The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-11-12

ne even ulu uot niue AdiioW AZ SAS
moment. The thing about to be done
was to him test Of manhood 1t was
call upon the courage of the soul. a
challenge of life. strength and will.
As Mallow entered the grounds. the
thought of Sheila Llyn crossed Dyck's
| gladdened the eyes Of his soul. For
| one brief instant he stood lost in the
minds look; then he stepped forward.
saluted, shook hands with Mallow,
and dotted his coat and waistcoat.
AS he did so, he was conscious Of
curious coldness, even of dampness. In
| the hand which had shaken that Of
MaIlow. Mallow's hand had a clammy
touch-clammy, but firm and sure.
| There was no tremor In the long, thin
| fingers nor at the lips-the thin, as
| cetic lips. as of q secret service man
but in his eyes was dark fire of
purpose. The morning had touched
him, but not as 1t had thrown over
Dyck its mantle of peace. Mallow also
had enjoyed the smell and feeling of
| 1t all, hut with this differenee-it had
filled him with such material JOY that
he could not bear the thought of leav-
ing Il. II gave him strength OF Will.
which would add security to his arm
and wrist.
Dyck had learned swordsmanship
with as skilled a master as Ireland
had known, and he had shown, In get
ting knowledge of the weapon, nat
ural instinct and capacity worthy Of
the highest purpose. He had handled
the sword since he was six, and his
play was better than that of most
men; but this was, in fact, his first
real cuel. Many times, OF course, In
Il the process of his training, he had
fought as men fight In dueis, but with
this difference-that now he was per
mitted to disable or kill his foe.
Physically, there was not vast
deal to choose between the two men.
Mallow was lank and tall, nervously
self-contained. finely concentrated,
and vigorous. Dyck was broad OF
shoulder, well set up. muscular, and
with steadier eye than that Of bis
foe. Also, as the combat developed,
IL was clear that he had d hand as
steady as his eye. What was more.
his wrist had superb strength and
fiexibslity: Ii was as enduring and
vital as the fcrefeot and ankle of a
tiger. AS a pair they were certainly
notable, and would give good &C
count of themselves.
The two men fighting had almost
the air of gladiators. Their coats
were Oft, and the white linen of their
| shirts looked gracious; while the up
raised left hand of the fighters hal
ancing the sword-thrust and the
weight of the body had an almost SIN
gular beauty. OF the two, Dycs was
the more graceful, the steadier, the
quicker In his motions. His momen-
tary vision of Sheiia Llyn remained
with him--not as vision, rather as
A warmth In his inmost being. some
thing which made him intensely alert,
cheerful, defiant, exactly skilifnl.
He had need OF all his SAIL, fos
Mailow was set 10 win the fight. lie
felt instinctiveiy what was working
In pyck's mind. He had fought q
number Of tlueis, and with certain
trick or art he had given the end fe
the lives of several. He became CON
. scious however, that Dyck had par
ticular stroke in mind. which he him
self was preventing by nasterfu
methods. 1t might be one thing or an
other, hut in view of Dyck's training
il world perhaps be the Enniscorfhs
touch.
| Again and again Dyck pressed hi:
antagonist backward, seeking to mud
die his defense and to clear an open
| ins for his own deadly stroke; but thu
other man also was master. ant
parted successfully.
| Presently, with quick move, Nal
low took the offensive, and tried II
unserle Dyck's poise and disorganizs
his battle-pian. For an instant tn
| tempestucus action, the brilliant
| swift play OF the sword. the auiverini
fiippancy of the steel, gave Dyck tina
which almost Disconnected him. fe
ne NAG EIip "a kattfsSch. dAa was 80
tunate to preserve his defense Intact
| though once his enemy's steel caugf
his left shoulder. making 1t bleed TIL
seconds, however, decided that tn
thrust was not serious. and made u
attempt to interrupt the combat.
Dyck's tactics changed. Once agai
he became aggressive. and he. drew
his foe TO a point where the skill o
both men was tried TO the utfermosl
1t was clear the time had~cone TO
9 something definite. suddenly Dye
threw himself back with an agile sfeI
:. iunged slightly to one side. and the
: in q gallant foray got the steel poin
into the sword-arm Of his enemy. Tha
was the Enniscorfhy stroke, whic
. had been taught him by Wiilia1
Tandy, the expert swordsman, an
had been made famous by Lord Wei
inx Of Enntsccrthy. II succeeded, an
: W rave Dyck the victory. for Mailow
9 sword dropped from his hand. h
= caasped the wounded arm with his iel
: hand % the surgeon came forward.
: .well, yce got n home he said
!. Dyck: and it's derby done.