The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-04-05
.rrancols." said Lopez. us there

.Assuredly. shall count, then
When have reached the count Of
three you may fire." He Thought q
long moment. arrangements for q
second shot will be unnecessary"
We raised our guns. His aimed at
my chest. In one last desperate eff.
fort to hurt him In the eyes OF the
woman who loved him kept the
sights of my weapon between his
eyes. | would see to II that be did
not make o handsome corpse.
/ AS In a dream | heard the colonel's
voice: "Onel" followed by a great
sigh from Anita. leaned against
the massive table. bracing my body
for certain aim.
"Two!" Madrella's smile was dis
concerning. l tried to match it-ane
failed.
"Three"
remember that La Anita cried out
as pulled the trigger. The effect
was as startling as though the gun
held had been a cannon, for the
hammer fell upon an empty cham
Der. and Pablo Madrella. who had
made no attempt to fire, stood bow.
ing and smiling.
senOr." he said; 'you give me added
respect for France"
With the useless pistol In my hand
| stood. staring stupidity. Colonel Lo-
peg swore, and La Anita broke into
hysterical sobbing. Shame of Cd"
I cried. "did You know. senior. that
the guns were empty?"
AYE" said he: sit was but to test
your courage"
cast the weapon from me and
caught the handle of a sword. "The
sword is always loaded; guard !"
| "Ah-nol" cried La Anita.
looked down into her tear-wet
face. 'Did you know. senorita." said
|. and all my happiness hung on her
answer, shat the guns were emptyT'
"Dios," she said. mo. senior; never
would I have put any man to such a
test; ii was devilish thing to do
and my cousin"
| pushed the table away with one
mighty effort. 1t caught on the car
pet and overturned. Lopez and
moved it into corner.
"Pick 1t up, Madrella," I cried {:
"pick up your sword"
"No, senor."
.'Then, before Cd" said I, 81 run
you through as you stand"
The voice of Colonel Lopez was
harsh with anger: "Your actions were
reprehensible, Pablo. and anything
that Captain vigny may choose to do
will be quite within his rights"
Now Madrella picked up the sword
and swept it In vicious arc. The
reluctant air sang beneath that blow.
He turned toward me. His face was
flushed. for the words of the woman
he loved had hurt him. "May l apol-
! ogize. senior. for that trick?"
/ With the green sweet world ahead
of me again, the feel of beautifully
balanced sword in my hand, and the
| thought that the glorious La Anita
had seen me scathed-through
an ordeal that would have broken the
nerve Of many a man of courage,
could afford to be generous. 1.-THE
trick, senior, is already forgotten
/ guard!"
Our swords came together with a
slithering clash, beat away, and
touched again. felt of his blade
and found an iron rigidity in his
wrist. AS an experiment | tried q
simple fierce, and met perfectly bal.
anced parry and a lightning ripOste
that grazed my ribs and brought q
gasp from La Anita.
Nearly. Anita mia," he said. with
smile.
I'm dueling. senor," said l, near
ly' is as far away as the moon"
The heavy carpet deadened the
sounds of our shuffling feet as we
swept across it; there was heard only
the clash of steel, the sibilant hiss OF
desperate breathing, the quick crash
of lunge and parry.
The successful duelist, think.
counts to some extent upon the nerve
of his antagonist. Feeling II out and
finding ever so little lack, he plays
the game accordingly. The manner
in which | had withstood Madrella's
"test" had added nothing to his conf
dence; and now, as the contest pro-
crossed, had certain indefinable
feeling that the cousins nerve was
not thing that could stand up under
Iong-continued equal battle. he
must have the advantage or he
broke" Many men, so I have dis
covered, are like that.
When the realization came to me
that was his equal in skill and
strength a vast relief swept over me.
Already, that night, had died once,
and no more fear lay in me. So ]
thrilled to the game; II gave me keen
enjoyment. and talked to him: g.Du.
roc" said. twas not so bad, senior
eh? And poor Mironsac. with his baby
face and worshipful eyes. was easy
is II not sol"
"Por Dios." Madrella cried. breath.
ing heavily.
pushed him back and forth across
the spacious chamber. but never was
able to break through. His defense
was as perfect as a wall. Subterfuge
offered the only chance. for the mar
seemed tireless.
Openly tried quartz, which he
met with graceful efficient parry
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