Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-11


once took the medal from Garner
at the Polytechnique in Lyons"
You forget. perhaps. that de
leated Mozzolni is 1885,"
"Ah, true" answered Vital $50
much better. At any rate, it will
not be- mere butchery of amateurs
One OF us dies here in this hallway
tonight Splendid, am delighted that
it will be according to the rules and
practise OF science"
He bowed low. his hand upon hi,
heart. The action contrasted strange.
" with his figure as he stood there
The man was dressed only in trousers
and undershirt, with slippers on his
feet.
Shall write your death certif-
cate before WE Begin" asked Bro.
deur 1T will save time. Perhaps you
would like to witness it yourself and
see that all is correct"
Vital ErgaSy's only answer was to
drag a heavy chair mp in front of the
fire and mount upon it. | could not
see him now; that is, from my posi-
ton only his legs were visible. But
saw Andres arm go up. When 1t
came down his right hand held the
rapiers
The iirelgh: slinted swiftly from
nis,1
Red were those glints, red as the little
pools of water had seen on the hall
floor a while before, red AS fresh
blood.
Ergazy descended from the chair
and pushed it away
Either one will do for me-" said
he Choose your weapon
Ideal place for two gentlemen to
settle their little personal difficulties"
remarked Andre. handing one of the
rapiers to his opponent. Quite 70
mantle. I'm sure. Very like novel,
is it not? Colonial hallway -old heir.
looms for weapons freight ah,
IDEAL"
He tore away The dangling stripes
of his Shirt-sleeve where | had ripped
il, barring his left arm to the shoulder.
The other sleeve he rolled up well
above the elbow. Then he tishtened
his belt and kicked of his slippers
Vital did as much
"Barefooed, both Of us said he.
That's far enough These con.
founded slippers will never do They
are impossibly slippery Oh this waHed
floor"
EN- earde." exclaimed the French.
man, saluting
Then heard the slight, sltherlns
chatter of steel on steel.
Swift motions became visible IN the
mirror. but just what they meant |
could not determine. could see little
save thrust and parry of arms,
lunging of bodies, and Pickering
flash nov and again Of metal
The pair passed from my obserya.
ton. Eager, crouched on my knees
and crept along the banisters. peering
through. Now | could see the men
by direct vision, no longer needing to
observe them in the glass.
Back and forth. round and round
they struggled with swift passes and
(orceful yet perfectly controlled
strokes. And ever that blood-stirrins
little talk of blade on blade-a sound
once heard. never f0rgotten--filled the
hallway: that, and the painting breath
of the fighters; now and then gushing
expiration of effort, and always the
pad.pad-padding of their bare feet on
the hardwood floor
All good coup de poisnet,' cried
Vital But see. | parry"
so. How is this riposte. them"
Once more they fought in silence.
All at once Ergazy laughed wildly.
"Touche,' he exulted, recovering
from IA terrific drive. "Pinked YOU
that time, Andre" =
Bah. Only a heshwound-fore-
arm--a serateh,' sneered the French.
man, his blade quivering in the fire.
light like a serpents tongue--a cobra
whose bite was death. Surely you
have lost skill and Judgment since the
days of Lyons
Silence again, while the sword.play
redoubled in fury A mist of steel
seemed TO hang between the men as
they advanced. retreated, leaped. and
parred. each with his left hand high
behind him. each with bare forearm
and corded fist directing the fatal
blade
Suddenly Andre sprang with 1.-THE
grace. His blade Kicked forward
lightning.swift Vital whired TO
meet 1t, but a fraction of a second
100 late.
heard a groan-a laugh, saw
vitall's right arm sweep upward.
Then his left dropped. His head sag
ged and fell.
Came the clatter of his tapier as il
FLASHED TO the floor and spun away.
Andre pulled his own blade from
his opponents body spitted clean
through the lungs as Vital ErgazY
struck The floor.
The Frenchman stood hack smiling
II Iii Al,
hand on his hip. set thu point of the
rapier on the ilocr, aud bent and