The Washington times., 1913-06-04
DAILY SERIAL
The Fighting Blade zzszg=AzHAz@zRz ~! zz 9

red that recalled to Trevor how aeore-
time the red had risen and paled under
the blow of his bestowal.
Sir" spoke Trevor. but he had to wet
his lips before he said 1t, give me 4
sword into mine hand"
did you put q sword in miner de-
manded Won Kerstenbroock.
And I will hight you." ended Trevor.
Won Kerstenbroock llughed the ugly
staccato laugh that was his upon oc-
casion.
But he was that night upon the top
wave Of felicity. and, with thought Of
Thomsine. he was minded to be merci-
Under semblance, then, Of what he
meant for mercy. he struck Trevor as
ready a blow perhaps as he could
have dealt him.
'Thou?' He slipped into the con-
thee? Go thou with the Women!'
He turned his back on Trevor, and
then, because he took the, trouble to
look for him. he bent his glance on Ned
Sorlase. an interested spectator to the
end. for all he believed that It well
might be his own end that was nearing.
And what's your will with me, sirr'
| spoke Ned Borlase. He neither Swag-
sered nor cringed. Merely he was
To the GOODNESS of him Won Kerstsn.
brock was willing to pay tribute.
When you come into Oxford" he
bade, tell the end Of the story truly"
Sir" said -Borlase. III ever I come
alive to Oxford. by your grace. shall
And he did. Not for inherent love Of
truth. perhaps. but because he really
could not, by any fabrication, better
the end OF the story which he had seen
At its beginning in the common room Of
From the admirable Boriase. Won Ker-
stenbroock turned to weightier matters.
He was fain to blow up the keep with
his own hands. but he was dissuaded
by the competent Packer.
Leave the work OF destruction to those
who should form the rear guard, rea-
soned Packer. Won Kerstenbroock him
self were best head the van. and march
forthwith. In charge Of their wounded
and prisoners-and Of Thomsine! Both
| tion only Of her safety that they did not
| need to name her
So Won Kerstenbroock forth Of the
house into the seething bailey. and.
hard by the black mouth Of the gate
way. overlook his guarded prisoners.
who for the moment were at stand.
Under the hare Of the torches and the
hre-light he found himself face to face
with Walter Musgrove and Musgrove
shared in the delusion Of four other
quite sincerely he believed himself
sole reason Of Won Kerstenbroock's
presence At that place and hour.
Having no table under which to re-
hands free and sword at side. he did the
one thing that was left him. He began
to Justify himself
Look you, Won Kerstenbroock." he
clustered. I'VE both be soldiers. and q
soldier knows well what he incurs when
he takRl him IN 0nH
and
Hold your tonsuew bade Won Ker-
stenbroock. deadly quiet. He would far
rather not have met with Musgrove in
For he did not forgive the man. nor
dream of 80 doing. yet he could not lift
hind against him. for II he did. he
should not strike, but slay. And the
creature. after all. was Thomsine's
But Wat. inspired. As usual. of the
devil. had to 60 on with the justifca-
tfon that In the last discomfortableh hour
he had mapped out.
And for the matter Of laying hand
OF correction on the GIRL" he babbled,
she is my sister. and acted well within
ton Kerstenbroock's brown eyes were
mere brown pin-points under his lower
"So!' he said. with sudden thick ac-
cent. Thou didst strike her. ha?"
To be sure. the jade would have borne
tales Of him, Watt reasoned else had
matter lightly. since handled It must
be.
But a cuff or two-a brothers right
Of chaAtisement," he said in his old,
clustering strain.
Won Kerstenbroock looked at him, with
his quiet hand tense on his swordhilt.
He saw Wat, fine. tall. broad fell
low. And he remembered Thomsine.
slender, white-faced, a little Vixen
smaller even than he had held her m
his memory-smaller and dearer!
So dear that, as he looked at Watt, and
his mouth was very near to twitching-
and when a thin, steady mouth such as
Won Kerstenbroock's began to twItch.
Wat might have guessed that danger
was abroad.
.'Warum-" began Won Kersten-
brock, and recovered his English.
why need you to correct her?' he
questioned, never SO gently.
"A stubborn little Jade" shrugged
Wat. with no mind TO the marriage
that was made for her"
The marriage with staversham. yes"
said Won Kerstenbroock. And there
fore thou didst beat her.
He blinked for a moment at tall Wat
Musgrove, and then ne turned on his
heel. and, to watts relief. went on his
way.
But thirty PAGES OF he laid hanc on
aforetime been a munt:neer, but was
now rcgenerate.
"Samkin," said he, which was urkind
of him, for he knew that, since his re-
generation. the corporal preferred to
be called by the godly name OF Samuel,
VyENDTNC RECEpTT0NQ