Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-05

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"Non mad an appointment with her.
did you: She
You lie. replied Hawthorne. land
you know IT, Say. prince" be contin-
ued a moment later. I've Just had
queer sort Of presentiment that some
day you are going to get the beating
up OF your life"
I'm interested" was the princes re
ply Cant yon give me a little more
definite infOrma tion as TO who Is going
to do IL and the time when II will take
place."
y he time is not very far of"
And the beaterE"
The presendment wasn't very def
mite on that point. but seem TO have
the impression that / shall be very
close at hand"
Splendid" said the Prince. in the
meantime, shall take pains TO tell his
majesty Of the secret affair you've
been carrying Oh with his prim little
daughter II will make a pretty scan
DE- when
You cur" shouted Hawthorne.
"You yellow cur"
As he spoke ne struck fair and full in
the princes scowliug face
Now few men I've past childhood
without having given and received
blows But because OF the divinity
that hedges royalty Prince Vladimir
Halberstadt had reached the age Of
thirty-hve without haviu. once been
struck. He was ignorant Of the sensa-
ton. And the smashing impact OF
Hawthorne's fist in his face came with
all the novelty Of an earthQuake-and
with almost as much force
The prince stood a full head taller
than his wiry little opponent and
weighed at least fifty pounds more
Yet the force OF the blow sent him
reeIing backward. dazed and dumfound-
ed Even General HohenlOe was so
thunderStruCk by the spectacle OF u
royal prince being struck by a mere
American that for moment he was
too surprised TO move OF even to think.
Seeing that the prince did not put
up his hands" Hawthorne did not fol-
low up the attack He had expected
his blow 10 be- the first move in the
hve!iest sort Of mixup. And lie was
vaguely disappointed that his enemy
had taken il so pasSively.
But his disappointment lasted for a
bare fraction OF a second The prince.
recovering from his momentary daze.
went insane with fury. Throwing pru-
dence and dignity to the winds, Vladi-
mir flashed out the great saber that
danEIed at his left side and hurled
himself upon the unarmed American.
Hawthorne. like most American CT
villains. knew nothing OF sword play.
And even had he been adept in It be
was weaPonIess But be knew rough
and tumble lighting and the strictest
ethics Of Al harroom row SO. as the
huge Rorrovian charged madly upon
bin. saber aloft. he instinctively
snatched mp the weapon that lsy near
est his hand. And that weapon CHANGED
10 he a heavy chair
Vladimir sprang Down came the
glittering sword in a sweeping blow
that, had It landed. must have cloven
the Americans skull like a musk melon.
But II did not land
Midway In air the blade slashed
against the chair that Hawthorne lad
Oburled az Vladimir's head Chair and
SIS Der clstterrd harmlessly TO the floor.
Vladimir. ike charging bull. rush
ed IN upon Hawthorne But Haw-
thorne was not there He bad sprung
lightly 10 the top Of the nearby table.
And from that height. as the prince
whirled TO renew the attack. he launch
ed himself into the air
Down came Hawtborue's $50 pounds
Of wtry muscle straight upon the thick
heck aud mighty shoulders Of vladi-
mir
His jump had been well gagged On.
der 70 Vladimir crumpled mud fell TO
the floor ike -four bag Hawthorne
on top Of him aud piuniuG bin down.
General Hohenloe az that instant re-
covered from his trance OF dismay.
With shout be drew his saber and
sprang 70 the rescue OF the fallen
prince.
Bnt Blake. whom the noise OF the
scui1ie had brought from his room. was
upon the general at the very arsI
stride Wrenching the sword from Ho
henIoe Blake yelled gleefulIy:
Go IL. Tony. I've got this oner'
And as be spoke Radulski burst into
the room at the head OF the princes
guard
RaduIski and four OF the guards rush
ed 10 the rescue Of the prince. while tho
remainder went over TO save the gener
81 But the poor general needed no one
70 come 10 bis rescue by this time. fol
the trst blow from Blake sent hin
Dat and unconscious 10 the floor
Bake In the meantime had taken pos
session Of the generals sword TIE
guards bad seized Hawthorne, thus re
leasing the prince. Bake waved hi,
sword reCklessly. The guards drew
back. and a moment later Hawthorne
was IN possession OF the princes
sword The two started for the door.
stop them =asped the prince. 50
weak irO,u LIS beating luat he was IN.