The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-25
cor1nuot From LAT Issue

NJ SNAAAAs y Ghh uoEuly uutb lIuAb
you apprectate the honor Lam do
ns y6us
The black boy ran down the
tepk and presently EphfaIm was
u the shadow Of the thlcket:
1iye one 70 Mr.. Grey, EphrIam,
aud the other TO me-"
Ephraim,n warned ErskIne,
take tbs pistol. You may need
4 70 protect yourself"
Indeed, yes," returned Grey,
Ind kindly instruct him. not TO
NE Il 70 protect you" For an.
gwer Erskine sprang from the sha.
dpw-zdigcardins formal courtesies..
I'm gafde!" he called sternly.
The two shining blades clashed
lightly and qutYered agaginst each
1ther IN the moonlight,
Grey was cautious at first, try.
ing out his opponents increase In
KIM
YOU have made a marked i'm.
provemen."
srhank, you smiled Ersklne.
Your wrist Is much stronger. :"
Naturally" Grey leapod back
ward and parted Just IN time to
ward off, a vicious thrust that was
like a dart Of lightning.
Ant a Frenchman taught
you that
Frenehman taught me all
the little / know"
- wonder II he taught you how.
TO meet this"
tHet did, answered Erskiue, par.
rytng easily and with an answer.
Ing thrust that turned Grey sud.
denly anxious. Grey began to
breath heavily.
u think, too" said Erskine,
'that my. wind Is better than yours
would you like a short resting
spell2h
From the shadow Ephraim
chnekied, and Grey snapped:
Make that black devil"
Keep quiet, Bphraim!" broke
in Erskine sternly.
Grey was getting angry nov and
Was beginning to pant.
Your wind js short" said Err.
skine with mock compassion. II
win give you o little breathing
spell presently"
Grey was not wasting his preci.
ons breath now and he made no
now" said Erskine sharply,
and Grey's blade flew from his
hand and lay like a streak Of sill.
vel on the dewy grass Grey rush.
"a for Il.
Damn you!" he ragged, and
wheeled furiously-patienGe, hui.
NOR, and caution quite gcne-and
they fought now In deadly silence.
There was the sound OF voices,
and It was evident that the game
bad ended In a quarrel and the
players were coming up the river.
bank toward them. Erskine heard,
but u Grey did he at first gave no
bign-he was too much concerned
with the death that faced him.
Suddenly Erskine know that Grey
had heard, for the fear in his face
gave way to dlabol!cal grin OF
triumph and he dashed suddenly
into, defense-it he could protect
htmsef only little longer! Err.
skiing had delayed the fInIsh.stroke
too long and he must make 1t now.
Grey gave way step by step
parrying only. Tho blades flashed
IKE tiny bits OF lightning. Err.
shnee face, grim and inexorable,
brought the sick fear back into
stirey's and ErsRine saw his enc.
myis lips open.
He lunged then, his blade went
ttl1e, sank to the hilt, and Grey's
warped soul started on its way
With a craven cry for help. Ell.
4ktne sprang back into the sha.
dows and snatched his pistol from
Ephfairn's hand:
Get out Of the way now, Tell
thern I did It"
Once he looked back He saw
Barbara at the halldoor with old
Nanny behind her. With a run.
mig leap he raulted tho hedge,
and hidden In the bushes,
Ephraim heard Tirefly's' hoofs
behtng ever more family on the
sandySroad.
XxIlI
yorktown broke the British
nsert and General Dale went
nome to Red Oak. He had ploced
cut the full story OF Barbara and
EIskine and Dane Grey, and wise.
ne told her first OF Grcy's dark
reaehery, and the girl listened
with Mortified silence.
81 have never understood about
tnyeelt-and asd that num-" she
sad and ] hevor will"
do" said the general gently,
md ! understand you through my
SISTER who was 60 like you, Er.
sktne,s father was as Indignant DIS
HAIRY is now, and am trying to
ect toward you as my father did
toward her" tho girl pressed her
hps TO one OF his hands.
~ think I'd better tell you the
the whole story now said General
Dale and he told OF Ersktno's
father his Witness and his wand.
erings, his marriage and the cap.
tttesof his wife and the little son
by the Indians, all Of which she
knew and the girl wondered why
he should be telling her again. The
general paused:
You know Erskine's mother
was not killed, FIe found her."
The girl looked up amazed and in
credulous.
Yes he went on, the whlte
woman whom he. found In the In.
alan village was his mother"