Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-11-17

AAANaA MAhANM AANNEuW MIn WNNM kNltu
In a duel aud, on inquiry. that Bertha
Townsend had lost her betrothed. He
gathered all the information possible
concerning the AFFAIR. aud II was plain
to him that his rival, or, rather, the
nan who had prevented him from
winning Vivlen Wentworth's love. had
DeeD 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 TO the rifle.
mo one said Kenworthy's inform
ant. 'can hope to conquer Charter ex-
cept through his nerve. Naturally he
Is a coward. Il Is the certainty that
his skin will protect him and enable
him 10 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 to attack him. he Is Tia.
BILE to die a natural death in his bed"
Kenworthy dwelt on this statement
n long whlle-a man with splendid
nerve. whom an enemy could hope
to attack only through that nerve.
How might the nerve be attacked
He learned that Charter, like most
Frenchmen. had been born a Roman
Catholic. though he had never been to
mas or confession since his bOyhood.
Kenworthy went to a priest and sub
mitted a plan for bringing Charter
back into the fold. but, II this were
not practicable, to prevent his com
hitting any more murders.
The priest sought the duelist and
tried TO convince him Of the Nervousness
Of his crimes. Charter was unmoved
After expanding upon him all the per
suasive %eloquence he possessed With
out avail the priest said to him:
BE 1t so. l leave you to 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 n more, saying to himself:
II will make good this last notch;
then l will 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 a seat at a table where he
faced the duelist, fixing a calm, res
olute look upon him, Charter endured
1t for a time, then said in the usual
icy tone he used in beginning an ar
fair:
Monsieur, 1 appear to interest you"
"You certainly do, since l 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: IL do not wish to be disturbed at
my dinner. Please let me have your
card and a friend Of mine will call on
you"
What for, monsieur
ITO arrange a meeting between us"
There is no necessity to arrange a
meeting. 1 will meet you on the ground
where you killed Armand Trudeau at
8 tomorrow morning. You shall have
your friends with you and choose the
weapons you prefer. As for me, !
need no human assistance"
Charter looked at the man in won
der. He would have no seconds. would
leave the choice OF weapons to his enc
my. What did 1t mean? He nodded
an assent and went on with his dinner
The stranger continued to stare Mt him.
Finally when Charter raised a glass
of wine to his lips his hand trembled,
AS soon as he had finished his dinner.
making an effort TO appear
cd, he arose from the table.
"Adieu till tomorrow. monsieur"
In the morning Charter arrived with
his seconds bearing rapiers. While he
was waiting for his antagonist a car
riage drove up, and his enemy alight-
ed. There vas on his face a look of
cool resolution, indicating that he had
no fear whatever for the result Being
given a rapier and his enemy another,
the two faced each other. and the en-
counter began.
The stranger showed himself only a
fair fencer. He kept his eye on that
Of his antagonist, as is customary with
%fencers. and it produced an effect.
Charter astonished his seconds by his
weak thrusts. his almost unsuccessful
defense. Under the influence Of his
antagonists eye he grew weaker, more
d~efenseless, till at last the stranger,
taking advantage OF his mental condi
ton. ran him through the heart.
Gentlemen" said the man who had
killed him. 1T no longer serves my
purpose to remain lncognito, Here is