The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-04-06

>'AA' ~ t'S
Breakneck club were eager to be pres
ent.
The affair began an hour after sun
rise. Neither Dyck nor Leonard Nal
low slept at home the night before, but
In separate taverns near Phoenix park.
Mallow came almost jauntily to the
obscure spot. Both men had sensitive
ness. and both entered the grounds
with a certain thrill Of pleasure soften
ing the acerblty of the moment.
Dyck moved and spoke like a man
charged with some fluid which had alb
stracted him from life's m~OnotOnOus
routine. He had to consider the chance
of never leaving the grounds alive; yet
as he entered the place, where smooth
grass between the trees made good
footing for the work to be done, the
thrill of the %greenery, the sound Of the
birds, the flick of Il lizard across the
path, and the distant gay leap of a
young deer, brought to his senses a
gust Of joyous feeling. He was not nor
NAL; he was submerged. He was in
the great, consuming atmosphere of
the bigger world and the greater life.
He ever did not hate MallOw at the
moment. The thing about to be done
was to him a test of manhood. 1t was
a call upon the courage Of the soul, q
challenge Of life, strength and will.
AS Mallow entered the grounds, the
thought OF Sheila Llyn crossed Dyck's
mind, and the mental sight of her
%gladdened the eyes Of his soul. For
one brief instant he stood lost In the
minds look her he stepped forward,
saluted, shook hands with Mallow,
and dotted his coat and waistcoat.
AS he did so, he was conscious of q
curious GOODNESS, even Of dampnesS, In
the hand which had shaken that Of
Mallow. Mallow's hand had a clammy
touch-clammy, but firm and sure.
There was no tremOr In the long, thin
fingers nor at the lips-the thin, as
cetic lips, as Of a secret service man
but in his eyes was a dark fire Of
purpose. The morning had touched
him. but not as 1t had thrown over
Dyck its mantle Of peace. MallOw also
had enjoyed the smell and feeling Of
II all, but with this difference-it had
filed him with such material Joy that
he could not bear the thought of leav-
ing ii. II gave him strength of will,
which would add security to his arm
and wrist.
Dyck had learned workmanship
with as skilled a master as Ireland
had known, and he had shown, in get
ting knowledge of the weapon, a nat
ural instinct and a capacity worthy Of
the highest purpose. He had handled
the sword since he was six, and his
play was better than that of most
men; but this was, in fact, his first
real duel. Many times, Of course, in
the process Of his training, he had
fought as men fight In duels, but with
this difference-that now he vas per-
mitted to disable or kill his foe.
Physically, there was not a vast
deal to choose between the two men.
Mallow was lank and tall, %nervously
self-contained, finely concentrated,
and vigorous. Dyck was broad Of
shoulder, well set up, muscular, and
with a steadier eye than that of his
foe. Also, as the combat developed,
it vas clear that he had a hand as
steady as his eye. What was more,
his wrist had superb strength and
flexibility 1t was as enduring and
vital as the forefOOt and ankle of a
tiger. AS a pair they were certainly
notable, and would give a good ac-
count Of themselves.
The two men fighting had almost
the air Of gladiators. Their coats
were off, and the white linen Of their
shirts looked gracious; while the up
raised left hand Of the fighters bal
ancing the sword-thrust and the
weight Of the body had an almost sim
gular beauty. OF the two, Dyck was
the more graceful, the %steadier, the
quicker in his motions. His momen-
tary vision Of Sheila Llyn remained
with him-nOt as a vision, rather as
a warmth in his inmost being, m
thing which made him intensely alert,
cheerful, defiant, exactly skillful.
He had need Of all his Skill, for
Mallow was set to win the fight. He
felt instinctively what was working
In Dyck's mind. He had fought a
number Of duels, and with a certain
trick or art he had given the end to
the lives Of several. He became cons
scious, however, that Dyck had a par
tIcular stroke in mind, which he HIM
self was preventing by masterful
methods. 1t might be one thing or an
other, but In view of Dyck's training
1t would perhaps be the ~Enniscorthy
touch.
Again and again Dyck pressed his
antagonist backward, seeking to mud
| die his defense and to clear an open
ing for his own deadly stroke; but the
other man also was a master, and
parted successfully. 1
Presently, with a quick move, Nal
low took the offensive. and tried %
unsettle Dyck's pOise and disorganize
his battle-plan. For an instant the
c-&fon <hA h.;ll;.Nk