The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-29

him in the arm without hurting him
much"
I was sorry for Tommy. I was
afraid he would find himself unequal
to the task he had set himself, but
when went to his room found him
gazing smilingly at couple of foils.
/ from which he had just removed the
buttons. They were thin, flexible
weapons. with which 1t would be hard
to do much damage, unless one got
the point at such an angle that it
would make clean thrust. l thought
Tommy would get q scratch or two
and that that would end the affair.
Tommy" said, grasping his hand.
II believe. under the circumstances,
you are doing the right thing. But do
you know anything about swordsman-
ship?"
II had q few lessons In Paris" he
replied. and took me by the arm
Jack" he said. I'm going to win. I
know it-because I've got to save Mil
dred from that BLACKBOARD"
Suppose she doesn't keep the agree
ment." l thought, but didn't say any.
thing. was resolved to watch the
duel pretty closely, and to step In
and thrust up the weapons the minute
either man was in serious danger. So
at seven o'clock went with Tommy
to the stables.
Mildred and Thornton were already
there. He had buttoned up his coat.
and he took my foil with a business
like air which made me fear for
Tommy. believed the cur had
planned to do something mean. He
was too much Of coward to kill him,
| but l wouldn't have been surprised IL
he had cut his face about, to disfigure
him.
AS for Mildred, she was standing
back against the wall and watching
both men with a singular expression;
| she seemed like a person dreaming,
| and certainly there was no look of
love upon her face for Thornton.
! think she had become tonscious Of her
; evil part But she was too game to
call the affair off,
Remember. gentlemen" said, as
! placed the men in position and drew
the foil buttons from my pocket. lin
case Of accident we swear that the
buttons came off accidentally. That's
understood? Then get ready"
They toed the chalk lines I had
drawn, and l lowered my cane.
For half q minute the thrusts and
parties were so swiftly given that it
was impossible to see who was the
better fencer. Then I saw a look Of
surprise come out on Thornton's face.
Tommy was at least his equal with
the weapon. Thornton seemed to be
devoting all his efforts to guarding
his face, for he held himself we'll back,
while at the same time he exposed
his body rather carelessly. Suddenly
saw TommyS blade dart forward.
It seemd to go through Thorntons
chest.
Evidently It had passed under his
arm. for Thornton did not appear
wounded. saw Tommy set his teeth
as he renewed the attack: and then
1t dawned on me that he had Thorn
ton at his mercy.
To my surprise Tommy began to
fence In q very curious way. He used
his foil now something in the manner
OF q sword. making q succession Of
sweeping slashes. at the same time
adroitly parrying Thornton's lunges.
All at once q ribbon Of cloth few out
Of Thornton's coat The blade had
come within q Quarter.inch Of cutting
him open.
Swish! A second ribbon few In
the opposite direction. Then q third
and a fourth and fifth followed, until
! Thornton's coat hung in ribbons about
him.
There was CHASTITY look on Thorn
tons face. thought then that it
was due to Tommy's incredible
workmanship. But 1t wasn't.
Slash! Swish! Slash! Thornton
looked like ragged beggar. The
coat was all gone In front, and now
strips Of waistcoat and shirt began to
follow It. And then a gentle rasping
sound became audible. The foil point
seemed to be striking metal. An in
slant later last slash from Tommy's
foil sent the rest of Thornton's shirt
front flying, disclosing-a tightly-at-
ting breastphate Of flexible chain armor
which hung on one Of the dummy fig.
ures In an obscure place in the hall.
The coward had put this on beneath
his shirt No wonder he had guarded
his face so carefully and exposed his
body!
In spite Of my close attention to the
fight managed to steal a glance at
Mildred. All through the duel she had
chung to the wall; but now she started
forward and stood. with parted lips,
staring at Thornton.
Tommy had resumed his ordinary
method Of holding his weapon, and
was quietly parrying Thornton's saw
age thrusts. I stepped between them
and held up my cane.
That's ALL" 1 said, and Tommy
lowered his point AS he did SO
Thornton lunged with his foil. The
point caught Tommy under the collar
bone and went clean through. Thorn.
ton pulled out the blade and Tommy