Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-11-15


man, and my interest Identified me
with it. Silencing the person who was
now crossing the ballroom ahead of
me had become imperative, for | had
small doubts about his having read the
paper. The only question was: Had
he yet fired the train? / could not
tell, and thus the crux Of the matter
lay in the fact that might kill him
and profit nothing. could only hope
l had acted in time. -
He led me from the great room and
down the hall, and l was fearing that
he might prove a coward and bolt
from the front door when he swung
into the reception room and looked
around at its inmates. Robinson, Clin-
ton, and Arnold had gone. On a sofa
were a couple of young bucks thor
oughly drunk, their arms clasped
around each other, and l doubt IL
there were five sober persons in the
room. A butler was passing wine and
refreshments.
But the Knight of Malta, whom l
had seen near Arnold, was still there,
ing and whispering, pointing toward
me as he explained the situation.
There was no hesitation on the part OF
the knight. He nodded, got to his feet,
and the two came toward me: seeing
which, l turned and made my way
through the house to the garden, con-
scious that was being followed. Over
xhA lou II
to the earthwork. The place was de-
serted, being far from wine and dane.
ing, and as halted there the others
came up. the knight advancing to me
and holding out his hand. My oppo.
nent remained apart. at is a little
unusual to place so much responsible
ty on single witness, sir" he said.
"Have you no one to act for you?"
ut Is an unusual OCCASION" l re-
turned. II have no intimate here, and
look to you to see fair play for us
both"
by my faith, your trust is remark
able! But it is well placed! I swear
to draw my sword in behalf of the one
suffering foul. But is not this spot
too open to observation? With your
consent let us to the beach at the foot
of the bluff; the tide is out; the sand
is hard and firm"
He spoke in a business-like manner,
and l fancied he was used to this kind
of work.
LAS you please" I said. "Are you
an intimate friend of this gentleman"
To hon i,,t-
ance; however, l know his name and
rank"
Have you knowledge of our diff
ference?"
ut is regarding a note. am told"
"And the matter of the note?"
"On my honor, know nothing more,
sir"
"Then you will understand that
should have the happiness to van
Quish this person you will not have
the temerity to charge me with rob.
bing him of the paper. 1t is in his pos.
session, but 1t belongs to me. The ma
ture of its contents will not be divulg-
ed unless am defeated. Do you
agree to this?" / asked, turning to
my opponent, who was untying his
rope girdle. He laughed a low, ex-
cited laugh. Il agree to ALTO all
that may have exercise! Let our
witness bear witness to my oath!
Come! We will 60 below!"
We scrambled down the bluff that
here stood not more that twenty feet
above the river. AS my opponent
threw off his cassock with the vigor
Of impatience l was not surprised to
find him in the full-dress uniform of
British naval officer, though Of what
rank / could not determine; 1t was a
costume that made my civilians dress
tame by comparison. But instead of
cutlas he wore rapier similar to my
own. that being the usual arm carried
by gentlemen. ...a-g.
AS laid aside my cassock, coat, and
waistcoat, turned to the knight. "Sir,
/ would like an introduction to the
pan l am about to cross swords
with" but before he could answer the
other spoke.
81 have the honor to announce my.
self British officer. though of French
blood. And you, m'sieur?"
Merely citizen of New York; let
that suffice. However, am no rene
gade."
"Now. by st. Gris," he returned, as
he threw aside his scabbard and
whipped the air with a slender blade.
You have little need to spur me by a
gratuitous insult, young man. Take
your last look at the moon for on my
soul this Is to be poutrance! You
wish to know the hand that will pun
ish YOU? Behold! / greet you as La
Classe, maitre d'armes on his majes.
tvs frigate Somerset. My friend, you
will be my nineteenth, but my first
merely provincial En- garde. m'sieur!"
LA Classe! Armand La Classe!
Like lightning my mind went back to
when, hardly week btfore, heard
from I.e DaIo's Inns the story of the