Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-11-23
CHAPTER xI-continued.


whenY'
"At the first opportunity"
"From this moment shall be wait
ing for nothing else"
Barbara, resppearing, heard their
last words, and she came forward pale
and with piercing eyes:
cousin Erskine, / want TO apollo
gize to you for my little faith hope
you will forgive me. Mr.. Grey, your
horse win be at the door at once.
wish you a safe Journey--to your com
mand" Grey bowed and turned -furi-
GUS
Erskine was on the porch when Grey
came out to mount his horse.
"You will want seconds?" asked
Grey.
"They might try to stop us-Eol'
Il shall ride slowly" Grey said.
Erskine bowed.
Il shall not"
Nor did he. Within half an hour
Barbara, passing through the hail. saw
that the rapiers were gone from the
wall and she stopped, with the color
fled from her face and her hand on her
heart. At that moment Ephraim
dashed from the kitchen.
Miss Barbary, somebody gwi1e to
git killed. / was wukkin' In de ole
field an Marss Grey rid ~ cussin' to
hisself Jist now Marse Erskine went
tearin' by de landin' wild a couple o.
swords under his arm" His eyes too
went to the wall. "Yeg, bless Gawd,
dey's goneI" Barbara flew out the
door.
In a few moments she had found
Harry and Hugh Even while their
horses were being saddled her father
rode up.
TITS murder" cried Harry, sand
Grey knows 1t. Ersldne knows moth
ing about rapier."
Without word Colonel Dale
wheeled his tired horse and soon
Harry and Hugh dashed after him.
Barbara walked back to the house,
wringing her hands. but on the porch
she sat quietly in the agony OF wait
Ing that was the role Of women in
those days
Meanwhile. at swift gallop Firefy
was skimming along the river road.
Grey had kept his word and more: he
hid not only ridden slowly but he had
stopped and was waiting at an oak
tree that was cornerstone between
two plantations.
'tI'hat may not XIII you on your
own land" he said.
Erskine started. "The consideration
is deeper than you know"
THEY hitched their horses, and Frs
kline followed into pleasant glade
grassy glade through which MUIR
INJURED little stream. Ersline dropped
the raplers on the sward.
Take your choice" he said
'9There is none" said Grey, picking
up the one nearer to hir. II know
them both" Grey took off his coat
while ErslSine waited. Grey made the
usual moves OF courtesy and still Frs
kline waited. wonderingly. with the
point OF the rapier on the ground.
"When you are ready. he said, twill
you please let me known"
Ready" answered Grey, and he
iunged forward Erskine merely
whipped at his blade so that the clang
of II whined on the air to the break
ing-point and sprang backward. He
was as quick as an eyelash and 1.-THE
as panther. and yet Grey almost
laughed aloud All Erskine did was
to whip the thrusting blade aside and
leap out of danger like flash of light.
1t was like an inexpert boxer fail
ing according to rules unknown
and Grey's face famed and actually
turned anxious. Tscen, as kindly
fate would have It. Ersklnes blade
caught in Crews guard by accident.
and the powerful wrist behind 1t seek
Ing merely TO wrench the weapon
loose tore Grey's rapier from his grasp
and hurled 1t ten feet away. There
IS no greater humiliation for the ex-
pea swordsman, and not for nothing
had Erskine suffered the shane of
tkat long-ago day when a rvimitiye
instinct had led him to thrusting his
knife into this same enemy's breast.
Now, with his swords point on the
earth, he waited courteously for Grey
20 recover his weanCn.
Again d kindly fate interviewed
Even as Grey rushed for his sword,
Erskine heard tGe beat Of horses
hoofs. AS he snatched ii from the
ground and turned. with a wicked
smile over his grinding teeth. came
Harry's shout, and as he rushed for
Erskine. Colonel Dale swung from his
horse. The sword-blades clashed
Erskine whipping hack and forth in 3
way to make swordsman groan and
Colonel Dale had Erskine BY the wrist
and was between them.
How dare you sirTs cried Grey
holly.
Just a moment voting gentleman,
said Colonel Dale calmly.
''Let us alone, Uncle Harry r.
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