The Adair County news., 1922-09-05
OOpyhght By Charles scrIbner's Sons

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-now
81 shall ride slowly" Grey said
fErskine bowed.
@fI 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
E1ed from her face and her hand on her
heart. At that moment Ephraim
~sAashed from the kitchen.
Miss Barbary, somebody gwine to
sgft killed. was wukkin' in de ole
tield an Marse Grey rid by cussin' to
hisself. Jist now Marse Erskine went
fearin' by de landin' wild a couple o.
swords under his arm" His eyes too
wenf TO the wall "Yes, bless Gawd,
Sdey's gone" Barbara flew out the
door
In a few moments she had found
Harry and Hugh. Even while their
horses were being saddIed her father
rode up.
Its murder" cried Harry, "and
, Grey knows it. Erskine knows moth
ing about a rapier."
Without a word Colonel Dale
wheeled his tired horse and soon
Harry and Hugh dashed after him.
barbara walked back to the house.
WTinging 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 galIop Firefiy
was skimming 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 an oak
tree that was a cornerstone between
'Ewo plantations.
THAT l may not kill you on your
own land" he said.
Ersizine started 1.-The consideration
54s deeper than you know"
They hitched their horses, and Ers-
k1ne followed into a pleasant glade
GhoooS SAoNC WHICH,
'EBured little stream. Erskine dropped
che rapiers on the sward.
Take your choice" he said.
There is none," said Grey, picking
: MP the one nearer to him. 81 know
them both" Grey took off his coat
while Erskine waited. Grey made the
SRsuai moves of courtesy and still Frs
kline waited, wonderingly, with the
point Of the rapier on the ground
fWhen you are ready" he said, will
you please let me know?"
Ready" answered Grey. and he
Iunged forward. Erskine merely
whipped at his blade so that the clang
of 1t whined on the air to the break
sing-point and sprang backward. He
was as quick as an eyelash and 1.-the
AS a panther, and yet Grey almost
laughed aloud All Erskine did was
30 whip the thrusting blade aside and
leap out of danger like a flash of light
1t was like an inexpert boxer fail
Ing according to rules unknown
and Grey's face famed and actually
turned anxious. Then, as a kindly
AAlC "Oulu nave II, LEShluS ) DldQ6
caught in Grey's guard by accident,
: and the powerful wrist behind it seek
s1g merely to wrench the weapon
loose tore Grey's rapier from his grasp
and hurled it ten feet away. There
rs no greater humiliation for the ex-
pert swOrdsman, and not for nothing
had Erskine suffered the shame of
that ~long-ago day when a primitive
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
TO recover his weapon.
Again a kindly fate intervened.
Even as Grey rushed for his sword,
ErskiHe heard the beat of horses
hoofs- As he snatched it from the
ground and turned, with a wicked
smile over his grinding teeth, came
Harry's shout, and as he rushed for
tErskine, Colonel Dale swung from his
horse. The sword-blades cIashed,
Erskine whipping back and forth in a
way to make SwOrdsman grOan-and
Colonel Dale had Erskine by the wrist
and was between them.
How dare you, sirT' cried Grey
p HGF5J
Just "a moment, young gentleman"
said Colonel Dale calmly.
'Let us alone, Uncle Harry-I-"
aJust a moment" repeated the
rcolonel sternly. 'Mr Grey, do you
think it quite fair that you with your
8 shll eshoaId 'nght a man who knows
nothing about foils?"
, There was no other way" Grey
said sullenly.
= And you could not wait I pre-
: sume?" Grey did not answer.
epEow, hear what I have to say, and
II Won both do not agree, the matter
win be arranged to your entire salts
faction, ,,..Mr. Grey. I have but one
orestion TO ask Your country is at
war. she needs every man for her