The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-09-13
CHAPTER xl-continued.


when?"
AT the first opportunity"
prom this moment ! shall BE wait
ing for nothing else"
Barbara, reappearing, heard their
last words, and she came forward pale
and with piercing eyes:
cousin Erskine, l want to apollo
gize to you for my little faith. l hope
you will forgive me. Mr.. Grey, your
horse will be at the door at once. !
wish you safe journey-to your cosl-
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.
"1hey might try to stop us-no"
II shall ride slowly" Grey said
Erskine bowed.
~ shall not"
Nor did he. Within half an hour
Barbara, passing through the hall. saw
that the rapiers were gone from the
wall and she stopped, with the color
fef from her face and her hand on her
hfArt. At that moment Ephraim
dashed from the kitchen.
Miss Barbary, somebody gwine to
git killed. I was wukkin' in de ole
field an Marse Grey rid by cussin' to
hisself. Jist now Marse Erskine went
tearin' by de landin' wild couple O.
swords under his arm" His eyes too
went to the wall. "Yes bless Gawd,
dey's gone!" 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.
IT'S MURDER" cried Harry, sand
Grey knows It, Erskine 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 gallon Firefly
was Swimming along the river road
Grey had kept his word and more: he
had not only ridden slowly but he had
stopped and was waiting at nm oak
tree that was cornerstone between
two plantations.
Ihat l may not kill you on YOUR
own land" he said.
Erskine started. 1.-THE consideration
is deeper than you know"
Ihey hitched their horses and Frs
kline followed into pleasant glade
grassy glade through which mur-
INJURED little stream Erskine dropped
the rapiers on the sward
rake your choice" he said.
mere Is none" said Grey, picking
up the one nearer to him. II know
them BOTH" Grey took off his coat
"hile Erskine 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 know"
Ready" answered Grey and he
lunged forward. Erskine merely
whipped at his blade so that the clang |
OF II whined on the air to the break
ihg-polnt and sprang backward. He
was as quick as an eyelash and 1.-THE |
as panther, and yet Grey almost
iaughed aloud. All Erskine did was
70 whip the thrusting blade aside and
leap out Of danger like a flash of light.
II was like an inexpert boxer fail
ing according to rules unknown
ana Grey's face famed and actually
turned anxious. Then, as a kindly
Iate would have it. Erskine's blade
rausht In Grey's guard by accident.
ma the powerful wrist behind il seek.
ing merely to wrench the weapon
oose tore Grey's rapier from his grasp
ihd hurled 1t ten feet away. There
5 no greater humiliation for the ex-
'ert swordsman. and moi for nothing
,au Erskine suffered the shame of
NAT iong-agO day when primitive
instinct had led him to thrusting his
,hiIe into this same enemy's breast.
VOW with his swords point on the
'arth he waited courteously for Grey
o recover his weapon.
again kindly fate interviewed.
wen as Grey rushed for his sword,
'rskine heard the beat of horses .
oors. AS he snatched it from the ,
round and turned, with wicked
mile over his grinding teeth, came
,arrys shout. and as he rushed for
'rskine. Colonel Dale swung from his S
orse. The swordblades FLASHED '
'rskine whipping back and forth in
Jay to make swordsman groan-and
o'onei Dale had Erskine by the wrist | b
MI was between them.
How dare you, sir?" cried Grey
Wia.
Just a moment. yuung gentleman"
no Colonel Dale calmly. .
Let us alone. Uncle Harry--I-" :
Just a moment" repeated the a
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