The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-10-10

$50
Townsend bad lost her betrothed. He
gathered ali the information possible
concerning the affair. and II was plain
to him that his rival, or, rather, the
man who had prevented him from
winning Vivien Wentworth's love, had
been murdered. Furthermore, he was
told that Charter was invulnerable.
He was an expert with every weapon.
from the dirk TO the claymore, from
the derringer 10 the rife.
mo one" said Kenwortby's inform
ant. "can hope 10 conquer Charter ex-
cept through his nerve. Naturally he
Is q coward. IL is the certainty that
his skill VIII protect him and enable
him to kill his opponent that keeps
him cutting notches on the cane which
bears the number OF his victims. New
ertheless he has splendid nerve, and,
this being the only possible avenue
through which 10 attack him, he Is liza.
BILE 10 die a natural death In his Ised."
Kenworthy dwelt on this statement
a long while-a man with splendid
nerve, whom an enemy could hope
10 attack only through that nerve.
How might the nerve be attackedY
He learned hat Charter, like most
Frenchmen, had been born "A Roman
Catholic, though he had never been to
mass or confession since his boyhood.
Kenworthy went to a priest and sub
mitted a plan for bringing Charter
back into the fold, but, IL this were
not practicable, 10 prevent his com
hitting n more murders.
The priest sought the duelist and
tried TO convince him Of the ~heinousness
OF his crimes. Charter was unmoved
After expending upon him all the per
suasive ~eloquence he possessed with
out avail the priest said to him:
"Be Il SO. / leave you 10 your fate,
for no man who practices deliberate
murder as you do can come to any
good end. Beware and repent before
it IS too late. If you do not. Gods
wrath will surely smite you"
For the first time during the inter
view Charter WINGED. The father left
him without another word, and the
duelist sat for some time lost In
thought. Then he took up the cane
on which he kept the record Of his
victims. There were twenty notches.
He cut one more, saying TO himself;
II Will make good this last notch;
then / viii retire on my laurels."
That evening Charter dined at a
cafe where he was used to taking his
meals. He had few friends and dined
alone. A young man entered the cafe
and took n seat at a table where he
faced the duelist, fixing a calm, res
olute look upon him. Charter endured
II for q time, then said In the usual
icy tone he used in beginning an af-
fair:
Monsieur, / appear TO interest you"
'You certainly do, since / represent
your victims" said the man in broken
French.
Charter started.
II am commissioned by your last vic.
tim, Armand Trudeau, to avenge him,
continued the stranger.
Recovering himself sufficiently TO re
tain his outward GOODNESS, Charter
said: II do not wish to be disturbed a
my dinner. Please let me have your
card and a friend of mine will call OF
you"
"What for, monsieur
"To arrange a meeting between us
There Is no necessity to arrange {
meeting. / will meet you on the groun'
where you killed Armand Trudeau a
@ tomorrow morning. You shall hav'
your friends with you and choose tn
weapons you prefer. AS for me,
need no human assistance"
Charter looked at the man in won
der. He would have no seconds, woul,
leave the choice OF weapons to his enc
my. What did 1t mean2 He nodde'
an assent and went on with his dinner
The stranger continued 10 stare al him
Finally when Charter raised a glas
Of wine to his lips his hand trembled
AS soon as he had finished his dinner
making an effort 10 appear u%nconcern
ed, he arose from the table.
"Adieu TIL tomorrow, monsieur"
In the morning Charter arrived wit
his seconds bearing rapiers. While b
was waiting for his antagonist a cal
rage drove up. and his enemy alighi
ed. There was on his face a look o
cool resolution, indicating that he Ia
no fear whatever for the result. Bein
given n rapier and his enemy another
the two faced each other. and the er
counter began.
The stranger showed himaelf only
fair fencer. He Kept his eye ON tina
/ of his antagonist, as is customary wit
fencers. and II produced an effec.
} Charter astonished his seconds by III
weak thrusts. his almost unsuccessful
defense. Under the influence OF hi
antagonists eye he grew weaker NOR
defenseless. till Mt last the strange
taking advantage OF bis mental cond
ton. ran him through the heart
4 sN~-tI.,.u, - .nl1 tha man uhO I'M