The Monroe journal., 1921-08-26

"SwordS, III You Please, hespohceo
Mallow, Grimly.
obscure spot. Both men had sensitive
ness. and both entered the grounds
with certain thrill of pleasure soften
ing the acerlity of the moment.
Dyck moved and spoke like man
charged with some fluid which had alb
stracted him from lifes monotonouS
routine. lie had to consider the chance
OF never leaving the grounds alive; yet
as he entered the place, where si3oct
grass between the trees made good
footin. for the work 70 he done, the
thrill nf the greenery. the sound OF the
birds. the flick oi a lizard across the
path. and the distant gay leap Of
Young deer brought 10 his senses
gust Of iorous feeling. He was not nor
NAL: hr was submerged lie was IL
the great. consuming atmosphere q
the bigger world and the greater life
He even did not hate Mallow NJ the
moment The thing about 10 he done
was to,him test Of manhood II was
call upon the courage If the soul.
challenge Il life strength and will.
As Mallow entered the grounds, The
thought of SAcila Llyn crossed nycks
mind. and the mental sight ot her
glaGtpned 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 dofred 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
Mallow. Mallow's hand had clammy
touch-clammy hut firm and sure.
There was no tremor In the long, thin
fingers nor nj the lips-the thin, as
celtic lips. as Of a secret service man
hut IN his eyes was dark fire OF
purpose. The morning had touched
him. but not as It had thrown over
Dyck its mantle Of peace. Mallow also
had enjoyed the smell and feeling of
II all. hut with this difference had
filled him with such material joy that
+ he could not bear the thought Of leay-
ing It. II gave him strength Of Will,
which would add security TO his arm
and wrist.
nyck 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; hut this was, In fact, his first
real duel. Many times. Of course, In
the process Of his training, he had
fought as men fight In duels, but with
this difference-that now he was per
mlttad 10 disable or kill his foe.
Physically. there was not vast
deal To choose between the two men
Mallow was lank and tall nervously
Self.contalned, finely concentrated
and vigorous nyck was broad OF
shoulder. well set UP, muscular, anc
with steadler eye than that Of his
foe. Also MS the combat developed
II was clear that he had hand a'
steady as his eye. What was more
his wrist had superb strength an,
fexibility; II was as enduring an'
vital as the forefOot and ankle ~ {
tiger. As a pair they were certainl!
notable. and would give n good &C
count of themselves.
The two men fighting had Amos
) the air II gladiators. Their coat
. were OIL. and the white linen Of thei
shirts looked gracious; while the up
raised left hand Of the fighters hal
anclng the sword-thrust and th
weight Of the body had an almost sin
gular beauty OF the two. Dyck wa
the more graceful. the steadier, III
quicker In his motions. His momen
! tary vision of Sheila Llyn rename
with hlm-not as a vision. rather q
warmth in his inmost being, some
thing which made him intensely aler
cheerful. defiant, exactly skillful.
He had need Of all his sE1l, 70
Mallow was set to win the fight H
felt nstli.etiyely what was workin
in Dyck's mind. He had fought
number ~ duels. and with a certai
tricA art he had given the end
the LIVES Of several. He became cor
scious. however. that Dyck had pa