The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-05
Copyright By Charles scribner's Soma

Copyright By Charles ScrtoneFs soma
moi as mucn as / appreciate your
courage and the risk you are taking"
Erskine smiled.
1.-The risk is perhaps less than you
think
''You have not been idle?
81 have learned more of my IA
theirs swords than / knew when we
used them last"
81 am glad-it will be more inter-
esting." Erskine looked toward the
house and moved impatiently.
my brother officer has dined too
WELL" noted Grey placidly, land the
rest of my-er-retinue are gambling.
We are quite secure"
"Ah!" Erskine breathed-he had
seen the black boy run down the steps
with something under one arm and
presently Ephfailn was in the shadow
of the thicket:
"Give one to Mr.. Grey, Ephraim,
and the other to me. I believe you
said on that other occasion that there
was no choice of bIadesT'
quite right" Grey answered, skill
fully testing his bit of steel.
Keep well out of the way, Eph-
raim," warned Erskine, land take this
pistol. You may need it, IL I am
worsted to protect yourself"
Indeed, yes" returned Grey, land
kindly instruct him not to use 1t to
protect you" For answer Erskine
sprang from the misunderstanding
formal courtesies.
"En garde!" he called sternly.
Grey was cautious at first, trying
out his opponents increase in skill:
'You have made marked improve.
ment."
THANK you" smiled Erskine.
'Your wrist is much stronger"
Naturally" Grey leaped backward
and parted just in time a vicious
thrust that was like dart of light
ming.
"Ah! A Frenchman taught you
that
"a Frenchman taught me all the
little I know"
II wonder If he taught you how to
meet this
''He did," answered Erskine, parry
ing easily and with an answering
thrust that turned Grey suddenly
anxious. Constantly Grey unanswered
to keep his back to the moon, and
just as constantly Erskine easily kept
him where the light shone fairly ON
both. Grey began to breathe heavily.
II think, too said Erskine, that
my wind is little better than yours
would you like a short resting
spellr'
From the shadow Ephraim chuckled,
and Grey snapped:
make that black devil"
Keep quiet, Ephraim!" broke In
Erskine sternly. Again Grey maneu-
vered for the moon, to no avail, and
Erskine gave warning:
'"Try that again and / will put that
moon in your eyes and keep 1t there D
Grey was getting angry now and was
beginning to pant.
"Your wind is short" said Erskine
with mock compassion. II will give
you little breathing-spel presently
Grey was not wasting his precious
breath now and he made no answer
'Now!" said Erskine sharply, an6
Grey's blade flew from his hand and
lay like a streak of silver on the dew5
grass. Grey rushed for 1t.
Oh your he ragged, and wheeled
furiously-patience, humor, and eau
finn OT1ffn fnT1Oh%
In deadly silence. Ephraim saw th<
British officer appear In the hall and
walk unsteadily down the steps al
though he were coming down the path
but he dared not open his lips. There
was the sound of voices, and 1t wal
evident that the game had ended in {
quarrel and the players were coming
up the river bank toward them. Err
skine heard, but If Grey did he a
first gave no sign-he was too mucl
concerned with the death that facet
him. Suddenly Erskine knew tina
Grey had heard, for the fear In hi
face gave way to a diabolic grin o.
triumph and he dashed suddenly int
defense-if he could protect himset
only little longer! Ersk1ne had de
layed the finishing stroke too long ant
he must make 1t now. Grey CAV
way step by step-parrying only
The blades flashed like tiny bits o
lightning. Erskine's face, grim ant
inexorable, brought the sick fear bacl
into Grey's, and Erskine saw his enc
my's lips open. He 1unged then, nd
blade went true, sank to the hilt, ans
| Grey's warped soul started on it's wa.
| with craven cry for help. Erskin
sprang back into the shadows ant
snatched his pistol from Ephraim'
| hand:
Get out of the way now. Tell then
| I did it."
Once he looked back. He saw Bar
| bara at the hall door with old MANN
! behind her. With a running leap b
vaulted the hedge, and, hidden in tn
| bushes, Ephraim heard F1refly's hoof
| beating ever more family the sand
| road
CHAPTER XVIII
| Yorktown broke the British hear