was pretty hard to take, but
had a notion. foolish, possibly, to play
the game little longer.
"Come along, my friend" she went
on. This Is poor sport. ! hate O
coward"
For an instant l feared lie would
heed her and go. and that would have
obliged me to become the aggressor
which | much 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 moment longer. shall foresu
the other cuts and tear of his mask
instead"
"Anl permit him to wear a sword p
she mocked. "Surcly 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. "Will you yield
your sword or shall 1 be obliged to
take 1t from your