The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-01


her fists clenched. Thornton was
leaning with easy insouciance against
the mantel, while Tommy stood by the
door. He was trembling with anger,
but he saw me and called me in.
Don't go, old man." he said; Il
want you here"
Then he turned to Thornton again.
I'll repeat for Jacks benefit what
| have just said to you," he exclaimed.
lou have told me frankly that you
want Mildred. The only reason why
l refuse to give her to you is that
don't believe you have any more ca
pacity to be true to her than you had
TO be true to me. But il you want
her, l will fight you for her, as you
humorously suggested"
My dear Tommy" drawled Thorn
ton, of course I'll fight you if you
want me to. But don't want to hurt
you, and I'm afraid I'm rather bet.
ter boxer than you are. So you'll have
to choose some weapon which will
give US an equal acknowledgements
rooms, for example, or poisoned pills"
How about swords?" asked Tommy,
still quivering.
My dear Tommy, l didn't know
your studies of the antique included
the art of workmanship" Thornton
answered, but as l happen to know
something about it"
There are two foils in the hall"
said Tommy I'VE can remove the
buttons VIII you be in the stables
at seven?"
Sure grinned Thornton.
! Mildred interviewed with passion
ate exclamation.
IT'S all right, DEAR" Thornton as
sured her 1T isn't nice to fight about
you, but Tommy understands the stu
alton, and it will be easy just to pink
much"
| was sorry for Tommy. l 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 it would be hard
to do much damage, unless one got
the point at such an angle that it
would make clean thrust. | thought
Tommy would get scratch or two
and that that would end the affair.
Tommy" / said, grasping his hand,
Il believe, under the circumstances,
you are doing the right thing. But do
you know anything about swordsman-
ship?'
Il had few lessons in Paris" he
replied, and took me by the arm.
Jack he said, I'm going to win.
know it-because I've got to save Mil
dred from that backyard"
Suppose she doesn't keep the agree
ment," 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 l went with Tommy
to the stables.
Mildred and Thornton were already
there. He had buttoned up his coat,
and he took my foil with business
like air which made me fear for
Tommy. believed the cur had
planned to do something mean. He
was too much of a coward to kill him.
but wouldn't have been surprised II
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 person dreaming
and certainly there was no look OF
love upon her face for Thornton.
think she had become conscious Of her
evil part. But she was too game to
call the affair of.
Remember, gentlemen" said, as
I 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 had
drawn, and l lowered my cane.
For half O minute the thrusts and
parties were 30 swiftly given that II
was impossible to see who was the
better fencer. Then | 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 well back
while at the same time he exposed
his body rather carelessly. Suddenly
| saw Tommy's blade dart forward
1t seemd to go through Thornton
chest.
Evidently it had passed under his
arm, for Thornton did not appear
as he renewed the attack; and then
it dawned on me that he had Thorn
ton at his mercy.
To my surprise Tommy began to
fence in very curious way. He used
his foil now something in the manner
of a sword, making a succession OF
sweeping slashes, at the same time
adroitly parrying Thornton's lunges
All at once a ribbon of cloth flew out
Of Thornton's coat. The blade had
come within quarter-inch of cutting
him open.
Swish, A second ribbon flew in
the opposite direction. Then a third
and a fourth and fifth followed, until
Thornton's coat hung in ribbons about
him.
There was a CHASTITY look on Thorn
tons face. | thought then that il
was due to Tommy's incredible
sWordsmauship. But il wasn't