The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-05-30

| Ing VI queer GACltSAucul WuiCA StOlc
through his veins. A few yards away,
Lady Isabel seemed to have become
transformed. She was leaning forward
in her chair, her eyes glowing, her lips
parted, rejuvenated, dehumanized.
Francis immediate companion, how
ever, surprised him. Her eyes were
fixed intently upon Sir Timothy's. She
seemed to have been weighing every
word he had spoken. There was none
of that hungry pleasure in her face
which shone from the other woman's
and was reflected in the faces Of many
Of the others. She seemed to be brac-
ing herself for a shock. Sir Timothy
looked toward the door which opened
upon the sanded space.
''You can bring your men along" he
directed.
One Of the attendants promptly made
his appearance. He was holding tight
ly by the arm a man of apparently
thirty years Of age, shabbily dressed.
barefooted, without collar or necktie,
| with a mass Of black hair which
looked as though it had escaped the
care of any barber for many weeks.
His complexion was sallow; he had
high cheekbones and a receding chin,
which gave him rather the appearance
of fox He shrank little from the
lights as though they hurt his eyes,
and all the time he looked furtively
back to the door. through which in a
moment or two his rival was presently
escorted. The latter was young man
of stockier build, ul-conditioned, and
with the brutal face of the lowest of
his class. Two Of his front teeth
were missing, and there was livid
mark on the side of his cheek. He
looked neither to the right nor to the
left. His eyes were fixed upon the
other man, and they looked death.
'The gentleman who first appeared"
Sir Timothy observed, stepping up into
the sanded space but still half facing
the audience, sis Giuseppe, the Lotha-
rio of this little act. The other is
Jim, the wronged husband. You know
their story. Now, JIM" he added,
turning toward the Englishman, II put
in your trousers pocket those notes,
two hundred pounds, you will per-
ceive. / place in the trousers pocket
of Giuseppe here notes to the same
amount. understand you have
little quarrel to fight out The one
who wins will naturally help himself
to the others money, together with
that other little reward which I mag
inc was the first cause of your quarrel.
Now let them CO."
| Sir Timothy resumed his seat and
leaned back in leisurely fashion. The
two attendants solemnly released their
captives. There was moments in
tense silence. The two men seemed
fencing for position. There was some
thing stealthy and horrible about their
movements as they crept around one
another. Francis realized what twas
almost as the little sobbing breath
from those of the audience who still
retained any emotion, showed him that
they. too, foresaw what was going to
happen. Both men had drawn knives
from their belts. 1t was murder which
had been let loose.
Francis found himself almost immedi-
ately upon his feet. His whole being
seemed crying out for interference.
Lady Cynthia's death-white face and
pleading eyes seemed like the echo Of
his own passionate aversion to what
was taking place. Then he met Sir
Timothy's gaze across the room and he
1
conditions was he to protest or inter-
fere. He set his teeth and resumed
his seat The fight went on. There
were little sobs and tremors of excite
ment, strange banks oe silence. Both
men seemed out of condition. The
sound of their hoarse breathing was
easily heard against the curtain of
spellbound silence. For time their
knives stabbed the empty air, but
from the first ethe end seemed certain.
The Englishman attacked wildly. His
adversary waited his time. content
| with avoiding the murderous blows
struck at him. striving all the time to
steal underneath the others guard.
And then, almost without warning. 1t
was all over. Jim was on his back
in crumpled heap. There was hor-
rid stain upon his coat. The other
man was kneeling by his side, hate,
glaring out of his eyes, guiding all the
time the rising and falling Of his
knife. There was one more Shrek
then silence-only the sound Of the
victor's breathing as he rose slowly
from his CHASTITY task. Sir Timothy
rose to his feet and waved his hand.
| The curtain went. down.
ION deck. If you please, ladies and
gentlemen" he said calmly.
No one stirred. A woman began to
sob. A fat. unhealthy-lookIng man in
front Of Francis reeled over in dead
faint. Two other of the guests near
had risen from their seats and were
shouting aimlessly like lunatics. Even
Francis was conscious of that tenn
porary Imprisonment of the body due