Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-08-22

and she saw or heard nothing Of hin
Didier made every effort to win her
for himself. but she r%esOlutely declln-
ed to marry him or any one else. Al
last they told her that CASTOR was
dead. but even this failed to effect the
purpose for which It was Intended.
She came Of age and into possession
Of her fortune. Going to her estate, she
lived there In retirement, ignorant OF
what had become OF her lover, but be-
lleving Dldier's story that he was dead.
Dldier, who had been a friend of her
father. managed to keep from her the
fact that be had been the cause OF
CASTOR Roche's ruin. He was a fire.
queDt visitor at her chateau. being al
ways made welcome on her late IA
TIERS account. She remained faithful
to Gaston's memory. refusing Didier's
and other offers, but Didier believed,
or at least hoped. that by perseverance
he would be able ut last to dominate
her even II he could not make her love
him.
At last. in order to escape a world
that had become obnoxious to her, she
took the veil.'
Cardinal Richelieu died and was sue
ceeded by Cardinal Mazarin. The eff
forts Of the former to eradicate duel
ing were a failure. and after his death
his edict was not enforced. One even
ing D'Alger was supping 10 a cafe in
Paris when a man entered and swept
his eye over the room, his glance final
ly lighting on the count. Then he
walked directly toward him.
The strangers features were those
Of a man Of about thirty. but he had
evidently suffered. and his sufferings
had left their trace. His hair was
gray and evidently prematurely so.
The moment he saw D'Alger his ex-
preston changed from habitual sad
ness to one Of intense hate. The count
was sitting with his feet extended.
and when the stranger passed him he
deliberately kicked them out Of his
way. D'Alger rose angrily, but the
stranger passed on and took q seat at
the other end Of the room.
"Aiphonse." exclaimed the count TO
a friend at the table, ego to that fel-
low and make arrangements for me to
kill him tomorrow morningT'
The man addressed went to the
stranger. bowed politely and asked for
satisfaction for his insult on behalf of
Count D'Alger. The person challenged
gave his name as Luigi MasselllO and
his residence as Rome. This indicated
that he was an Italian, but he spoke
French without any accent whatever.
he agreed to meet the count in "A
wood beyond where the Arc de Tri-
omphe now stands and chose rapiers
for weapons. The hour of the meeting
was the next morning at sunrise.
D'Alger bad formerly been an excel
lent swordsInan. but his skill had been
reduced by dissipation. Nevertheless
he was still dreaded. When he began
to fight with Musseillo It was supposed
that he would soon disable him at
least. But those present were aston
ished at the Italians skill. He seem
ed for awhile to be playing with the
count as a cat Will play with a mouse
before eating It. and his enemy saw
In his eye the same look that the
mouse might see In the eye Of the cat.
In vain D'Alger sought to get the point
of his sword beyond that of his adver-
sary. Every thrust was parted with
eonsummate skfl. Finally when his
lunges began to lose their force and
direction the Italian made a thrust and
pierced his enemy in the heart.
When the counts clothing was open
ed to examine his wound 1t was found
that Masseillo had given the point OF
his rapier a twist that had left a cut
something like an interrogation point
Scarcely had the P%arlslans ceased to
tnlk about D'Alger's death and the want
Of an explanation of the enmity OF
the man who had killed him when An
tome Partelow, walking past the Palais
Royal, looking at an equipage In the
street. bumped against a man coming
from the opposite direction.
Pardon, monsieur" said Partelow.
"Pardon7 Do you suppose you car
knock against a man on the street II
that fashion without paying for doing
sol" and he slapped Partelow's face.
Partelow stepped back astOnished
His assallant drew forth a card. hand
ed 1t to him and walked on. The care
bore the name OF Count Rumsdorf o.
st. Petersburg, Within an hours tint
he received a challenge from Antoin,
Partelow.
At the meeting that took place tn
next morning the count was recognizes
as Luigi MasseillO, who had kilie'
D'Alger. The eight was very like tn
n between the Italian and DAlgeI
Rumsdorf displayed the same remarka
BILE skill with the rapier and. after dc
Tending himself for awhile, pierced hi
enemy in the same place he had pierre
ed his former enemy-the heart. And
what was still more singular, by tn
same twist he had given his sword be
fore he left an interrogation point o.
PartelOw's chest.
All Parih was by this time talkin